In a time where women artists and the art industry are under enormous strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more important than ever to realize the necessity of art, and supporting artists.

The past two years have challenged artists in ways we could never have imagined. Many have had to realign their practices and adjust to ever changing circumstances. For some, that means going back to the basics. “Is my website up to date?”, “How can I increase my social media presence?”, “How can I continue to practice my passion and still get paid a living wage?” 

These are just a few of the questions Repaint History aims to tackle and answer for you in 2022. 

We wanted to start off 2022 by offering a few tips on all artists main concern: "Money"

We are easily reminded of Guerrilla Girl’s satirical poster ‘The Advantages of being a woman artist’, particularly lines “Working without the Pressure of Success” and referencing women working ‘4 freelance jobs’ alongside their practice. It is painfully easy for artists (especially women) to fall into the trap of creating art for no monetary benefit with a promise of more “exposure”.

In 2022, this has to stop. Your art is worth more.

Making Money in 2022:

Best Online Practice:

With COVID pushing many sales online (Sotheby’s alone made $36 million dollars in online sales in the first half of 2020), it is apparent that there is an increasingly hot market for online sales and auctions.

First and foremost, if you were looking for a sign to revamp your social media presence and website, this is it. Branding is one of the most important aspects of selling your presence as an artist and artwork itself. For most, branding is finding a personal style or aesthetic that suits you and helps to bring out the best in your art. This means taking high quality pictures, using a specific filter to create a style that is consistent . Potential buyers are much more likely to take note of a social media grid that is pleasing to the eye and interesting to browse through, so do not underestimate the power of social media. Investing your time into revamping your account will pay off in the long run and help you sell your art and your image as the artist. 

Diversify Online:

While it is important to have an up-to-date website featuring your portfolio, it is also a great idea to diversify your online platforms. There are a large number of online websites which feature artwork from artists all over the world, with some examples including Saatchi, ArtPal (this one is free!), VSUAL and Singulart. The key is to show your artwork on as many platforms as possible, which will then increase the potential of a steady, consistent income. Sometimes, there will be months where sales on your website may be low, but selling on another platform may be going strong, so the last thing you’d want to do is only focus on one single selling strategy when there are many opportunities available to you. 

Passive Income:

You may also want to consider looking beyond making art and start teaching people how to make art! Online courses are more popular than ever and many have taken it upon themselves to sell their skills in a nicely tied up package for additional income. The great thing about this is that it can be completely customizable: you can offer live lessons, written packages or pre-recorded videos. You can do this on the side, while still selling your art, which offers a bit of variety and a greater chance of consistent income. As well, it will give you a chance to show off yourself as an artist, which is intrinsically important when it comes to selling your artwork itself. 

It is important to note that all of the above requires much more effort and persistence from women artists. While there is an illusion that women artists are acknowledged and represented within the artworld, only 2% of the global auction market are works done by women artists. There is no doubt that things are better today than ever before, but we are far away from where we should be. While this may sound like an uphill battle for many, there is also always hope! Current art trends suggest that the future will focus strongly on unity and collaboration, meaning the chances of diverse voices finally being heard are increasing. What it will take to get there are artists like you feeling empowered and encouraged to use your voice and be loud, and Repaint History will offer the resources and services to help you get there. 

Coming up next, learn some useful skills on how to get gallery representation and have your work be shown across a variety of platforms. With there being so many new ways and opportunities to exhibit art, understanding the nitty gritty of it all will help you take your career to the next level.