You are unique, and so is your work. Why curb that uniqueness when you hit the marketplace? Stop thinking competitively and start acting creatively to market your art. Email Article Print Article Bookmark RSS Related Content:   Artist Finances   Websites for Artists   Quit Job for Art   Create Your Blog

This is so often the hard part for artists that it's become a truism. And what a shame! Who should be more suited to coming up with creative marketing strategies than creative people? But to do this, we must stop thinking competitively and begin acting on behalf of our art in ways that are truly creative.

Competitive marketing is based on the theory that there is a limited number of customers, a limited amount of money, a limited source of supply - hence the competition. An innovative way of marketing a product is often referred to as creative marketing.

Marketing from the creative mind, however, takes its cues from the creative process. Nothing is taken away from anyone else and no bargains are driven with the universe. It is true creative generation.

How to think about marketing your art from the creative mind

We're all familiar with the creative process: we desire to make or do something, we form a concept of it, we focus on that idea, we interact with the world, and in the end we have a product. This is how we bring everything into our lives. Some things are more complex than others, but the basic process is the same.

It's called the creative process and not the competitive process because the impulse comes from within. We're not in competition as we work for the integrity of our art. This is the creative mind. As artists, we know it well. Is there any reason we can't continue in this mode when it comes to offering our work to potential customers? Here are some ideas:

• Think organically. Ask yourself about the nature of your work rather than the state of the market. This is not to say you shouldn't take account of the market - you must, of course. But shift your focus to what your work contributes to the marketplace, not the other way around. Your work may very well reveal itself to you in ways that offer new artistic development.

• Think about what you can give. How can you best use your good work to give customers something of benefit to them? This approach keeps you on a positive upward spiral that nurtures generosity and gratitude, and you may find yourself creating new market niches.

• Think win-win. You cannot ever lose anything that is rightfully yours. Imagine situations that benefit all sides. Win-win does exist. Enormously creative solutions can come from working expansively under challenging circumstances. Be generous in your dealings with the people in your supply chain.

• Always think like the creative person you are. Use your imagination. Visualize. Apply your skill. Picture the whole world as your studio. Remember that before you are a manipulator of your specific medium, you are a manipulator of thought and energy. Transfer your creative skills to everything you do.

How to stay in the creative mind as you market

Here are a few things that will keep you connected to your deeper creativity as you think about sending your art out into the world:

1. Fall in love with an idea. Consider what it is that you want for your art, not what you think you can get. Fix your mind on the best. It doesn't matter what anyone else is doing or how they've failed before you. They are not you. Do not limit your future with false ideas about what the market can provide. Create a vision you can fall in love with, then fall in love with it. It's your very own - make it a good one.

2. Fix this vision in your mind. Just as you become obsessed with a project, become obsessed with your idea for marketing your work. Clarifying your goal is important; you cannot achieve it until it is clear and you can focus on it single-mindedly. Formulate your marketing vision clearly and work toward it with the same intensity you put into your art.

3. Act on your idea with purpose and faith. Know that the moment you conceive your idea, it is being fulfilled. Accept this as fact and don't let stories of failure or defeat affect your intent; they have nothing to do with you. Competitive marketing habits can weasel in and chip away at your resolve. Use your practiced will to stay on track. Make promises to yourself and apply your will to keep them.

4. Be grateful. All the time, every day. You begin attracting your success the moment you formulate your idea, so that is the moment to give thanks. Cultivating gratitude elevates you above the competitive mind. It gives you greater vision and generosity. It keeps you thinking the positive thoughts necessary to attract positive things. It brings you into harmony with your goal, and with the infinite source of all good. It is one of the most powerful forces at your command.

In the end, no one can design your strategy for you. Make sure you give your work the very best marketing plan your creative heart can devise!

Related Articles:

• Learn to Sell Your Art without feeling like a Salesman
• 7 FREE Ways to Promote & Sell Your Art Online
• The Art of Rejection

Jori Lynn (Durga) Keyser is a creativity and prosperity coach living and working in Corsica. She's a weaver, a writer, and somewhat of a visual artist. You can visit her art in abundance website to learn about coaching, subscribe to her free newsletter, and find writings, tips, and links of all kinds at http://www.artinabundance.com.

Her book OUT OF THE GARRET FOR GOOD: A Guide to Prosperity for Artists, Writers, and Craftspeople is planned to be out next year.