On why I’m writing this

I started this artistic journey in 2021, by myself with no experience in the NFT space or in
selling art. The information I gathered along the line has transformed me from an unknown
artist with less than 100 followers to an artist who had 300+ ETH volume traded on his art,
with 20k followers, who got into some of the most select marketplaces and who has exhibi-
ted all over the world, 2 years later.

I may not be one of the top selling artists in the NFT Space, but I truly believe in the value
of the information and insights I gathered during this journey as I have already mentored
fellow artists, which helped them increase their art sales.

Please note that part of my success is due to being « early » in my field as well as having
a lot of luck. I do however believe that my success is also linked to a strategy I progressi-
vely built through trial and error, to which I try to stick to as much as possible.

Also, what you will be reading comes from my own experience and perspective. What you
will read might not apply to you or even interest you, as we might have different goals as
artists. But I do believe these points are essential if you want to make a living with your art.
Pick and chose what you feel is valuable to YOU. And apply it diligently. For our most va-
luable assets are our thoughts and actions.

You might wonder why I chose this cover. I like to instil symbolism into my works. Here, the
greek columns represent the order and discipline I believe we must apply to this practice to
counter balance the chaotic nature of the artistic process. The chess pieces represent my
belief that every aspect of life follows the same rules as chess. And subsequently the art of
selling art.
Notice:

As I am not an experienced writer who often fails to get my point across properly, I used
ChatGPT to restyle my writing to make it pleasant and readable for you. The content ho-
wever comes from me.
 On the Collecting Decision Tree

For a successful art sale, you need to take every possible step to boost your odds. Keep in
mind, the art market is fiercely competitive with a vast array of artists but comparatively
fewer collectors. The art collection process is multifaceted, with a number of elements in-
fluencing decisions.

A collector's journey to acquiring a piece of art involves:

1. Discovering your artwork

2. Being drawn to your chosen medium
3. Finding your style appealing
4. Connecting with your story and who you are as an artist
5. Perceiving the price as fair
6. Experiencing a strong desire to own the piece

While it's true that some collectors may not focus on every single step, each one remains
vital in boosting your chances of selling your artwork.
 On Getting your Art Seen

The NFT realm is notably overflowing. With a staggering 250k pieces on FND and only
0.03% of works attracting active bids, visibility for your art can be a significant challenge.
Also, many of these platforms offer little support with marketing, featuring only a select few
artists on their front page.

Therefore, mastering self-promotion becomes imperative.

Your activity on Twitter can be a powerful catalyst for making sales. The manner in which
you portray yourself and your art, how you communicate about it, and your interactions all
play a significant role in your success.

Based on my personal experience, other social media platforms such as Instagram or

Facebook have proved relatively unproductive for selling art. Do yourself a favor -
conserve your time and energy and center your efforts on Twitter.

Now, let's delve into the fundamentals, starting with a precious principle imparted to me by
a fellow artist, collector, and former marketer early in my journey. This principle is some-
thing I put into practice daily.
 « You Must Sell Success »

People are innately attracted to success. They're captivated by success stories and suc-
cessful individuals. Therefore, all your efforts should focus on portraying yourself as suc-
cessful in one way or another.

Each follower milestone, every newly crafted painting, each sale, every exhibition, or fea-
ture should be celebrated and highlighted as a major success.

Success naturally draws attention and recognition. By showcasing your achievements, you
increase your visibility and likelihood of being noticed by a wider audience. The more at-
tention you receive, the more opportunities arise for networking, collaborations, and further
success, perpetuating a cycle of growth and recognition.

In fact, most of my posts that garnered the most likes and comments were ones where I
shared about my art sales.
 On How to get your Success Seen

The second aspect to remember is that people need to visibly recognize your success.

Twitter's algorithm can be a tad challenging when it comes to visibility, so make sure you
optimize it effectively.

- Consider investing those $8 to acquire a blue tick

- Frequently like and comment on posts from larger accounts, ensuring your comments
offer valuable content. This practice can draw attention to you and your art from indivi-
duals who might have otherwise overlooked you.
- Join DM groups for artists and actively support one another. Engaging with, sharing, and
commenting on each other's posts can collectively boost your visibility to the algorithm,
attracting more eyes to your art. You need to operate as a unit.
- An easy method to garner attention is through 'Good Morning' posts. They're simple to
respond to and require minimal effort for your followers to engage with. Make a habit of
posting one every morning and a 'Good Night' post every evening. Also, make sure to
respond to every single comment. This practice enhances engagement for your posts
throughout the day.

Additionally, dedicate more time on Twitter, hunting for fellow artists, collectors, galleries,
and investing time to build relationships with them. Most of my 1/1 sales have resulted
from private DMs, rather than from people randomly clicking the 'Buy Now' button on my
art on FND.
 On letting Them Know You / About You

When someone appreciates and collects art, they often seek a deeper connection beyond
the visual aesthetics. It stems from a deep need of connection, understanding and mea-
ning.

I've refrained from collecting certain works I liked purely because, upon visiting the artist's
Twitter profile, I noticed they were hardly active. I had no insight into their thoughts, their
artistic intent, the direction they wanted to take their art, or even a basic understanding of
who they were as a person.

While some collectors might be indifferent and simply purchase art based on visual ap-
peal, others deeply value understanding who the artist is. Sometimes, the artist's identity is
their primary criterion. Some collectors invest in the artist even before they collect the art.
Hence, you often hear phrases like, "I bought an XCOPY," or "I bought a Grant". The ar-
tist's identity can have profound cultural implications.

Therefore, I urge you to share your thoughts, your works in progress, your dream exhibi-
tion venues, your new acquaintances, even the mistakes you've made. All of these matter
significantly.

The personal connection and comprehension between an artist and a collector can enrich
the experience for both parties, enhancing the overall appreciation and perceived value of
your artwork.
 On Social Proof

People are often swayed by the behaviours and opinions of others. When an artist show-
cases their success through their milestones, achievements, or accolades, it provides so-
cial proof of the value and worthiness of their work. This can influence others to interact
with and appreciate the artist's work based on perceived public opinion.

As I've mentioned, people gravitate towards success. Your achievements as an artist carry
significant weight. Whether it's the venues where you've exhibited, who has collected your
art, or your media appearances - make sure you highlight these in your bio; it should be
the first thing people see.

For instance, consider my own bio:

I emphasized my early involvement in AI art, which is a notable point as being an early

adopter in a new artistic trend is quite significant. I mentioned my acceptance into SR in ;y
username, which is noteworthy given its exclusivity. I highlighted that I minted with Brain-
drops, another highly selective platform. I pointed out that Cozomo included my art in his
Select Work section, as he is highly respected as a collector and patron of the arts. I also
mentioned acquiring a Punk, signaling my long-term commitment to the space and cultural
appreciation.

You should adopt a similar strategy, leveraging and showcasing your achievements to en-
hance your social proof.
 On Getting to the Point

Remember that people have a very low attention span on twitter and you must get to the
point and differentiate yourself quickly.

Given the fast-paced nature of Twitter, where new tweets constantly appear in a user's
feed, it's reasonable to assume that the average time spent on a single tweet is likely quite
short, probably a few seconds at most, unless the tweet contains compelling content that
encourages a longer engagement. A commonly cited statistic is that the average user
spends 2 seconds on a tweet.

For this reason, it's important to make tweets concise, engaging, and visually appealing to
capture users' attention quickly. Avoid using too many hashtags, tagging too many people
or putting links in your main tweet as they are visually distracting.

You might also consider including calls to action, questions, or other engagement prompts
to encourage users to spend more time with your tweet, engage with it, or click through to
linked content.

Your pinned tweet should serve dual purposes: to display your success and to highlight
something crucial you want people to see, whether it's a newly listed piece or a particularly
impactful or insightful tweet.

Additionally, you should have a Linktree or website that catalogs all your works. Make sure
to organize them based on their relevancy - the works you'd like potential collectors to see
should be placed at the top. I personally order the platforms based on the perceived diffi-
culty of gaining access to them in the social context, such as Braindrops, SuperRare, and
so on.
 On creating a Success Train

The initial step is securing your first sale, which sets in motion what I like to call your 'suc-
cess train'. By this, I mean that when people notice you posting about your sales, it serves
as social proof and draws more attention to your art. This increased visibility can often
translate into more sales as collecting from you seems 'less risky' to other potential collec-
tors, given that they see others have done so previously.

In my experience, one sale often leads to others.

For instance, just last week, I was approached via DM by a collector who had spotted
works they liked on my FND. After discussing prices, they ended up purchasing three
pieces. I made a 'Good Morning' post about these three pieces consecutively for three
days to amplify this success. On the fourth day, another collector reached out, showing in-
terest in another 1/1 piece on SR, which was sold in an auction 24 hours later. After ma-
king a post about this, I sold four editions from my Mirage Gallery collection within a few
hours of that post.

That's what I call a success train. You should aim to leverage each victory as a stepping
stone towards the next.
 On Pricing and How to get that First Win

To get that first win, the best way to go about it in my opinion is to start with a a good price.
Add to that a low gas platform to take as much friction out of the collecting process. That
would be Objkt.

Pricing art is a complex task that requires considering several factors.

- Research similar artists in your niche, especially those at a similar point in their career.
Look at their prices and how well their works sell. This can give you a ballpark figure for
how much collector are willing to pay for art like yours.

- Self evaluate your reputation and career stage. Well-established artists can often com-
mand higher prices for their work than those who are just starting out. If you've been crea-
ting art for some time and have a following, this can be reflected in your prices.

- It’s important to be consistent in your pricing. If similar works are priced drastically dif-
ferent, it might confuse potential collectors.

- Be open to negotiating the price within reason. Some collectors may ask for a discount,
especially if they're buying multiple pieces.

- The art market can be unpredictable, and what works for one artist might not work for
another. Regularly evaluate your pricing strategy and be prepared to adjust it as nee-
ded.

In the end, pricing art is about positioning yourself in the art market and attracting the right
collectors. It's more of an art than a science.

Here's an illustrative roadmap if I were beginning from scratch:

- Start modestly, with prices around 5-10 tez, on Objkt.

- Promote it within your DM group, use it for your 'Good Morning' post, and so forth.
- Eventually, you're likely to secure that first sale.
- When you do, ensure that everyone is aware of it.
- Then, mint another piece at a slightly higher price (20-30 tez) and so on.
- Gradually escalate your price point as demand increases.
- Once you've managed to price your pieces at around 50-100 tez each, consider transi-
tioning to ETH platforms like FND, Manifold, MakersPlace, KnownOrigin, and so forth. In
my experience, Objkt can become challenging for sales beyond a certain price bracket.
- Continue employing the same strategy on these new platforms.

I can affirm this strategy works because it's precisely the approach I employed back in ear-
ly 2022 when I faced a several-month-long sales drought. At that time, I was used to sel-
ling my art pieces for 0.2-0.3 ETH quite effortlessly, but suddenly, sales had dried up. My
response was to invest some time experimenting on Objkt with my art at lower prices. I
began selling editions at 1 tez and gradually escalated my price point until I successfully
sold 3-4 pieces at 100 tez. Then, I transitioned to Known Origin, drawn by their weekly ar-
tist highlight tweets. Starting at 0.1 ETH, I managed to climb to 0.5 ETH within a few
months by sticking to the Success Train. This strategy got me noticed by Cozomo.

As the legendary artist Andy Warhol once said, "Making money is art and working is art
and good business is the best art."
 On How to Find and Approach Collectors.

The most straightforward method to connect with collectors is to explore platforms like
FND, SuperRare, and others. Look for successful artists who share a similar style or me-
dium as you and boast a large collector base. Follow these collectors on Twitter and in-
teract frequently, offering insightful or valuable input. Over time, they'll begin to notice
you, your art, and learn more about you.

Your aim is to become a part of their Twitter Circle.

Set up notifications for their posts, ensuring you're among the first to contribute valuable
content to their tweets.

A case in point is an artist I stumbled upon during one of my sales tweets. Among hun-
dreds of congratulatory comments, one individual stood out by posing an interesting
question that triggered a meaningful dialogue. I took the time to learn more about him and
was blown away by the quality of his art. Now, I'm introducing him to collectors for his
piece and eagerly awaiting his next release. And all this started with a single comment
from an artist who had just 600 followers.

 On Understanding the Collector’s Motivation

Collectors can be motivated by various factors, and their motivations can significantly in-
fluence the type of art they collect, how much they're willing to spend, and how they en-
gage with the art community. Here's a quick summary of the types of collector’s I’ve en-
countered.

1. Motivated by the Art:

These collectors are often driven by a deep love and appreciation for art itself. They may
be drawn to specific styles, periods, mediums, or artists. Their collections are often very
personal and reflective of their own tastes and interests. They often seek to understand
the artist's intent, the cultural context of the work, and the emotions it evokes. They may
collect art for the sheer joy it brings them, and they often view their collections as a form
of self-expression.

2. Motivated by Potential Financial Returns:

Some collectors view art as an investment. They aim to buy pieces that will appreciate in
value over time, providing a return on investment. These collectors often study art market
trends carefully, and their buying decisions may be influenced by factors like the reputa-
tion of the artist, the rarity of the work, and the history of the piece. They might also buy
art from emerging artists who they believe have the potential to become popular and va-
luable in the future.

3. Motivated by Social Status:

For some collectors, acquiring art is a way to demonstrate wealth, taste, and cultural so-
phistication to others. This can be particularly prevalent among high-end collectors, for
whom buying expensive and sought-after pieces can be a status symbol. These collec-
tors might aim to buy works from famous artists, unique or rare pieces, or art that is cur-
rently trending or receiving a lot of attention in the art world. They often showcase their
collections in their homes or offices, loan their pieces to museums, or even open their
own galleries.

Please bear in mind that these motivations aren't mutually exclusive—a collector could be
influenced by a love of art, potential financial returns, and a desire to flex their buys all at
once. These motivations can also evolve over time.

Understanding these motivations are key before approaching a potential collector.

As I value my time, I try to optimise it as much as possible. And that includes conducting
research on potential collectors prior to contacting them. If I check their wallets and all I
see are Fidenzas, Ringers, Squiggles, Checks, Punks, XCOPYs etc, I move on. My art will
most likely not interest them.

 On DMs

It's vital to understand that the real action occurs in Direct Messages. Decisions by galle-
ries and collectors to support certain artists are not arbitrary; they’re usually the result of
private discussions. Keep in mind, unsolicited messages that push for sales, be it art or
any other product, can sometimes come across as invasive or even spam-like.

Here is why:

- It can be perceived as an invasion of privacy. People often view their direct messages
as a private space for conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. Receiving un-
solicited sales messages can feel like an intrusion into this private space.

- If you haven't built a relationship or connection with someone, jumping straight into sel-
ling can come off as impersonal or even disrespectful. It gives the impression that you're
more interested in making a sale than in the person you're messaging.

- People are often busy and have a lot on their plates. Receiving unsolicited sales mes-
sages can be annoying, especially if they're not in the market for what you're selling.

- If the person you're messaging receives a lot of sales pitches in their DMs, they might
start to perceive these messages as spam, which can harm your reputation.

Instead of cold messaging people to sell your art, consider these alternative strategies:

- Building Relationships: Share your art and engage with people who show interest. Re-
spond to their comments, engage with their posts, and build a genuine relationship be-
fore you consider moving to direct messages.

- Provide Value: Share interesting and valuable content about your artistic process, your
inspiration, your journey as an artist. This gives people a reason to follow and engage
with you, and it builds a relationship before any sales pitch.

Once you've identified a potential collector who might appreciate your art, take the
conversation to the DMs. Use this private space to build a connection, learn more about
them, share insights about yourself and your art.

However, please refrain from using DMs to aggressively promote your art. Remember,
nobody enjoys being subjected to a hard sell.

I've never directly requested a collector to purchase my art; I believe the desire should
naturally arise from them.

However, you can certainly:

- Inquire about their thoughts on your art.

- Ask for their opinion on how you could enhance your work.

- Their views on your pricing.

- Their stance on a specific topic.

- What themes or subjects in art do they usually gravitate towards?

- Who are their favorite artists and why do they appreciate their work?

- Are there any art movements or styles that they particularly enjoy?

- How do they usually discover new artists or artworks?

- What elements in an artwork usually catch their eye first?

- How do they decide on investing in a particular piece of art?

This approach enables potential collectors to notice and familiarize themselves with you.
If they find your art compelling and wish to purchase it, they will. If not, they won't. Direct-
ly requesting them to buy your art will often not sway their decision. Therefore, it's best to
avoid such solicitations.
 On the Need to Differentiate Yourself Artistically

Humans have an inherent desire for novelty and uniqueness.

If you take a look at the top artists on the 12-month trending page on SuperRare, you'll
see a common thread - they were either early pioneers in the space or in their medium, or
they possess a highly distinctive style that sets them apart.

At this point, being an early adopter in this sphere is no longer an option. But what you
can do is work on creating a unique and immediately recognizable artistic style, tech-
nique, or composition that differentiates you from other artists.

In the past, I've created numerous promotional threads and found that only about 1-2%
of artists truly stand out from the crowd. The majority of the works tend to look somewhat
similar.

Ask yourself, why would someone want to collect a piece of art that isn't unique or speci-
fic to an artist? Chances are, you wouldn't either.

Art speaks for itself, and if you work is compelling, recognisable and unique, you will have
a way easier time to sell it.

Your art is a reflection of who you are. Embrace your individuality and let it shine through
your work.
 On How to Differentiate Yourself with your Words

From my experience, effective use of words and copywriting can significantly impact an
artist's ability to sell their work. The descriptions and stories that accompany the art can
help potential collectors connect with the work on a deeper level, making them more like-
ly to pull the trigger. Here are some strategies for using words to increase your art sales:

1. Tell a Story:

Every piece of art has a story. Perhaps it's about the inspiration behind the work, the pro-
cess of creating it, or the emotions it's meant to evoke. Sharing this story can help poten-
tial collectors feel a personal connection to the art.

2. Use Descriptive Language:

Use vivid, sensory language to describe your artwork. Help readers envision the piece,
feel its texture, and imagine its presence in their space. The more clearly they can imagine
owning the artwork, the more likely they are to collect it.

3. Highlight the Unique Aspects:

What makes your art different from others? Is it the technique you use, the themes you
explore, or your unique perspective? Highlighting these unique aspects can make your art
stand out and appeal to those looking for something one-of-a-kind.

4. Create a Sense of Urgency:

Limited editions, short-term sales, or the popularity of your work can create a sense of
urgency that encourages potential buyers to act quickly.

5. Speak to Your Ideal Collector:

Who is the ideal person you envision owning your art? What are their interests, their va-
lues, their desires when it comes to art? Speaking directly to this person in your tweets
can make your art more appealing to those who fit this profile.

6. Call to Action:

Don't forget to include a clear call to action. Whether it's "Visit my website to purchase,"
"DM me for details," or "Click the link in my bio to shop," be sure to tell readers how they
can collect your artwork.

7. Be Authentic:

Finally, be authentic in your tweets. Genuine passion and enthusiasm are infectious and
can make your art more attractive to potential buyers.

Remember, selling art isn't just about the artwork itself—it's also about the connection
that buyers feel to the work and the artist. Words and stories can be powerful tools for
creating this connection.

 On Supply

There's a pervasive idea amongst collectors that the supply of an artist's work doesn't
impact its value. However, my experience has shown me that if you produce work at too
rapid a rate, you may face resistance.

It appears that collectors cherish a sense of exclusivity and pride in owning a piece of
work that isn't readily available. This perceived scarcity enhances a sense of uniqueness
and prestige for the collector and can foster a deeper emotional bond with the artwork.

What's crucial to grasp here is the dichotomy between total supply and available supply.
Total supply refers to the quantity of work you've produced; Picasso, for instance, created
over 100,000 pieces. Available supply, on the other hand, represents the amount of art-
work currently available for purchase on the market. Picasso's family carefully controls
this supply to ensure the value of his work doesn't depreciate.

You should strive to adopt a similar strategy. Aim to keep your available supply as low as
possible. For me personally, I used to only mint a new piece once the previous one had
sold. Now, with over 100 pieces minted, I only have 2-3 1/1s available for sale on the pri-
mary market. This tactic, I believe, has allowed me to keep the attention on my art for se-
veral years.

Also, one other thing I do is that most of the pieces I share on twitter are « sketches » that
will never be minted. This way it allows potential collectors to see a wide array of works
they might like while you keep your available supply low.

"What would have become of us if Kahnweiler hadn't had a business sense? » - Pablo
Picasso about his art collector friend.

 On Psychological Reactance

Experiences like these are far from uncommon. I had a similar encounter with Fidenzas. I
was extremely eager to secure one until I managed to accumulate enough ETH to actually
make the purchase. At that point, I found myself questioning if it was a prudent decision,
whether it would harmonize with my living room's aesthetics, among other things. Ultima-
tely, I refrained from making the purchase.

When something is seen as rare or exclusive, it becomes more valuable in people's

minds. The notion that it is difficult to obtain can fuel a stronger desire to possess it.

The psychological reactance theory suggests that people have an innate aversion to ha-
ving their freedom of choice or access restricted. When something is presented as being
limited or off-limits, it can trigger a counteractive response, increasing the desire to obtain
it as a way to reclaim that sense of freedom and control.

Same goes for your art. I believe if a collector likes your work, goes to your FND / MP/
Objkt and sees 10 pieces in the same style that are available at a low price, that means
he can afford them easily and have easy access. Which goes against the psychological
reactance theory.

However, if they perceive your art as limited in availability or exclusive, it can trigger a
sense of urgency and desire to acquire your work before it becomes unattainable or more
difficult to obtain, thus increasing its perceived value and desirability.

Some might call this FOMO.

It’s a very powerful feeling. Use it to your advantage.

 On Patience

Patience is an often underestimated yet essential virtue for artists to succeed. Just like in
many aspects of life, rushing can lead to disappointing outcomes and missed opportuni-
ties. Here's why patience plays a pivotal role in every artist's journey:

1. Building an Artistic Identity: Patience is crucial in developing an individual artistic iden-

tity. It's a gradual process of self-discovery, finding one's voice, and creating a distinctive
body of work that reflects the artist's essence. Go take a look at Grant Yun’s SuperRare
mints to see how much his style has evolved with time.

2. Navigating Rejections: Rejections are inevitable. I can’t count the amount of time col-
lectors have told me my art wasn’t really art, wasn’t their taste, was too expensive, that I
minted too much etc. But I didn’t let this stop me as I was sure I will eventually find the
people who enjoy my art for what it is. Patience empowers you to persevere, learn from
setbacks, and use criticism constructively to grow and improve.

3. Establishing a Presence: Building a reputation and a loyal following takes time. Pa-
tience allows you to cultivate connections, network, and find opportunities to showcase
your work in the right circles. In the DM groups I’m currently in, people are seeking fellow
artists they can trust will stay in this space to work on more longterm projects. Just the
act of being present daily is a huge way to differentiate yourself.

4. Navigating the Art Market: The art market can be unpredictable, with sales fluctuating
immensely. We currently are in a bear market where only 0.03% of pieces on FND have
active bids. Not selling is the norm. In these conditions it’s alright if your piece doesn’t sell
in the next couple of days, weeks or months. Patience allows you to weather the ups and
downs and maintain a long-term perspective on your careers.

Remember, the art journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Cultivating patience fosters
growth, resilience, and an enduring artistic legacy. Trust in the process, take the time to
evolve, and your artistic endeavors will flourish.

 On a Final Note

This information condenses what I’ve learned as an artist during these past couple of
years. I hope you saw value in these insights, that you will be able to adapt it to your own
needs and apply it to better your own future. Keep in mind that your mindset and resilient
persistance will be a huge factor in your success, as this will demand long term efforts to
become fruitful.

I've made a conscious choice to share this information freely with the community. Why,
you might ask? Because knowledge is power, and I believe that empowering artists is the
best way to grow and elevate the art world as a whole. As artists, we can sometimes feel
like we're navigating a labyrinth in the dark. My hope is that the insights and advice I've
shared can act as a torchlight, illuminating the path ahead and making the journey just a
little bit easier.

Best,

Charlesai