The start of a new year always brings questions about where to put your energy as an artist.
If you don’t have significant growth in your online art sales, then you don’t need to do anything revolutionary.
Provided your art is of interest to people, then you really just need to focus on three simple things; (1) grow following (2) get that following subscribed to your email list, and (3) tur that email list into sales.
We’ll describe how to do this below.
1. Grow your following with Reels
Short-form video continues to be the quickest way to get your work seen, and you don’t need complicated setups to make something worth watching.
Here are a few things that consistently perform well:
Learn the basics of video editing
A simple foundation goes a long way. This guide is a great place to start.
Make simple, interesting videos
Small things work well: showing your desk setup, unboxing prints, mixing colours, sharing a sketchbook page anything that gives people a glimpse into your world.
Show your process
People love seeing how work comes together. It’s an easy way to build connection without having to “explain” anything.
Try an artwork reveal
Post a reveal and write in the caption why you made it, not an interpretation of the piece itself. That difference matters.
Try a “then and now” post
Show something you made five years ago next to something you’ve made this year. Write a short caption about how your practice has evolved. It’s honest, personal, and surprisingly effective.
Use trending formats to get more reach
Here are two great examples you can try with your own footage:
Example 1
Example 2
2. Build an email list and run a giveaway
Regardless of what social platforms do, email remains a reliable way to stay connected with the people who like your work.
A simple setup looks like this:
Choose a platform: We recommend Beehive or Brevo
Create a basic sign-up page
Run a small giveaway to encourage sign-ups
Use your Reels and posts to point people toward it
It doesn’t need to be polished — the point is to start collecting the people who want to hear from you.
3. Run your first print drop
Print drops help you understand what your audience responds to and give you something concrete to build on.
Here’s a simple structure:
Offer one artwork: Keep it focused. One piece is enough.
Create six posts around the drop:
Two posts before the launch to build anticipation
Four posts during the drop to keep momentum going
Send three emails
Early access
Launch
Last chance
Set up the product on CreativeHub so you have a baseline for the next one.
Over time, you can adjust the artwork, the copy, or the timing based on what people react to.
These resolutions aren’t about doing everything at once. They’re small steps that, done consistently, help you build an audience and make it easier for people to buy your work. If you’d like more practical guidance as you go into 2026, we share updates through our mailing list.
