Art, in its purest form, is a powerful medium of storytelling and emotional connection.
It transcends the mere act of putting brush to canvas, delving into the depths of human experience, and resonating with the core of our being.
As an artist, one of the most profound ways to connect with your audience is through the narrative you weave into your paintings.
Recently, I had the honor of creating a custom painting for a lady who discovered my work on TikTok.
Inspired by a piece I had posted—a painting of a mother holding a baby angel child, set against a backdrop of bright golden sunflowers—she reached out with a personal request.
This lady has been struggling with fertility issues for a very long time. She still holds the hope.
In her heart, she held a vision of a future where she might welcome daughters named Lily and Rose into her life.
With this vision in mind, she asked for a customized painting similar to the one she had seen, but with a background featuring lilies and roses, symbolizing the names she held dear in her dreams.
As I painted, I thought about the universal themes of motherhood, love, and the longing for a child.
These themes are not just personal to the commissioner but resonate with many around the world.
My goal was to create a piece that not only fulfilled her request but also spoke to the hearts of others facing similar challenges.
After I sent the photos of this painting, the lady wrote,
“I cannot thank you enough. I am in tears, it’s so beautiful and absolutely moving. I am so happy I asked you to do this for me, I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Think back, I had several commissioned pieces with a similar mother-child theme.
My guess is that my realistic yet expressive painting style connects with many moms or mom-to-be on a deep emotional level.
An emotional connection is the best way to market your art.
When you think back to the paintings you liked, maybe it’s Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night,’ maybe it’s Klimt’s portraits of women – every single one of them has to be connected with your emotions on some level, I bet!
So how do you connect emotions through your art:
1: Find your emotional strength:
I paint mothers, children, and even angels because I feel emotionally strongly connected to these themes.
Also, as a mother of three, it gives me even more reason for people to reach out to me and allow me to bring their visions to life.
2: Listen to the Stories:
Every commissioned piece comes with a story. Listen carefully and empathetically to understand the emotions and narratives behind the request.
3. Incorporate Symbolism:
Use symbols that are meaningful to the commissioner.
In this case, the sunflowers in my original painting, and the lilies and roses in the custom piece were not just flowers but representations of hope, love, and dreams.
4. Convey Emotion Through Color and Composition:
Choose colors and compose your pieces in ways that enhance the emotional tone of the story you’re telling.
Throughout art history, artists used gold leaf to symbolize the divine’s regal and extraordinary nature.
This tradition inspired the use of shimmering gold tones in my Angel series, aiming to highlight the themes of hope and beauty these images convey.
5. Reflect on Universal Themes: While each story is unique, tapping into universal themes (such as love, loss, and hope) can make your art resonate with a wider audience.
Remember–Painting is not just an act of creation; it’s a form of communication.
As artists, we hold the brush that can paint not just images, but emotions and dreams, connecting us all in the most human of ways.
And that is, my friend, the best way to sell your paintings.
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I will be cheering you on always!
Ying
