How To Sell Art – The #1 Rule

Here’s the number 1 rule that makes how to sell your art easier.
You say the price AND THEN YOU STOP TALKING. That’s it. Stop talking.
Not because you’re being cold and not because you’re trying to be mysterious.
It’s because the more you talk, the more likely you are to accidentally negotiate against yourself.

Another important point to remember with how to sell your art is that buyers need a second. It’s not that they’re judging you in that moment, it’s because they’re doing the mental maths. They’re picturing your art piece in their home; they’re checking their budget; they’re remembering the size of their wall. So give them that second.

Script #1

I call it the “price + one calm sentence” script for how to sell your art.
This is your main line, your main script. This is the one you practise until it feels boring.

Here it is:
“This piece is £500. It’s one of my favourites from the Winter Garden collection.”

Then stop. Smile. Breathe.
Count to three in your head. Remember – you’re giving them their second to think.

If you want a variation, pick ONE second sentence, and keep it short. Here are options:
“This piece is £500. It was inspired by the sea light I love.”
“This piece is £500. It’s an original, and it’s ready to hang.”
“This piece is £500. And it comes with a certificate of authenticity.”

That’s it. Price, one calm sentence, stop.

And here’s my tip for delivery of your script: Say it slower than feels natural. Because when you slow down, you sound confident even if you’re nervous inside.

Another tip I use – and it’s a simple practice that actually works.

Practise saying your prices until they feel second nature.
That is: write your top 5 prices on a cue card.
Stand up. Literally stand up, because posture changes your voice.
Then say: “This piece is £____.” ten times.

And practise the pause (giving your buyer that second) afterwards. That’s the part people skip.
You’re basically training your nervous system to not panic when you say the number.
Do that for a week and you’ll feel the difference.

How To Sell Art – Script #1 Variations

Because sometimes they’ll just stare at the work. Or stare at you. And your brain will want to fill the silence with… a discount, a backstory, your childhood, the price of paint to keep them engaged.

Don’t.
Let them think.

Then, if you need one gentle follow-up line, use this:

“Would you like to take a closer look?”

Then hush again.

My next script for how to sell your art is for when they say the dreaded “ooh” or “that’s too much” – and this is the moment that makes a lot of artists wobble.

So if the buyer says something along the lines of:
“Oh… that’s too much for me.”

You say this, calmly, like it’s completely normal. Because it is:

“Look, I completely understand. Not everyone is looking to invest in an original right now. I do have limited edition prints of this piece for £75 if that feels like a better fit?”

Then pause. Notice what you did there.
You didn’t shrink. You didn’t apologise. You didn’t instantly slash the price of the original.
You simply gave them another way to say yes. You reassured them, you made it ok and you gave them an alternative. You didn’t make it awkward.

Even better, if you have smaller originals, then say this:

“Totally fair. I have a few smaller originals starting at £____. Would you like to see those?”

Or if you want them to tell you the range:

“Totally fair. What range would feel comfortable for you? I’ll show you what fits.”

That line is gold at markets, because it stops you playing guess-the-budget.

When They Ask For A Discount

What to say when they ask for a discount.

Buyer: “Can you do it for less?”

Here’s what you say. Calm voice, friendly face, no flinch:

“I keep my originals priced consistently for every collector, so I don’t discount originals. But I can offer a print option, or I can show you a piece closer to your budget.”

Or, if you want the softer version, use this:

“I keep my prices consistent so it’s fair for everyone who buys from me. If you tell me your budget range, I’ll show you what fits.”

Either way, you’re not saying “No.” You’re saying, “I’m consistent, and I can help.”

And similarly, if they say “Is it negotiable?”

Say:

“I price my originals consistently, so that is the price. If you’d like something similar at a lower price point, I can show you prints or smaller original pieces.”

Short. Clear. And there is no awkwardness.

Let’s move on to what to reply when the buyer says they love it but need to think.

Now, your job here is to give them a simple next step.

So you would say:

“Of course. Would it help if I wrote down the title, price, and my details so you can come back to it?”

If you’re at a market and you want a gentle time boundary:

“If it helps, I can hold it for the rest of today while you have a wander. Just let me know.”

Or if they say they need to check with their partner, spouse etc, you would say:

“Totally. If you’d like, I can take a quick photo on your phone with the price and size, so it’s easy to show them.”

That way you’re being helpful, not pushy; you’re building a relationship by being friendly and helpful.

Alright, now if they say something along the lines of not being able to picture the work on their wall, say:

“Absolutely. If you show me a photo of the wall on your phone, I can help you imagine the scale. And I can send you a quick mock-up later if you want.”

You’ve just removed the real friction point, which is uncertainty, and reassured them.

Or if they ask if you can hold the piece for them?

“Yes. I can reserve it with a small deposit, and then we can arrange collection or delivery. If you’d rather not do a deposit, I can hold it until [time today], and then it goes back on display.”

Clean. Calm. Boundaries.

Commissions – How To Sell Art

Let’s move on to Commissions in how to sell your art. Here’s a calm, professional answer that doesn’t trap you into saying yes to something you don’t want.

Example 1:

“Yes, I do commissions in my style. The starting price is £____, and the next step is a quick chat so we can check it’s the right fit for you and for me. If you like, I can take your email and send the commission details.”

If you want it even shorter:

“Yes, I do. I can send you my commission info sheet with sizes, pricing, and timelines. What’s the best email?”

What do you say if the buyer says something like:
“Could you do one like this, but in different colours?”

“I don’t recreate exact pieces, but I can create something with a similar feel in your colours. If you tell me the room colours and the size you need, I can suggest a few options and the price range.”

That protects your creativity and still keeps the sale open.

Online – DM’s & Emails

We’ve looked at scripts for face to face situations. Let’s now look at what to reply when ONLINE, with a DM or email for example.

Here, in how to sell your art,  we’re getting the message across with the same calm tone but we’re also making sure we let the buyer know what their next step would be (the Call To Action).

If someone messages: “How much is this?”

“Thanks so much. That piece is £500. It’s an original from my Winter Garden collection. If you’d like it, I can send a quick checkout link and a shipping estimate.”

If they reply: “That’s too much.” Then reply with:

“No problem at all, I completely understand. I do have limited edition prints of that piece for £75 if that feels like a better fit. Would you like the link?”

Or if they ask for a discount reply with:

“I keep original prices consistent for every collector, so I don’t discount originals. But I can share print options, or send you a link to pieces closer to your budget if you tell me your range.”

Then I always recommend to follow up the next day with a gentle message:

“Just a quick note to say thank you again for your message yesterday. If you’d like extra photos of the piece in different light, or the exact measurements for your space, I’m happy to send them.”

Payment And Shipping Scripts

Now here are some practical scripts around payment and shipping/delivery to guide you on your journey of how to sell your art.

If they ask about payment:

“You’re welcome to pay by card. And if it helps, I can take a deposit to reserve it.”

If they ask about delivery:

“Yes, I can deliver or ship it. I’ll calculate it from your postcode and confirm the total before you commit.”

If they ask “Is it framed?”

You can say either:
“It’s unframed so you can choose a frame that suits your home, but it is ready to hang as it is.”

Or: “Yes, it’s framed with hangers on the back and completely ready to hang on your wall.”

Here’s what I want you to remember: you’re not trying to talk someone into buying. the art of how to sell your art successfully is you’re simply making it easy for the right person to say yes.

You state the price clearly. You give one calm next step. You let them decide.

And if you’re reading this thinking, “Ok, I know how to sell my art and can say the number now, but am I actually charging enough?”, go and watch my previous video, “How to Price Your Art: The Simple Math Formula”, because that’s where I walk through the two pricing formulas and the four pricing strategies designed specifically for midlife and older artists.

I’ve put these scripts of how to sell your art into a free PDF for you (no email required), just click and download below. It’s actually a small sample from my “7-Step Plan for Artistic Success.” So grab the scripts today to solve your immediate panic, and if you want the full business roadmap later, I’ve linked that down there for you too.

GET THE RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

1. The Sales Script – How to sell your art (Free PDF) Download the exact cue card I use in the video so you can keep it in your studio or on your phone for your next art fair. Download here: https://tinyurl.com/mrcf8xbt

2. The 7-Step Plan for Artistic Success If you are restarting your art career or building a business later in life, you need a roadmap that doesn’t rely on burnout. This 7 Step Plan covers the business foundations specifically for us. Get the Plan: https://tinyurl.com/4fsaathx