Plein Air painters have an advantage over studio painters because we are out there in the public eye constantly. Plus our paintings are usually small, easily transported, less expensive to purchase than large work, and there is always a small niche or desktop to display them at home or the office. Point out these advantages when marketing your paintings.
Always have business cards with you while on painting excursions. Carry ready made wired frames in the car with you. Keep your sizes standard so that clients are able to purchase less expensive frames on their own. Go to the local pizza shop and purchase small pizza boxes to keep in your car. They make great painting boxes, which a client can use to carry wet paintings. Giving them optional framing is a good selling technique. Incorporate shipping options into your selling plan, such as free shipping on purchases of more than one painting. I use USPS Priority Mail for most of my shipping because they give you free boxes and shipping tape. That adds up in savings. Offer gift wrap on paintings with gift cards that have your image on them. This is easy to do with your home computer.
Have a list of selling points with you to refresh your memory. Be prepared to discuss your working methods, and share interesting stories about your painting adventures with observers. You will know when someone is genuinely interested. What is it about plein air painting that you enjoy? Why is it different than studio work and special? When you come up with a list of reasons, type them up and print them out on a card with one of your images and information. Hand them out to folks who stop to browse.
I offer my clients a variety of series and themes, to keep them interested. I am marketing a series of 4x6 inch framed paintings for a very attractive price at this time. I send out post cards and e-mail newsletters with many options for purchase. Don’t forget Lay-a-way. It sounds old fashioned, but taking payments on paintings may make the sale for you. Get a www.paypal.com account on line so that you can accept credit card payments or electronic bank payments. The cost is very small compared to having a credit card machine and no hassle at all.
Keep a nice album of available images of paintings in your car. You can also make an album with real paintings for sale. Buy a 3-hole notebook with the plastic sleaves inserts. You can slide small painting panels in the sleaves and have the price on them ready to sell! Build a mailing list and use it. Have a small guest book and ask people to sign it while you are out painting. Do an email out once a month and a postcard mail out every three months. For each mail out offer a coupon. It can be a percent off coupon or an offer for a free card. Try to introduce a new series or special painting with each mail out. List your galleries on your mail outs.
Your mailing list can start with friends and businesses you deal with and grow from there. Your hairdresser, doctor, pest control man, neighbor, etc. I send out an e-Painting every Friday which my friends enjoy. It includes an image with a brief story about my adventure while painting it. My list for this alone has grown to about 300 folks who subscribe.
There are many ways to sell your paintings and these are but a few ideas that have proven results. So make some plans and set some goals to market your plein air paintings.
Plein Air painters have an advantage over studio painters because we are out there in the public eye constantly. Plus our paintings are usually small, easily transported, less expensive to purchase than large work, and there is always a small niche or desktop to display them at home or the office. Point out these advantages when marketing your paintings.
Always have business cards with you while on painting excursions. Carry ready made wired frames in the car with you. Keep your sizes standard so that clients are able to purchase less expensive frames on their own. Go to the local pizza shop and purchase small pizza boxes to keep in your car. They make great painting boxes, which a client can use to carry wet paintings. Giving them optional framing is a good selling technique. Incorporate shipping options into your selling plan, such as free shipping on purchases of more than one painting. I use USPS Priority Mail for most of my shipping because they give you free boxes and shipping tape. That adds up in savings. Offer gift wrap on paintings with gift cards that have your image on them. This is easy to do with your home computer.
I offer my clients a variety of series and themes, to keep them interested. I am marketing a series of 4x6 inch framed paintings for a very attractive price at this time. I send out post cards and e-mail newsletters with many options for purchase. Don’t forget Lay-a-way. It sounds old fashioned, but taking payments on paintings may make the sale for you. Get a 
Keep a nice album of available images of paintings in your car. You can also make an album with real paintings for sale. Buy a 3-hole notebook with the plastic sleaves inserts. You can slide small painting panels in the sleaves and have the price on them ready to sell! Build a mailing list and use it. Have a small guest book and ask people to sign it while you are out painting. Do an email out once a month and a postcard mail out every three months. For each mail out offer a coupon. It can be a percent off coupon or an offer for a free card. Try to introduce a new series or special painting with each mail out. List your galleries on your mail outs.