Art and the Economics of Giving

Are you struggling to sell your original art… or even your prints?

The fact is, as of late 2025, fewer than 25% of Americans have $2000 in the bank.

50% of Americans have less than $500 in savings.

And 23% of Americans age 25 – 34 have nothing in their bank accounts.

Yes: Nothing. (Ref. Nasdaq.)

 

If you’re in business, you need to know your potential audience and customers.

If your usual fans & collectors are among 75% of Americans, they can’t buy your $1500 painting, wall hanging or assemblage, no matter how gorgeous it is, or how badly they want to own it.

Sure, your art may be worth that much or more.

Value isn’t the issue here.

The more pertinent questions might be:

• Do your business practices make your future customers feel better or worse about themselves?
• Do they like how they feel around you and (especially) around your art?
• Do you have rapport with them?

If they don’t feel that sense of mutual understanding on a personal level – even as artist-to-customer – they won’t be as open to connecting with what your art communicates.

Sure, you can focus on the minority who can afford your art.

However, that probably shouldn’t be your exclusive focus.

Reaching the 75%

If you’re meeting some of that 75% at art shows, galleries, or even as you’re running errands – and hope to attract them as clients, customers and collectors in the future, when they’re back on their feet – now is the time to establish rapport. They’ll remember it later.

Think about what you can do, so they feel a connection with you right now. What can you give or sell to them that they can own, and – at the same time – help them feel better about themselves?

Even if the person can’t purchase any of your art – even as prints – right now, he or she should walk away thinking, “That art is so great.  I’m going to own some of that, some day.”

Contrast that with the sad, “That art is beautiful, and yet another thing I can’t afford. Maybe I never will.”

See the difference?

So, make it possible for the person to connect with your art and feel good about it, right now.

The importance of gifts

Whether it’s a happy conversation, an occasional artcard, or a link to a webpage where they can download something… make sure you connect with your friends and fans, and they remember it as a happy meeting.

This isn’t a reciprocity thing.  It’s not, “I’ll give you this now, and you agree to give me something in return, later.”

The gift economy is a little different. 

It’s about bonding as individuals, and as a community, to establish a personal connection and goodwill for the sake of the group and each other, period.

What do you get out of this?

You get to be part of a happier, more connected community…

                                                                                         in a happier, more connected world.

You get the satisfaction of having done something good. 

Too often, that’s vastly underrated.

Remain sensitive to what’s really going on, despite appearances.

This is your opportunity to do something nice and helpful… and be remembered for it.

Everyone wins!

Pave the road to your successful future.

It’s fine to focus on people with cash who also like your art.  That’s common sense.

However, I hope you’ll invest a little happy karma by making it possible for everyone to own some of your art, right now.

This may require a little creativity, but you can do it.

(Note: If you liked my graphic at the top of this article, it’s a free download.  You can click on the image or here to download it as a 5″ x 7″ poster.  If you collect ATCs, click here for that free download.)

To understand more about
our economy and the importance of gifts
read Linchpin by Seth Godin