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The goal of much of your art marketing is to build your own community of fans and followers in a way that you control, without ceding your community to Facebook, Instagram or even your art galleries.  And, not only must you build a community of true fans...but you must become the leader of that community.

I recall reading an article in Wired magazine (issue 15.12) years ago, Almost Famous by Clive Thompson.  The article discusses the (at the time relatively recent)  phenomenon of microcelebrities.  This trend has continued and accelerated in the years since the article was written. 

Clive put it this way:

You, dear artist, need to become a microcelebrity (and no doubt many of you already are).


So, what does it take to become a microcelebrity?

Again, from wired magazine, "adapting to microcelebrity means learning to manage our own identity and "message" almost like a self-contained public relations department."  

You must take control of your message.  What this means you must do are exactly the things we, at BoldBrush, have been telling you to do for years:

But Does it really work?

Let me illustrate with a personal example.  Although I conduct the vast majority of FASO and FineArtViews business online, I've attended the Oil Painters of America exhibition as a sponsoring vendor a couple of times.  Once, I set up a booth to demonstrate our software and was present at the show for two days.  I enlisted the help of a photographer friend to assist me with manning the booth (most of the FASO staff members at the time were out of state and thus it was easier to get a local friend to help).  

As the show progressed, a constant stream of artists, art industry experts, art collectors and acquaintances approached the booth to greet me.  Everyone seemed already to know who I was and wanted to say hello.  It was a bit of a strange feeling - they knew me, but I didn't know them.

My photographer friend turned to me and said, "Dude - you're a rock star!"

Actually, I'm fairly uncomfortable being described as a "rock star", those who read this space regularly have probably picked up on the fact that I like to remain kind of "low key."   I'm certainly not a rock star but, the point is, that to my friend, it seemed like I was famous.  And indeed to a very small group of people....I have to admit... I am.

If I can accomplish this with a blog, a software service and an email newsletter, I've shown that it's not that hard to become a microcelebrity, so I encourage you, an artist who is surely much more interesting than I am,  to get started today.

Until next time, please remember that Fortune Favors the Bold Brush.

Sincerely,

Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic

PS - Any artist who has ever had a one-person show, or perhaps even a group show has probably experienced the feeling of being a microcelebrity.  People you don't know walking up..."oh I love you work...."  Your job is to cultivate these people into ongoing supporters and true fans.