Why buy art? It’s an interesting question. What do you want to hang on your walls and look at every day? What inspires you, brings you joy, enhances your décor?

These are questions to think about when you hope to sell your art as well. What resonates with one person might not with another. Your favourite pieces might not be the ones that sell. Why?

Sometimes we have a favourite or two amongst our work because of the story it tells, how we were feeling when we created it or even how much time and effort went into its creation.

I’m always surprised at what sells out of the works I exhibit. My favourite pieces are not always the ones that inspire buyers to open their wallets. My favourites often come home with me again and end up on my walls, which is OK by me, although sooner or later I run out of hanging space!

Time and time again I find that the works I labour over for many hours and days are not the ones that sell.

The artworks that sell almost make themselves. They jump from the paper with joy and fizz with delight in their frames. They resonate with others because they imbue energy and light and happiness.

This was the case when the first of my artworks sold at the official opening of my Paper exhibition at Beaudesert. I was asked by the buyer which were my favourites from the exhibition. Together we walked around the exhibition and I showed her my two favourites, telling her how they came to be created.

However these were not the ones that resonated with her. She was drawn to one which stood out all by itself on a feature wall. I asked her why she liked it and she said it really appealed because of the layered patterning, the colours and the story it illustrated. I captured that ‘red spot’ moment when she claimed it for herself. I’m happy that it has found its new home.

So now when I hang works for an exhibition, I bless each piece and send it on its way. If it finds a new home, that’s great. Others might get a chance to be exhibited in another venue or they are ‘rested’, taken from their frames and allowed a respite in my drawers to be sold one day unframed. Some are rotated on my walls. I too have my favourites which speak of a time and a place and a method of creating which I have moved on from.

What’s the secret then to sales? Keep producing. Keep trying new things that excite you. If something feels finished even if it didn’t take that long, let it dance its way into a frame. If it doesn’t sell this time, it might in another venue - or not. What matters is the action of creating and putting yourself out there. Those red dot moments are waiting to happen, any day now…