Brand dilution is a dangerous phenomenon, and a very difficult one to reverse especially in the business of art.

Brand : Your art business

Dilution : Weakening, by the addition of water or a thinner.

Eventually, word gets round that

• You create art products for these celebrities for free
• You are doing it just because you are a fan (#fanart, remember?)
• You accept (like you have a choice, lol) whatever “God lays in their spirit” to give you as payment (which ranges from “thank you” and cabin biscuit to a moderate monetary sum).

Also, people get to see that you do not value your ability very much and, as such, they will also disrespect you. Since you are a human representation of your business, people will eventually come to see that you do not have a proper business model or an effective strategy, and they will also notice that you are very ok with the ego rub that your temporary social media fame affords you. Eventually, potential clients who want their commissions to be perceived as objects of value, are not likely to contact you. Brand dilution.

I say this because drawing/ painting/ designing for free is such a common trend and dilution is so pervasive that people are beginning to see art as something that comes completely naturally to us, requiring no hardwork/training/dedication on our part, and as such, should not be paid for.

A business model that has freebies as a major component is more likely to fail.

There is the psychology of art and your business rises and falls on your degree of understanding of this fact. As an artist, you are more likely to appeal to a niche market than a mass market. The clients that make up this niche market purchase art based, to a great extent, on the value they place on it. There has to be something unique, either about the artwork or the artist.#

 Brand dilution ruins any perception of value attached to you or your art business.

In our next article, i will help you understand how to use freebies wisely.