When you’ve got a passion for art, the last thing you want to do is get distracted by boring stuff like marketing, sales, and networking. But all too often, these boring things are what get you the new commissions and opportunities you crave. So, sometimes they’ve got to be done — and, yes, sometimes you’ve got to use business cards.
Having an online portfolio, website, social media page etc. is all well and good, of course. But a designer business card? Now that will really elevate your game.
As an artist, your business card is one of the most important marketing tools you have It’s likely the first impression potential clients and partners will have of your work That’s why it’s so important to get it right!
A business card allows you to succinctly showcase your artistic brand. With some thoughtful design choices, you can create a card that reflects your style and makes people excited to learn more about you.
In this article, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to design an eye-catching, effective business card as an artist.
Include Your Basic Contact Information
First things first – your business card needs to function as a way for people to get in touch with you. Make sure to include:
- Your full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- City location
- Website URL
- Links to social media profiles or portfolios (Instagram, Facebook, Etsy, etc.)
List this info clearly and prominently so it’s easy to find.
Consider adding a QR code that people can scan to instantly access your website or social profiles. This makes it easy for potential clients to learn more about you on the spot.
Feature Your Mission Statement or Slogan
After your basic contact info think about including a short mission statement, slogan or tagline that sums up your artistic brand.
A few examples
- “Vibrant acrylic paintings inspired by music and culture.”
- “Illustration and design celebrating everyday magic.”
- “Unique jewelry handcrafted from natural stones and metals.”
Your slogan should be just a few words long – something that sticks in people’s minds. It immediately tells them what you’re all about, which helps attract the right type of clients for you.
Choose an Eye-Catching Design
Now it’s time for the fun part – picking a design! This is your chance to showcase your style.
Consider featuring:
A strong focal image
Pick one powerful image that represents your work. It could be a miniature version of one of your paintings, photographs, or illustrations. Or an abstract pattern or close-up detail of a piece.
Make sure it’s eye-catching and colorful. Zoom in on part of the image so it’s bold and intriguing when viewed small.
Creative use of color
Incorporate colors from your artwork into the design. Create a color palette that reflects your artistic style. Bold, bright, energetic hues tend to grab people’s attention.
Interesting textures or backgrounds
Add visual interest with subtle textures, patterns, or painterly brushstroke effects. You could layer these behind your focal image or contact info. Textures related to your medium can reinforce your brand, like rough canvas or artistic paper.
Unique fonts
Select 1-2 fonts that express your personality. Hand-drawn, brush, or retro fonts can enhance a creative vibe. Make sure important info is legible when printed small.
Minimal negative space
Fill the space in an aesthetically pleasing way so it doesn’t look sparse. Group elements together and consider bleeding some off the edges rather than centering everything.
Print on Quality Card Stock
Don’t forget the material you print on is part of the impression you make! Thicker card stock feels substantial in people’s hands and looks more professional.
Aim for at least 80lb to 100lb weight. Linen, cotton, or matte finishes have an artistic flair. Splurge on letterpress or spot uv effects to take it up a notch.
Square or horizontal orientations stand out from standard vertical business cards. Consider rounded corners or unique edge shapes as well.
Finally, make sure to print high resolution versions so details reproduce clearly. Give people something beautiful they’ll be excited to keep and display!
Top Design Tips for Artists
Here are a few other things to keep in mind as you design your business cards:
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Showcase diversity. Feature a couple different examples of your work rather than just one.
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Add artist tags like painter, illustrator, or photographer.
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List art styles you specialize in like portraiture, abstract art, murals, etc.
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Mention if you take commissions, sell prints, license work, or offer classes.
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Highlight awards, publications, or exhibitions you’ve been featured in.
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Make sure your name is the largest element. Bold and eye-catching.
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Avoid clutter. Find the balance between showcasing your brand and keeping it clean and scannable.
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No need to include your home address – city is sufficient.
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Double check for typos! And test print a sample first before ordering a full batch.
Digital Options for Artists
Along with physical cards, consider digital business cards as well. You can easily share these online or via email.
Platforms like Dybuster let you create a custom card with clickable links, your latest work, videos, and more – all in one shareable place.
You can also turn your card into a standalone mini website portfolio to direct potential clients to. Link it in your email signature and social bios so it’s always available.
Having an online card allows you to update your work and links easily over time. You can see analytics on how many people viewed, shared or clicked. Making it easy to track engagement.
Spread the Word!
Once you’ve designed beautiful, on-brand business cards, be sure to get them out into the world!
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Carry a stack with you and hand out liberally in person.
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Mail cards to existing clients and your mailing list.
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Include 1-2 cards with each online order or artwork sale.
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Frame one on your studio wall or booth display.
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Ask to pin cards on community boards at local cafes and shops.
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Meet other artists and creatives and offer to swap cards.
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Ask happy clients to share or display your card for you.
The more cards you distribute, the more chances for potential business! Just be sure to keep some on hand to give out anytime an opportunity arises.
Top Tips for Designing Artist Business Cards:
- Showcase your artistic style with visuals related to your work
- Feature a memorable slogan or tagline
- Make contact info prominent and easy to read
- Print on quality, substantial card stock
- Leverage both physical and digital card formats
- Spread your cards far and wide to maximize exposure
With a thoughtfully designed business card that reflects your brand, you’ll make memorable first impressions and have an indispensable networking tool. Use these tips to create an artist business card that helps your talent shine and inspires people to learn more about you!
Artist Business Card Design: Amazing Cards in 6 Steps
Pick a size and shape. Most business cards are wallet-sized (3.5 x 2 inches) and rectangular, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow tradition. Instead, go with a mini card, a square design, or something unique — just be sure it’s not too large or unwieldy to carry around conveniently.
Choose your design. What do you want your card to say about you? Is your style clean and modern? Dark and edgy? Nostalgically vintage? No matter what you choose, make sure that your design reflects your brand.
Add visuals and text. If you’ve got a logo, add it! You can also include high-quality pictures of your art, photos, graphics, and symbols. Of course, you’ll also want to add in all the relevant info we talked about above.
Find your fonts and colors. Time for the fun part! Pick out your color scheme and typography styles — again, be sure they’re in line with your brand identity and style to avoid a confusing card.
Do a quick check. Before you even think about printing your cards, do a grammar and design check. Are there any typos? Does the card look cluttered? Have you included all the necessary info?
Complete the look. Can you print your cards on standard printer paper? Yes. Should you? Absolutely not.
Whatever you do, don’t cheap out on materials for your business cards because a cheap card equals a bad impression. Instead, select a stock with a heavier weight to ensure your card feels nice, looks nice, and lasts.
What To Include on Your Artist Business Card
Just what should you include on your artist business cards?
When you’re ready to design art business cards for your brand, this info is a must-have.
Combine these elements with an example of your work for a memorable card that helps you make connections and impress your future clients.
Obvious? Maybe. Essential? Absolutely. As an artist, you are your work — that means your card needs to feature your name prominently and potently. Be sure that the name on your business card matches the name you use elsewhere (i.e., on social media, your website, when signing your art, etc.).
You might be tempted just to put “artist” on the card and be done with it, but if you have a niche, then flaunt it. For example, are you a sculptor? Wildlife photographer? Woodcarver? Graphic designer? Finger painter? Get specific with your profession, and you’re sure to be more memorable.
What do you call a business card with no contact info? Just another pretty picture. If you want your card to work for you, putting the right contact info on your card is a must. We recommend a professional (not personal!) phone number and email address at the very least.
You can’t showcase all your work (especially on a tiny business card), but you can direct your contacts to your website or online portfolio. Make sure the URL is easy to find and not too intimidating to type in so that people are more likely to visit.
How To Make Business Cards In Procreate
How to create a business card for artists?
Here are five steps for how to create business cards for artists successfully: 1. Include your name, contact information and professional profiles Make sure to include your full name in bold, legible letters on your business card.
How do you design a business card?
Choose an engaging and unique design for your business card to capture the attention of viewers and build a memorable reputation as an artist in your field. Determine which colors, fonts and layout you want to use for your card and information, making sure that they represent your style and brand effectively.
Why do artists need a business card?
As an artist, your business card is more than just a piece of paper with your contact details. It is a representation of your creative identity, a window into your artistic world. Therefore, it becomes essential to consider various aspects of its design that can help communicate your unique style and work.
What are the best business card ideas for artists?
If you don’t want to use an example or image of your work, another business card idea for artists is to make the design of the card reflect the aesthetic of your work. For example, a fine artist business card probably shouldn’t use a goofy font. Keep the vibe of your card in line with your brand identity.
