Artist Tips
How to Write Great Artwork Descriptions
When collectors browse art online, a great artwork description can be the difference between a casual scroll and a confident purchase. A strong description gives them a story to connect with and helps them imagine it in their own space.
In this guide, you’ll learn what to include in a description, tips to share your inspiration and process, and how to use AI to polish your writing with our Refine with AI tool. Here’s how to write artwork descriptions that will help collectors connect with your work.
Why do artwork descriptions matter?
Artwork descriptions matter because they give collectors insight into your inspiration, process, and intent, so your work feels personal and memorable. A compelling description creates an emotional connection and builds trust, which can increase the likelihood that collectors will purchase your work.
What should be included in an artwork description?
An effective artwork description should contain essential details about the work, its inspirations, and a vivid sense of how collectors might live with the art.
Essential Details: Include information like materials, medium, and dimensions. These facts help collectors quickly grasp the basic information about your artwork.
Inspiration: Share what inspired the piece to create an emotional connection.
Collector Experience: Give collectors a sense of how the artwork might look and feel in their space. Mention scale, ambiance, or how the colors and textures interact to help them visualize the piece in their home.
Special Considerations: If your artwork requires specific care, mounting, or display instructions, this is the place to highlight them. For example, Anna Sidi-Yacoub’s listing for Stars in the Sky explains how her sculptures can be mounted in different arrangements and the kind of mounts she will provide.
Length and Clarity: Aim for 100–150 words. Your listing should be long enough to provide meaningful context without overwhelming the reader.
How can I make my art description engaging?
Collectors love to know what inspired a work and what you were thinking or feeling while creating it. A few tips to make your art listings engaging are:
- Sharing the story behind the piece.
- Describing the mood, energy, or theme you wanted to convey.
- Explaining the technique or process (e.g., layering paint to create texture).
Erin Hanson’s Ruby Beach is an example of a strong artwork description. The artist could have simply described the piece as an “ocean landscape.” Instead, she wrote, “This painting of Ruby Beach was inspired by golden hour light, where the yellow sky and highlights contrasted beautifully with purple shadows. Thick, expressive brushstrokes capture the movement and transient light of the scene.”
Here, Erin paints a mental picture that describes the atmosphere and the techniques she employed to achieve it.
How do I optimize my art listing for SEO?
When selling art online, you will want to include relevant keywords naturally when writing your artwork description. For instance, a minimalist black-and-white portrait could feature phrases like “minimalist portrait,” “black and white art,” or “modern figurative painting” to improve search visibility.
How do I write artwork descriptions for potential buyers?
Write in an approachable way that helps collectors visualize your work in their space. Avoid overly technical language and keep paragraphs short to ensure readability, especially on mobile devices.
How can I refine my description with AI?
If you want to ensure your description includes all the key elements, use Saatchi Art’s Refine with AI tool in the artist studio.
The more thoughtful and complete your description is at the start, the better the AI will be at enhancing it. Think of AI as a collaborator that elevates your own words rather than replacing them. Start with at least 50 characters of original text, and our tool will analyze key details to generate a polished description designed to resonate with collectors. You can keep the AI-enhanced version as is or tweak it with your own voice.
Find more best practices for usage in the artist handbook.
Final Tips
Keep your tone consistent with your artist brand, always proofread before publishing, and update descriptions periodically if you are looking for ways to refresh your profile. Remember, a well-crafted artwork description is your silent salesperson, working 24/7 to engage collectors.
