In this guest blog post, artist Steve Browning shares how he sold a landscape painting for €2,400 (about $2,800 USD), and his advice for you. This is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who is on the faculty of the online art conference, Plein Air Live, September 16-18, 2026. Save your spot now at PleinAirLive.com!
How I Sold My Most Expensive Painting: Lessons from Sandycove
By Steve Browning
Sandycove is a popular swimming spot just south of Dublin, Ireland. It’s about 30 minutes from my home. It’s an area I paint regularly and know intimately.
I had painted Sandycove many times plein air, so I knew the area really well. For this painting, I decided to create a much larger work, using my plein air paintings and photographs as references.
Living in Ireland and mainly selling through galleries, I have a relatively limited local clientele, so I’ve always had to price my work with that in mind. When I posted the finished piece online, I priced it relative to its larger scale compared to my smaller studies. I believe the increased presence of a larger canvas helped it command attention immediately.
Connecting with Collectors
Unlike many of my previous sales, the buyer for “Sandycove” contacted me directly rather than purchasing through a gallery.
The buyer had already been following my work online, and they were immediately drawn to “Sandycove.” They had a particular space in their home that they wanted to fill, and the size of the painting worked perfectly for that space. They also liked my style, so it was a good match all round.
I wasn’t particularly surprised that “Sandycove” sold, as I was happy with the painting and felt the price was fair. What did surprise me was how quickly it sold. It was only online for a few days before the buyer contacted me.
This sale showed me that there is definitely a market for larger paintings in Ireland, and it also reinforced the potential of selling directly online. This direct line of communication meant I didn’t have to pay a gallery commission, allowing me to keep the full earnings from the piece. Going forward, I’d like to build my online presence and reach more people who might connect with my work.
Key Takeaways for Artists
For artists looking to elevate their pricing and market value, my primary advice is to understand what buyers are looking for, but also to stay true to your own work. I would never put a painting online or into a gallery that I’m not genuinely happy with. You’ll always regret it in the long run.
Of course, the price of a painting is important, but money shouldn’t be the thing that determines what you paint. I’ve turned down commissions in the past because they didn’t excite me or because I didn’t feel they would contribute positively to my reputation or work in the future.
Ultimately, I think you have to believe in the work you’re putting out there. If you’re proud of a painting, that confidence comes through—and buyers respond to that.
Connect with Steve Browning: www.stevebrowning.net
Looking for MORE ways to improve your skills?
Join us for the next Plein Air Live online art conference! Over the course of 3-4 exciting days, they’ll reveal techniques to improve your use of color, light and shadow, giving you the confidence and skills to paint outdoors and create more amazing artwork than you ever have before. Learn more at PleinAirLive.com.
Browse more free articles here at OutdoorPainter.com
Story prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
