As an artist, you intimately know your artwork’s intention, value, and message that you want to convey to your audience. However, the words you choose to describe your artwork might not always hit their mark, which could lead to confusion or even turn people away from your work. The next time you make a written description of your art or speak about your art, select language that will increase engagement and better communicate the intention and purpose of your art. I call this your ‘art love language.’
The art world is a curious place. And with the power of the internet, unconventional gallery spaces to display and engage with art, new art collectors are emerging beyond the established gatekeepers. When you are bringing your artwork to the world, hoping to garner the right attention and find people that want to support what you do, treat it like ‘dating.’ Make a winning impression with the power of words.
Take caution when using language that might sound vague, off-putting, or attract an audience that might not be an ideal match. The words used to talk about our artwork, or other people’s artwork, is an art and a science. Using the power of language, we can help those who experience our art and read about our creative work gain a more nuanced understanding of the art.
When selecting descriptive words to write or speak about our art, they should align with our artwork’s vision, message, and seamlessly connect and guide viewers and art lovers. Avoid language that makes your art seem more difficult to understand or drives people away.
You want to put your artwork and your ‘brand’ and image as an artist in the best light possible. Consider your word choice, word order, and, of course, add high-quality images to curate an attractive, desirable presentation of your visual work. And don’t forget to schedule time to review and update your ‘art love language’ as needed. Stay current and in alignment with your art with the power of words.
Build Your Vocabulary
In today’s fast-paced, modern world, we can easily text someone or video chat at the click of a button. But with the ease and familiarity of such on-demand communication, we may become lazy about the words we use daily. You know? No cap. And this can seep into how we talk about our artwork, on being an artist, and hurt our communication. Find and learn about words that more clearly and eloquently describe or talk about visual art. Your art.
There’s nothing wrong with using slang or speaking informally among close friends and relatives. However, for the public, we need to be more thoughtful about our approach. The words we use immediately create an image of who we are as artists, where someone should place our art in a mental hierarchy, and how much value or interest our artwork has in their world. And this includes the price tag people think is fair or deserving for creative work.
Yes, the art world is competitive, and yes, there are plenty of people making art. However, if you are interested in seriously connecting with an art buyer, art collector, or fan of creative visual works — treat your artwork with the love, respect, and care it deserves.
Select words that tantalize, intrigue, and make people want your artwork for all the right reasons.
You put in years of hard work and dedication. And yes, you pay dearly for art education and invest in quality art supplies to generate the amazing visual artwork that you make. So, keep in mind that the language you use can readily elevate or tank your art’s validity in the perception of other people outside yourself and your social circle.
Protect the value of your art and your position as an artist by opening a thesaurus or dictionary. Build a personal ‘art love language’ vocabulary list of words that will cast your artwork in the most desirable light possible. Discover relevant words and how to best use them to describe your art and mission.
You know your art, why you make it, and what you want to achieve with it. However, other people might not immediately arrive at the understanding you want them to have of your art. And especially so if you are repeatedly using tired, popular, rehashed words that don’t match up.
Remember, Words Make You Feel
There’s an old saying about how, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Unfortunately, that isn’t always true. There’s this thing called connotation. And when we interact with language, written or spoken aloud, we instantly recall the meaning that we attach to words. Sometimes, certain words trigger positive or less desirable reactions within us as human beings.
You might think how you describe your artwork, that your word choice is accurate and aligns with your artwork’s perception. Think again. Depending on who is interacting with your visual works and any attached written descriptions, you might trigger emotional responses that aren’t the best fit for your artwork, your curated artist image, or your sales.
When you can, step away from the descriptions or spiel that you have on hand to talk about your art. Consider having someone who is close to you, or not so close to you, read what you write about your artwork. And make sure they give their honest responses about the language you chose. Invest in a professional writer to generate descriptions of your artwork for your artist website, art show, or press release.
SEO Is Still Influential
Snapshots of artists making paintings, drawings, sketches, or sculptures in progress are a fantastic way to connect with others. Going live and answering questions an audience may have about your art, or making funny videos or reels, is highly attractive and effective. However, when writing about your artwork, the power of SEO is still impactful.
There are people who have not yet discovered your art, just learned about your art, or are looking up things online that may or may not relate to your art. Really! So, it is helpful to your path as an artist, and to increase your reach and connection to other people to still consider using SEO.
- Check out keywords and their ranking for any words you currently implement to talk about your art, relate to your art style, medium, etc.
- Run your website or descriptions of your artwork through various tools to see what words are hot ranking, have gone cold, or are highly relevant.
- Use targeted SEO in blog posts, on your art website, and your store.
- Generate a list of attractive SEO that your ideal art collector or art buyer would use to find your amazing, fantastic art online.
- Don’t discount how much value SEO still maintains in a world that is increasingly emphasizing the power of video clips and going live.
The Power Of Words & Art
Here’s the takeaway. We human beings love to communicate with one another. And we love to uncover hidden layers of meaning between the lines, whether written, drawn, or painted. Choose words that are a good fit for the visual artwork that you make. Keep your vocabulary strong, flexible, and up-to-date when speaking about your work or making written descriptions.
When in doubt, let other people read over what you are saying about your artwork and get feedback. Look over the words you choose to display and sell your artwork and ask yourself, “How does it make you feel?”
It’s okay to grow alongside your art, change up word choice and order, and put yourself in the mind of your audience when communicating about your art.
Conclusion
If you want your artwork to have a luxurious aura, appeal to soccer moms or skaters, or it’s solely created with an exclusive niche market in mind, choose words that instantly connect to your audience. Developing an “art love language” is another tool in your arsenal to exhibit your art, find ideal buyers and collectors, and improve the perception of your artwork and its value.
Honor the power of words to empower and enrich the experience of visual art, and reduce sending the wrong message.
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References
Dunn, Kerry. “The Power of Language In Sales: Words That Close Deals” October 03, 2024.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-language-sales-words-close-deals-3-kerry-dunn-3ux6c/
Padilla, Wilmar. “Language and Communication In Art”
https://nonsuchfoundation.com/language-and-communication-in-art/
Patel, Neil. “Is SEO Dead in 2026? (A Data-Driven Answer)” February 2, 2026.
https://neilpatel.com/blog/seo-dead/
Patel, Neil. “How To Do SERP Analysis Like An Expert”
https://neilpatel.com/blog/serps-guide/
The Moast Team. “The Brilliant Way Stanley Drives Collector Behavior” November 24, 2025.
https://www.moast.io/blog/how-stanley-drives-collector-behavior/
Wikipedia. “Psycholinguistics”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycholinguistics
