Artist success is within reach if you follow five smart and cost-effective self-marketing tips from Artocracy.org, an award-winning marketplace featuring online galleries of original, professionally curated fine artwork.

"Immersing yourself in the art world brings you closer to your passion, your talent, and to your target market -- the people, such as art dealers and collectors, interested in and responsible for selecting, commenting and collecting original art," said Artocracy.org founder and critically acclaimed self-promoting artist Megan Murphy. "Artists can successfully market themselves, even in a recession, with Artocracy's five self-marketing tips."

5 tips: How to market your artwork:

1. Get to know the galleries and art dealers in your local town and in your state's largest city. Frequently attend galleries, gallery openings and events. When looking for gallery representation, make sure the work a particular gallery shows relates to your work. A gallery that features landscape paintings will not likely be interested in your conceptual video pieces.

2. Arrange shows at unusual venues, such as libraries, department stores, boutiques, restaurants, banks, hair salons, spas, etc. These venues are often interested in highlighting and supporting local artists, and often appreciate beautiful, free décor.

3. Start a blog about your work. Update the blog with images, thoughts, videos, and content about your work. Make sure you comment on recent art events and how they relate to your work.

4. Create a portfolio of Digital Art Multiples that can be sold in an online marketplace, such as Artocracy. This will introduce people to your work and content in an affordable and accessible manner. It is much easier to approach art dealers when you have an existing client base and track record of art sales.

5. Get a job working in the arts to open doors to meeting the art "players," learn about work presentation and how to talk to art dealers. Jobs can be found in non-profit art spaces, museums, galleries, academic art departments, graphic design firms, art galleries, and Web design firms.