Let me tell you a common way it works in the art world - maybe the print world has similarities. Your primary aim is getting the right potential customers to see your work. For painters this is best done by approaching gallery owners and seeing if they will do an exhibition of your work. They'll tell you if your stuff is unsaleable.
Choose a gallery that has done exhibitions showing work that has commonalities to your own. This will cost you (gallery use, food, drinks publicity etc.) but if you have talent it's money well spent. A good gallery knows excatly the type of client to send invitations to, and will also know how to get some media attention.
You'll have to show up and be amusing, knowledgable, urbane etc. If that's not you have a close friend do it for you as your agent. I've seen a few artists get going with this technique. Using someone else's space, the gallery owner himself and knowledgeable friends as "front people" is all about the right expert for the job.
I've visited Peter Lil's outlet in Noosa, Australia, (closed last year) and it was right in the middle of the most upmarket shopping street in the country. If you can afford that it might be an alternative starting point.
