We enjoyed answering your questions and invite the rest of you to visit the website to investigate January's seminar that will talk about gallery representation, social networking, how to sell art in a down economy, the art print market, how to price your art, turning your website into an art marketing machine, licensing images and, oh yes, art fairs!
Visit this link to learn more about joining us in January: www.smartist.com/connie
Here is the link to listen to the telesummit phone call: http://smartist.com/live-telesummit/2011-2/connie-ariane-recording
Comments
In fact gallery representation was part of the discussion, "Why should I pay a 50% commission to let a gallery sell my work?" This, of course, will be part of the seminars. Noting above what you said about the costs incurred by a gallery I'm sure you'd agree that most artists also aren't aware of how their booth fee is used to put the show together. The better the return, the more it costs to be there, I'm afraid. Those costs have a reason.
Can anyone tell me if "goals" were mentioned? Without a well defined objective, it is really hard to establish a good plan. The often overlooked —minimal— question is where do you see yourself in relation to other makers of similar items. Are you of a caliber that makes you destined to being shown in museums; or, are you just making things for art's sake, and have given away most of your work to family and friends?
Once you honestly define your level of excellence (talent?), most procedural matters drop into order and can be clicked off as you pass their mile markers. If you think you are good enough to be represented in galleries, ask yourself how many competitive exhibitions have you entered and got accepted this year? Good exhibitions use well, nationally established judges. Those are the judges that add to your acceptance and resume by the mere fact that they lent you their name.
To have a gallery represent you, get use to the idea that they are (perhaps) investing quite a lot to merely put your work on the shelf: rent, heat and lights, staff, gallery promotion, etc. Good galleries have costs far in excess of what you might experience when pitching your tent in a park for a weekend. They, galleries, are much harder to get into than art fairs, so don't rush off and burn your local art fair bridges behind you.
Decide who you want to be and where you want to be — life will get easier.
I'm probably wrong, but having an open mind to reality really is helpful.
Jim