Do you want to sell your work or do you want show your artwork? Pay careful attention to this question. Let’s ask it another way. Do you want to show your house or sell your house? You probably want to sell your house but you’ll need to show it first. Do want to show your used car, or sell it?
The branch manager at a local bank in St. Helena asked me if I would like to show my work at that branch. I must ask, “Have you shown art before?” “Oh yes, for many years.” “And how much artwork has sold?” Her answer, “None.”
I replied, ”Well, thank you. I appreciate your thinking of me but my business involves selling my work.” Was I annoyed? A little. I was there to open a business account. But she doesn’t know me as a businesswoman yet, and she’s probably thinking that I’m a poor artist and she is trying to help. I don’t question her intentions.
So if you’re just starting out, you may want to show it everywhere that you can and that makes sense. But if you are in business and you’re interested in profiting from the sale of your art it needs to be in front of your target audience when they are in an art-buying mode. And that’s generally not when they are on their way to make a withdrawal or make a deposit. So as “opportunities” arise ask if it is one that will help you to sell or show your work.
If you have excess inventory in your studio, then it’s much better to have eyeballs on it then have it stored on a shelf. But consider if the placement of your work will reach your target market and when they are in an art buying mode.
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That’s right Cory! You have all the power, if you want it!
I would add help your reps help you. Know your market, your unique selling proposition, I could go on and on, and I will!
Great post. I always ask the question whether anything’s sold. The nice thing is that most people aren’t upset at the question. I can’t say that about galleries, but shops that happen to display art are very candid.
Peace,
@vinylart
I’m with Ann. There are some artist reps who are good, some not so much. They should have no problem providing references. It’s important to feel comfortable with people that you are doing business with.
I agree with Ann even more on the point that you are your own best rep. No one can sell your art like you can. People buy from passionate people, from people they know, like and trust, and no one can establish that relationship with a buyer like you can. You have all the power, if you want it.
Hi Liz,
That’s a very broad question. Like any profession, there are some artist reps who are good at what they do and those that are not.
The point is how well they represent your work and do you have a clear and fair written contract.
I believe that you will always be your own best rep.
Ann
Hi Ann,
Your article is balm for my artistic spirit. It feels as though all I have succeeded in doing with my artwork is “showing” it rather than selling it. My New Year’s resolution is to focus on sales. What do you think about agents or artist’s reps? Thank you for this article.
I would add, ask for references if you are planning on working with an art representative.
I agree with you Daniel. Thank you for contributing.
The same caution should apply not just to alternative spaces (like a bank or cafe), but to opportunities to show you work in more traditional spaces like a gallery or art show. The conventional wisdom is that to sell your art, you must get it “out there”. Yet many traditional venues for art are actually poor places to *sell* art. Just because your art is “seen” doesn’t mean it will also sell.
One gallery I know has great sales — if you are happens to be 3D (sculpture, craft, etc.). They rarely sell anything that can hang on a wall. So for a 2D artist, having your art hang in such a gallery might feel like a good idea, yet would actually make poor business sense. You have to be careful and do your due diligence, even when the opportunity sounds good.