When is an artist ready to sell their work? An art gallery owner or art representative will determine this based on an artist’s answers to a few questions:
- How much similar art work do you have in inventory? Art representatives will want to know if they can come back for more.
- What other art galleries do you work with? They’ll want to have a monopoly on a certain geographic area for your work and want you not to work with anyone else in that market.
- Do you retail your work through art galleries for more than you sell to art collectors directly? This is a no no. If you have done this, then it demonstrates a lack of integrity because you are willing to undercut your art representative and compromise the value of your own work.
- Do you have a website that displays your retail price or allows visitors to purchase online? Again, many art galleries not going to like this because you are eating into their market.
- Do you accept commissions? It’s easier to sell your work if you are willing and able to do custom work and to deliver it on time.
- Have you given your art away as gifts to your friends or family? They’ll want to know if you value your work or if you have compromised its value by gifting it.
- What retail price do you want to sell your art work for? You need to know the answer. That’s not their job to determine this and it will demonstrate your professionalism. You’ll receive 50% to 60% of the retail price.
- Do you make art full time or part time? If you make art part time, how much do you make? What is your part time job? The catch is that you can be judged as a hobbiest for making art part time.
- And here’s the kicker question? How much work have you sold your art for for how much? If you haven’t sold anything you are far less appealing.
My answer to the question, When is an artist ready to sell their work? Anytime you have a buyer.
When you build your own market, you have control. No one can claim a monopoly on a market where the terms are consignment, a common practice that is unethical at best and illegal at worst.
Am I slamming art galleries and or art consultants? No. I’m just relaying the questions that I was asked when I worked with art galleries.
Once I realized that I could develop ongoing relationships with my collectors, keep control and all of the money, I stopped working with art representatives.
When is an artist ready to sell their work? I’ve found that I’m always ready to sell my work. But a representative may be involved in selling another artist’s work.
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Showing your art in art galleries is critical your “career.” Yes. That’s true.
But Artists Who THRIVE is not about “showing” your art, it is about “selling” your art.
There is a BIG difference.
Focus on a “career” or focus on a “business.” Your choice
Exhibiting your art at art galleries is critical if your artist career agenda includes getting your art in front of people who count– curators, critics, collectors, consultants, advisors, gallery owners and other influential art world players. When you get a show, either solo or group, you’ve got to take full advantage of the opportunity– the plaudits don’t automatically roll in. You’re suddenly out of the studio and into the art world where a unique protocol prevails, and getting to know the territory, particularly from the art gallery owner or gallerist perspective, comes in mighty handy. ‘