Tips on Marketing Yourself and Your Art

>ON YOUR WAY TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

Hi Folks

FORGOT TO SIGN YOUR ART WORK –

I must admit I am guilty of having done this! It’s so embarrassing but it happens. It is especially annoying if you have had it professionally framed and even worse if it is behind glass. What to do? Well, there is no simply solution except take it out of the frame and sign it. It is something that should be on your ‘ to do’ list , to always check your work before it leaves your studio or home.

Practice your signature before you sign your painting, placing it in the lower Right hand corner. No need for a date.

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL YOUR WORK

As students you may think this is not necessary but it is for a few reasons:

1. It is a good way to keep track of how much you have improved.

2. One day you may be in a position of mounting a retrospective of our work or applying for a grant and you will need to provide images of past efforts .

3. Placing these images in a portfolio is a excellent record of what you have done and what has sold.

PORTFOLIO

A portfolio is not just for professional artists! As I’ve mentioned above it is an excellent way to keep a record of your work. When you are part of an art show it helps clients see what you have done and if you add a red dot on those pages it shows what you have previously sold. All this makes potential clients realize you are serious about what you are doing.

In setting up your portfolio find a good leather binder, using heavy plastic pages to insert your written pages and images. The first page should be your Cover Page with your name at the top in bold letters, under which list the medium(s) you work in , then your style and lastly perhaps place an image. Leave nothing for the client to assume. The next page should be your Resume, listing your achievements, art
shows, exhibitions, gallery representation, number of years you’ve been painting etc . This page can be a problem for some if you have not done much so you may need to keep it simple listing art programs you’ve taken. The next page can be reserved for an Artist Statement. When you write this page , again keep it simple and not too ‘artsy’. I’ve read too many of these and then wish I hadn’t. They can be a turn off for clients as well, so I often suggest for artists to skip this page all together. Mount the photographs of your images a single one per page, under which place it’s title, size, and medium. Place a red dot on the page if it has sold.

BUSINESS CARDS

Again this shows potential clients you are serious and business -like. All in an effort to help sell. Your cards do not have to be fancy, in fact keep them simple. Use a clear large font, listing your name, title – i.e. artist and contact information i.e. phone number and email address and website if you have one. No need for street address.

Happy Painting

Cheers Georgia

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