I am meeting with a gallery owner and I can put together some pics and show her paintings but everything else?
What can I do?
I am a gallery director myself and have people ask me this question every week.
First off, be professional. This is a job interview, essentially. If you show up and act too stereotypically "Aloof Artist", you will already have points against you. As a Director, what I want in an unknown artist (if you have no resume, shows or training,) is someone who has strong, saleabul work first of all.
Secondly, I want someone who seems able to sell their own work. Meaning, someone who will approach people during their receptions and talk to people and make them interested in the art and them self. If you have any collector base, (people who buy your work), I want them to commit to having the sales go through the gallery and not AROUND the gallery. A lot of new artists feel like selling a painting outside of the gallery is a good idea, and a good way of making extra money. But, to the contrary, you will get a reputation of being an underhanded business person and will have a harder time getting shows in the future.
Also, as an example of being professional, have a VERY professional looking portfolio to LEAVE with the Director. Don’t try to pick a fancy font, or quirky sheet of paper to put your artist statement on. Do something that you would expect an executive would put a business proposal on. Simple, readable text on simple, quality paper. The same goes for your method of image distribution. If you use slides, put them in a slide sleeve and put the sleeve in a folder with your statements. If it is a cd, do the same. Have everything clearly labled and clean. Do this even if you are bringing in originals to the Director. I always like to look at the work later.
Include things like, a Bio and an Artist Statement (why you do what you do). These are important, and should be written well. If you aren’t much of a writer, have a friend who is write it for you. You need to appear as "Put together" as you can.
To make a long story short. We, as Gallery Owners/Directors, want to know that you are worth investing in. Essentially, we will be spending thousands of dollars on: Rent for the space, Printing fees for post cards and promotional info, labor/salaries and such just so you can hang work in our space. We need to feel like the sales of your works will meet or exceed the costs mentioned above. Do everything in your power to make us think that. And if we show your work, you need to make that happen.
—Ricky H.
I would simply talk about how my paintings came into being. I wouldn’t pretend about having an extensive background or lie, but be honest, and just let your artwork speak for itself.
References :
many years of experience
I agree – your paintings will speak the loudest. However, if you have ever sold your paintings at any fairs or other forum, you may want to share that experience. It would likely be important to be able to describe the type of people who attended that particular fair and the type who showed the most interest in your work. (Age, income, level of experience with art) Good luck!
References :
I am a gallery director myself and have people ask me this question every week.
First off, be professional. This is a job interview, essentially. If you show up and act too stereotypically "Aloof Artist", you will already have points against you. As a Director, what I want in an unknown artist (if you have no resume, shows or training,) is someone who has strong, saleabul work first of all.
Secondly, I want someone who seems able to sell their own work. Meaning, someone who will approach people during their receptions and talk to people and make them interested in the art and them self. If you have any collector base, (people who buy your work), I want them to commit to having the sales go through the gallery and not AROUND the gallery. A lot of new artists feel like selling a painting outside of the gallery is a good idea, and a good way of making extra money. But, to the contrary, you will get a reputation of being an underhanded business person and will have a harder time getting shows in the future.
Also, as an example of being professional, have a VERY professional looking portfolio to LEAVE with the Director. Don’t try to pick a fancy font, or quirky sheet of paper to put your artist statement on. Do something that you would expect an executive would put a business proposal on. Simple, readable text on simple, quality paper. The same goes for your method of image distribution. If you use slides, put them in a slide sleeve and put the sleeve in a folder with your statements. If it is a cd, do the same. Have everything clearly labled and clean. Do this even if you are bringing in originals to the Director. I always like to look at the work later.
Include things like, a Bio and an Artist Statement (why you do what you do). These are important, and should be written well. If you aren’t much of a writer, have a friend who is write it for you. You need to appear as "Put together" as you can.
To make a long story short. We, as Gallery Owners/Directors, want to know that you are worth investing in. Essentially, we will be spending thousands of dollars on: Rent for the space, Printing fees for post cards and promotional info, labor/salaries and such just so you can hang work in our space. We need to feel like the sales of your works will meet or exceed the costs mentioned above. Do everything in your power to make us think that. And if we show your work, you need to make that happen.
—Ricky H.
References :
Years of Art/Gallery experience.