Networking Artist

[rick]

Has anyone been successful selling their art through galleries. Or do you find doing art shows and festivals more successful? How do you do selling through auction places like Ebay?

Though I have sold a good amount of work through several galleries, most of my income comes from commisions and shows. A gallery will sell a piece now and then and the money is more like a bonus than anything else. Well, I like the exposure too.

As far as selling through my website http://artbabyart.com/rick - I have sold 3 pieces people have seen. Once I did have an order for 200 cabinets - of course I had to turn them down, no way could I do more than 25 of the same thing...

Vote in our Poll - Thanks, Rick

[Guest]

I think if a gallery can sell 2 to 4 pieces of my artwork each month I would be willing to pay 40% - 50% for their services. I think it should be like that anyway. Like on a sliding scale, the more you sell the more money you can keep!!! It serves as an incentive.

[SGGardner]

I exhibited and sold my work for over 20 years at outdoor art festivals, indoor juried exhibits, and a couple of galleries. The festivals were a good place to sell for a very long time, but over the years the market changed to the point that prints (paper reproductions) became 'the thing' that sold most steadily. I had to choose between becoming a print-producing machine (spending most of my time matting & framing prints instead of creating new originals) and devoting my time to creating new originals.

In 2001 I 'retired' from the festival circuit and haven't regretted it for a minute. I had four galleries that represented me at the time I quit the festivals, but unfortunately two of them closed due to health reasons of the owners in one case and the dissolution of an arts group in the other. It bugged me a LOT because I sold well at both places! But the other two galleries that carry my work are selling fairly well. I am so happy to be spending time working on new originals now; and opportunities to sell come along now and then 'out of the blue' so I must say all is well!

I have an online gallery, a web site where I show my work but usually I get commissions from people visiting this site; I don't think I've sold but 2 directly off the site. I see it as a marketing tool of sorts instead of a sales outlet. About a year ago I put my work on a web site called Absolute Arts where they handle sales, but there haven't been any so far. I'm not sure the Internet is that great a place to sell our work but the web site sure is a good way to show people what you do especially when they live too far away to come to the studio.

Susan Gardner

[Guest]

For people serious about selling their artwork, Ebay has little to offer. Even established artists and "dead" artists sell for next to nothing. It breaks my heart to see people listing their paintings for a dollar, especially when they close at... a dollar.

[Pamstyle]

I represent a unique artist. I have had his art in 5 shows. I have followed up on the leads after each show and have been able to sell each time. I now have have 6 pieces in a museum in Hollywood, and I have a booth at a major Trade Show in Las Vegas in January. I haven't sold off the net even though I have a website. (I could use a new local website designer though.) I have only been representing him for a year, so I'm still new. I'm looking forward to selling at the Trade Show. I can't think of any place else to sell art except by referrals.
Pamela Taylor
Art by Bloksberg
_________________
Pamela Taylor
Artist Agent
Specializing in Art By Bloksberg
Pamela@PamStyle.com
www.PamStyle.com
www.ArtByBloksberg.com
fax: 661-827-0695

[Guest]

Hello everyone. I am new to the site, my name is James Allen. I've been painting and drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. A few years ago I fell in love with jazz and music so much that I started to paint it. I now have an online website at http://www.jamesallenart.com. After reading postings in this forum, it seems that a lot of people are doing well, I would like some tips on how I can increase my sales. I currently sell originals and prints, but am having trouble selling. Can I please get some feedback from you all. How are my prices? The content of my work? Would you buy it? I am not a man devoted to money, but I know there has to be a market out there and I really want people to appreciate my work. Thank you all so much.

[Ilania]

Hi there: Selling visual art is quite hard. It is better done by the professionals. They make money selling your stuff but they also liberate us to go on painting. You have to ask yourself:

“Do I have a sufficient body of artwork that can be reviewed
by professional art dealers?” “Is my Presentation Portfolio professional
enough?”

The only way to find the answers is to actually find an art gallery
owner or manager who is willing to look at the presentation and slides or
pictures of the artwork and provide professional advice.

Then you can start contacting galleries until you find one that concentrates on the type of art you do.

For more information about galleries in the US go to:
http://siera_arts.net/DirectoryAmericanArtGalleries.html
_________________
http://www.IlaniaAbileah.com

[afrika]

Greetings:

I have been successful at selling art at galleries and at my home.


Afrika Midnight Asha Abney
Abstract Expressionist
http://aashawarrior.artistportfolio.net/index.php?secret=140&artist_id=4513
About the Artist, Gallery,Guestbook,Links
_________________
Afrika Midnight Asha Abney
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/afrika-abney.html
http://abstractartistafrikamaabney.bloghi.com

Specializing in Abstract Painting, Collage and Mask Design, Photography, Prints, Graphic Designing, and Drawing

[mbellart]

Perseverance and staying true to your unique vision, whatever it is, has been my key to success. That, and always making the most of whatever opportunities come your way.

Michael Bell
Celebrity Artist
http://www.mbellart.com

Also, make time to help others...it's so important. You should see what my student artists protégés can do! Take a look at their work at: http://visualjournaling.com/sketchbooks.html

[artery]

I do understand and have heard of a lot of horror stories dealing with art galleries.

It was one of the reasons a few years ago we set up our art gallery as we were so fed up of walking into art galleries and they all being the same very dull and "posh" places.

We now have opened our 2nd Contemporary gallery in St Andrews in Scotland and are very successfully selling many paintings. Our customers enjoy our fresh approach to the gallery and all the work is displayed well and has good information about the artist and work.

We work very hard in promoting our artists and anybody who works for Artery Gallery are also trained and have good knowledge about the artist and their work. If you can work with galleries like us as an artist you will,

1 Have a professional Gallery promoting your work

2 Have large numbers of people view your work

3 The gallery will be able to feed constructive comments from potential buyers helping you to decide which direction to take your work in.

4 A good gallery will take commission but they will also help manage your career making the commission you give become more of an investment.

Those are just some very few examples of what a gallery can do for you but in the same respect an artist needs to make sure they choose their gallery wisely and the best test I have always found (also apart from owning the galleries I am a photographer so also knows how it feels to be on the other side of the fence!)

The best test to a good gallery is at random (if your are considering to exhibit with a gallery that has invited you) pick say 3 artist they have or are dealing with and ask if the artist are happy to talk to you about their experiences of the gallery, I actually encourage any new artists looking to exhibit with ourselves to speak to other artists.

I hope these pointers do help but never give up we have had artists as young as 15 sell with us to artists in their 9os!

Jason

Artery Gallery Ltd Scotland
http://www.arteryuk.com