WomenCo.

I am not new to doing art, but i am new to showcasing it, sales, and gallery so where do you begin...especially when this is not your arena professionally...Please provide discussion on breaking into the business, and or suggestions on how to promote your art work or showcase in local galleries...

A friend has had success with the local library as well a few local nail salons.  Be sure to put your business card on the front of each and then check them regularly as people tend to take the cards and pass them around.  Like AnnEvanston said: the "word" will get out.

Great Ideas Ladies. I appreicate your time and your advice, will take heed immediately...

I have actually sold a few pieces and a collegue of mine says my work is good enough to sale and kinda put a "fire under my a**" to do so...Plus as he states its always people who dont study fine art that make the most money in the art business...I think thats true of many professions...smiles...Yet I never really thought of art as business, but at this time, of being unemployed, something must give...Feel me?

A

doing it as we speak...thanks Ann for all your support...truly...

A

My Mother is a professional water-colour artist and I dabble in them.  When she started selling her work it was mostly on consignment which is non-typical in fine art.  She joined a couple of "artist" clubs in her area and they often offered to set up their art for impromptu occasions.  This worked well for her.  Thinking "outside the box" was always the best way to go.  Typically galleries are artist-owned and love to check out your work but will rarely if ever display it next to their own art that they are hoping to sell.  Through the artist club groups they organize showings and often are picked to be paid judges for high school or college art competitions.

Examples of impromptu occasions...contact your city leaders and offer to do showings at city events.  My Mom has sold everything she has shown at every event like this and went home with an empty trunk and a big checkbook.  A key she said is if it needs to be framed---frame it---but in a frame that is not overly competitive to the art....nor too plain either.  A cheap frame IS a cheap frame.  The buyer needs to want to buy it and immediately want to put it on their wall---not go have it framed or re-framed.

She advised that you always number your series (fish series #8) for example.  Put an agreement on the back of the piece that states it cannot be reproduced without your permission, and that a receipt of payment is an agreement with this policy.   Have the buyer sign it and your receipt and keep copies.

Keep in contact with your city officials and they can give you a heads up when a new bank or so forth is having a grand opening.... sometimes they love to have artists there with their work at a "grand opening" to dress up a place.  The issue here is whether your art is appropriate for that setting.  Libraries are great places to display your art...but not great to sell it....just our experience here.  My Mom had a yearly show at the entrance to a big fancy luxury hotel in Laguna....big bucks there.  Most nice hotels will allow you to show your work as long as you are there to protect it...they do not want to be liable if it walks away.

I have personally traded my water colour paintings for barter...gave my dentist two paintings for his waiting room in exchange for a root canal and a crown.  He has referred many of his customers to me for art.  I did an entire series for a firm that does taxes....and got many referrals from them as well....but for me it is a hobby not a profession.

Good luck!  Let me know if you have any questions that you may think I can help you with...or I can ask my Mom for some additional advice.