We humans are strange creatures. Even when you take the creative element out of the equation, most people are never satisfied. It makes sense that would be true for creative types, as the essence of creative process depends on the need to improve whatever was last. After all, if an artist felt they had created an ultimate masterpiece that could not be improved upon, what would motivate them to start the next project? The irony in this, of course, is every artist DOES feel … Continue Reading

“When bankers get together for dinner, they discuss Art. When artists get together for dinner, they discuss money.” Oscar Wilde

Maybe it was growing up in Beverly Hills that gave me an acute sense of monetary reality. Regardless, as a child, it became apparent at quite an early age that money was a central issue in most people’s lives and I needed to pay particular attention. So, it would naturally follow that “the Money Stuff,” would eventually find it’s way to Art Advice. If you are an artist, … Continue Reading

“Who in the world am I?  Ahh, that is the great puzzle.” Lewis Carroll

It’s not something you can turn off. It bubbles up when you least expect it. If you would allow it, it would consume every waking minute of every day. You work hard to fit in to the normal world…family obligations, work, the challenges of everyday life. But, admit it, all you can think about is that unfinished painting, sculpture, poem, or whatever, fill in the blank. You know you are different. You may have … Continue Reading

“Only put off until tomorrow, what you are willing to die left undone.” Pablo Picasso

The beginning of a new year always puts me in a pensive, introspective mood. It just feels like the right time to sit back and reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, and develop a plan to move forward towards new goals. But, being a creative thinker can have it’s drawbacks during this time of reflection. It’s easy to overlook how far you’ve come, unless you develop a quantifiable system of measuring. For a lot of artists, achieving a goal “doesn’t really count,” because by … Continue Reading

“You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.”
Warren Buffett

If you are lucky enough to have scheduled a gallery interview or studio visit, it’s a good idea to keep some key issues in mind. Your goal is to make sure this will be an enjoyable and profitable experience for all concerned. Showing your work and/or having people in your studio can be a major stressor for most artists. You need … Continue Reading

“We were having one of those really great first dates, the kind you can only have if it’s not really a date.” Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

After reading the article “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, you should have a fairly good idea of how to determine which galleries are appropriate for your work. Once you’ve narrowed your target list down to those galleries that you feel relate to your work, and would be a good fit for you both stylistically and as a match for your career … Continue Reading

“Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new.”  Albert Einstein.

I know what you are saying, “Ok, I give up, I’ve just mastered building a website and using my email, what the heck is social media?”In plain English, it means, the days of direct mailers and catalogs are over. The new generation of artists, gallery owners and consultants are programmed for faster, higher quality marketing techniques. Thanks to social media networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter, we are able to connect 24/7 with … Continue Reading

“Knock, knock,”

“Who’s there?”

“Another artist with his portfolio under his arm.”  (Sigh)

To many artists, being an artist isn’t “real” unless you have a gallery to exhibit your work. Although there are several other options available to artists in terms of showing and selling their work, it seems, for some, there is just no substitute for getting gallery representation. To this end, many artists are willing to bend over backwards, do insane things, make ridiculous claims, and, in short, embarrass themselves. The truth … Continue Reading

“As sure as the spring will follow the winter, prosperity and economic growth will follow recession.” Bo Bennett

Artists are more susceptible than most to the economic downturn as fine art has long been considered a luxury, primarily for an audience with extra discretionary income. In times like these, even the very wealthy feel uncomfortable spending on what may be perceived by others as an extravagance. Smart collectors know this is the best time to buy and fine art is one of the safest places to “park” … Continue Reading

“Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…” Fiddler on the Roof

One of the most difficult aspects of being an artist doesn’t take place behind the studio walls. It is an unpleasant, sometimes degrading aspect of your career: promotion. Nevertheless, as an artist, you need to develop a method to promote your work and still maintain your integrity. To minimize the unpleasantness of this particular responsibility, the method you devise should complement your personality and temperament. The problem begins when you decide it’s time to start approaching … Continue Reading

“Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”  Mark Twain

Do you have any idea what your expectations are for yourself as a professional artist?  Most artists carry the same dreams and hopes…getting discovered, finding a patron,  being famous, selling work.  The reality is those things happen only for the very few.  So, if you have not given any thought to what your dreams are, please take a moment to read Success, What is it, who has it and why do I want it so badly. to … Continue Reading

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”  Henry David Thoreau

The first step in trying to price your work is discussed in detail in a previous ArtAdvice article called Matchmaker, Matchmaker . It involves visiting galleries on a regular basis to determine where your work fits in to the current art market. When going to galleries, study the price lists of artists whose work is similar to yours stylistically, as well as in size and medium. Ask to see … Continue Reading

“But that’s what being an artist is – feeling crummy before everyone else feels crummy. ” ~The New Yorker

Almost everyone has experienced loss in one form or another at some point in their lives. After the tragedy on September 11th, most of us don’t have to look very far to find someone who has been touched by loss. For artists, learning how to recognize and cope with loss will help them in understanding the … Continue Reading

” An artist without a website is virtually homeless.”  Sylvia White

Planning Stage

Long before you talk to any website designers, or start to think about the colors, features and format of your site, you need to spend some time thinking about what your goals are for having a website. Building a website is like building a house. The more time you spend thinking about how the house will be used, and in planning the foundation, the more options you will have. Spend a moment writing the … Continue Reading

“People always fear change. People feared electricity when it was invented, didn’t they? People feared coal, they feared gas-powered engines… There will always be ignorance, and ignorance leads to fear. But with time, people will come to accept their silicon masters. ” Bill Gates Every once in awhile, even today, I come across an artist who is still resistant to the idea of using the computer. Okay, there might have been some justifiable excuses 10 years ago, “I don’t want to spend my time learning about something … Continue Reading

“Have no fear of perfection, you will never achieve it”  Salvador Dali

Visual artists are constantly worrying about what the standard artist/gallery relationship should consist of. Feeling insecure about how to handle these negotiations are natural…artists are not business people and are often ill-equipped as well as inexperienced at handling their own business affairs. Following is a set of guidelines that I recommend artists use when considering establishing a relationship with a gallery. Remember, the ideal gallery does not exist. The best way to use this information is as a standard, by … Continue Reading

Collectors of art fall into two basic categories. The first is the collector that decides to live with art, buys it until all the walls are filled, and then stops. The second revels in the experience of collecting, and like the artist, feels compelled by some greater force to continue with this passionate relationship, regardless of the decorative or functional aspects.

What many collectors don´t realize, is the process is not over once the piece is hung. It becomes even more vitally important to become a responsible collector … Continue Reading

” A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.”  Abraham Maslow

Living with an artist isn’t easy, particularly if you are the significant other. So, after living with and working with artists for over 20 years I’ve put together a few suggestions for you to share with your partners. One of the first things most non-artists have a hard time understanding is the concept of addiction and how it is related to art … Continue Reading

Art Licensing is an exciting area in the licensing market and can possibly supplement and artist’s income and increase exposure. Licensing is defined as leasing the right to use a legally protected name, graphic, logo, saying or likeness in conjunction with a product, promotion, or services. It is usually accomplished by a formal agreement between the owner or agent of the mark (the Licensor) and the prospective Licensee who is either a manufacturer, supplier of services or an agent on behalf of them.

Licensing is an industry that … Continue Reading

Artists often ask me whether or not it is worth it to rent a gallery to put up their own work. In general, I discourage the idea, unless artists have looked realistically at their goals and expectations. In many cases, renting a gallery space can be a very effective way to market yourself to other galleries and generate income from your collector base.

Before I begin the discussion about rental galleries, I need to go over the common practices of conventional galleries. Although there will always be exceptions, … Continue Reading

“Actors search for rejection, when they don’t get it, they reject themselves.”  Charlie Chaplin

Most artists harbor the fantasy that if they could only find one art dealer that loved and believed in their work, their career would be set. They secretly believe that there exists a special person that can catapult them to fame. Many artists spend most of their careers searching for “the perfect gallery.” And, as all quests towards perfection, it is never ending. If they already have a gallery, it’s not good enough; if … Continue Reading

“To see far, is one thing…going there is another.” Constantin  Brancusi

Artists who regularly visit this website have acquired a lot of information on how to conduct their business practices. It’s not easy trying to keep track of all the activities necessary to become a working professional artist particularly since most artists are just not suited for the day-to-day practical aspects of running a business.

Making art and making an art career are two different things. A lot of artists are already pressed for time, trying to fit their … Continue Reading

“Artists can no more speak about their work, than plants can speak about horticulture.” Jean Cocteau

There are many times when an artist is asked to compose an artist statement. Sometimes, it is in response to a specific inquiry by a gallery or collector, sometimes in response to a particular grant proposal or in conjunction with a curatorial statement or exhibition. Other times, artists just feel the need to explain their work. Most of the time, however, artists are not the best suited for this particular task. Regardless … Continue Reading

“Do not fear failure, or over-estimate success.” Ernest Hemmingway

You’ve worked hard to develop a cohesive body of work. You’ve done your homework, worked diligently to do the research to find a place to exhibit your work. Perhaps you fell into a lucky situation and been offered an exhibition. How do you prepare for it to get the most out of this valuable experience? Well, the first thing is to realize that this is not … Continue Reading

“Art is not what you see, but, what you make others see,”  Edgar Degas

Most people don’t realize how much courage it takes for an artist to show their work to people. Courage, as defined by Mark Twain, is not the lack of fear, but rather being able to move forward in spite of it. In my previous article, If You Are Addicted, I introduce the notion that there is a difference between making art and making a painting (sculpture, photography, or whatever your medium is). Expression of your unique form of creativity is an addiction that very few artists … Continue Reading

Learning how to document your own artwork can be time consuming and expensive. Having good quality slides of your work, however, is an absolutely essential first step in seeing yourself as a professional artist. Nine times out of ten you will not have the opportunity to show your original work. Remember that the purpose of sending slides is to generate interest in seeing the actual work. Your slides must adequately reflect the color, detail, texture, and size. Hiring a professional fine arts photographer is the best way … Continue Reading

“Listen carefully to first criticisms made of your work.  Note just what it is about your work that critics don’t like – then cultivate it.  That’s the only part of your work that’s individual and worth keeping.”  ~Jean Cocteau

There is no easy way to accept dealing with rejection. The only thing that may help alleviate some of the feelings associated with rejection is by understanding how and why it occurs in the first … Continue Reading

There are a lot of valid reasons why an artist should think about reproducing their work. There are also a lot of reasons NOT to. In most cases, artists start to think about doing prints of their work as a way to increase sales or generate interest in their work. But, unless you are also prepared to take on the additional burden of marketing, printmaking is not always the right option for artists.

Before the incredible introduction of the technology that led to the iris printer, artists were limited in choosing ways to … Continue Reading

If you have ever thought about trying to become an art collector, either for pleasure or for investment purposes, the art world doesn’t make it easy for you. Galleries are cold, uninviting, scary and intimidating places to visit. Even a seasoned art world aficionado can feel awkwardly out of place when entering the inner sanctum of a public commercial gallery. The quiet hush, ominous white walls, cavernous spaces and contemporary art that defies understanding can be overwhelming to the novice. Gallery employees don’t make it any easier. … Continue Reading

The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the print market for both artists and collectors. Traditional printmaking techniques such as lithography, intaglio, and other more traditional methods, are very closely monitored by the master printer and/ or the publisher. It was important to specify exactly how many printer proofs there were, how many artist proofs there were and how many numbered prints were made to complete the limited edition. As the prints were distributed or sold, the publisher would document how many went out and to whom. … Continue Reading

The Internet has become an unavoidable fact of life. Over just the last few years we have seen radical changes in the way this new technology is changing the way we live, think and shop. Although many artists, collectors and galleries continue to have fears and concerns, even their reluctance is slowly beginning to erode as they accept the inevitability of this powerful, wide reaching tool. In regards to the artworld, there are basically three different types of websites :

1. Information related sites-These can be run by non-profit … Continue Reading
   

Originally published in Artweek, July 1995, Volume 26, Number
7

” . . .artists can no longer sit back and take the attitude that
the work speaks for itself . . .”

After opening a second office and gallery in New York last September,
I have spent a good deal of time accumulating frequent flier miles. On the
average, I spend one week each month in New York, which has been a real
eye-opener for me, a native Angeleno who has been actively involved with
the Los Angeles art scene for twenty years. … Continue Reading