In case you are wondering where we have been and what we are doing, here is a brief update.  The last six months have been quite a wild ride.  I am feeling very blessed and ready to tackle the New Year.  However, I must admit, I do enjoy the extra time that not having a full rotating exhibition schedule gives me.  Katy, Cameron and I continue to be busy doing the things that we do best…helping artists get the exposure they want and their work deserves.  We … Continue Reading

Remember that part of the movie when  Tom Hanks was stranded and  Ed Harris put everything Hanks had in his spaceship on the table and ordered his staff to make something that will fix it?  That is such a beautiful metaphor for life.  It seems like since closing the gallery I have had to look at all the pieces I have left on my table and see what I want to make.  I have always loved helping artists, and will continue to advise and consult artists as … Continue Reading

Almost 6 years ago to the day, this article came out in Ventana Magazine describing the reasons why I decided to move Sylvia White Gallery to Ventura.  I feel exactly the same way today. It has been a labor of love and an incredible honor for me.  Ventura is unique in more ways than one. Small town vibe, beach weather, no traffic, reasonable rents, respect for the environment, architectural integrity and authentic living.  But, it is the very special art community … Continue Reading

It’s been 35 years of consulting with artists, 50 articles written and now blogged on ArtAdvice.com, 8 different offices/gallery spaces, hundreds of workshops, thousands of exhibitions and … Continue Reading

Dear Artists,  I feel like I have just been grounded by my parents…Facebook is not allowing me to have any more “friends” because I have reached the limit of 5000 on my personal page.  If you would like to stay updated on my activities,  please go to my Sylvia White Gallery page and LIKE me.  Maybe we can sneak out of the house and have a cigarette in the … Continue Reading

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/booming/a-bond-forged-in-crucible-of-the-art-world.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I love being a gallerist.  I love art and I love artists.  I’ve devoted the last 30 years to helping artists develop the skills they need to manage their careers.  Yet, still, after all these years, I just can’t believe some of the things artists do.  If you haven’t already done so,  please take a moment to read one of my archived articles, “5 Surefire Ways to Annoy a Gallery”.  I’ve updated the list here, with a few of the most egregious crimes I’ve experienced lately. … Continue Reading

A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.”  Bo Bennett

Our summer juried shows are a mixed blessing for me.  Each year I marvel at the infinite and diverse ways in which artists find to express themselves.  I admire and respect each and every artist for the extraordinary effort they make every day to share their gift. Again, we were happily overwhelmed with a large number of excellent quality entries, and the competition for this show was very stiff. The … Continue Reading

“It won’t always be summer: build barns.” Hesiod 700 B.C.

A lot of people don’t realize that the art world revolves around a seasonal schedule. Galleries begin their season in September, usually after Labor Day, often opening with their strongest artist and continue until about the middle of June. Many galleries use the summer months to mount group shows of gallery artists, or shows that they wouldn’t consider during their “prime season.” Generally, the magazines and gallery guides follow suit by issuing combined July/August issues. For … 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

“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

“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

“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

“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