This website may assist in one's quest to get commercial recognition. Please check out for some encouraging viewpoints!
http://www.artbistro.com/news/articles/8862-how-to-get-commercial-gallery-representation?utm_source=nlet&utm_content=ab_r3_20090506_ugal
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Making it Big
I have been in one art show. It was a lot of work and I only exhibited one piece. This art show occurred about 8 years ago, about this time of year. I thought it was a great opportunity for me because I could get recognized and also attempt to sell the work I was going to exhibit. I was just barely 19 years old, never been formally trained and scared to death of the competition. Yet, I also felt confident in my work. I remember this painting being a labor of love because I felt if I do win something, I will have put my all into it. Probably most people who enter their work are feeling as if they've got their heart on their sleeve. It's a very difficult process because you really are stripping yourself to an emotional core and hope people admire your work. You can't help but watch people take a peak at it and wonder what they're thinking. "Ugh, you call this art?" or "Wow, this is very well done." You almost feel like a stalker, like you see people examining your work and you want to watch, but you have no entitlement to go up there and try and "sell" it to them, you just have to wait and see! The torture!
This piece I worked on was a scene of the Doges Palace in Venice. Yes, a pretty ordinary scene, but I loved the sunset in the background and thought it would be a good show piece. Maybe not some kind of eye poppping kind of work, but for me, I put every ounce of my love into it. Moreso, the finish I put on the frame was also a labor of love. The frame was originally a blue color and I used acrylic paints to white wash it. Then I added some kind of varnish, sanded it down, dried it, did all kinds of things to it. I think I almost admired the frame more than the painting! Yikes!
So, here came the big day! I was very nervous, as I am generally shy, so setting things up and sitting and waiting and standing and waiting and mingling with strangers was unsettling on my nerves. But, I tried my best to put a brave face on. I had some family come and support me. The local newspaper took some pictures of me. People had snacks and drinks. A local jazz band played for us. It was actually, not very nerve wracking after all. Yet, when time came to announce the winners, my heart went into overload and raced with trepidation. I kept telling myself, "I am good enough to win, but I am not as good as some of these other artists and there are so many I'm up against - but, I am good enough."
Well, they announced, one by one, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mentions and then it was done. Nope, not one single piece of recognition. My heart then felt afflamed. I looked at the other art works feeling a little jaded and a bit let down. I then looked at my art work critically. Part of me wanted to take my work down and run with it in shame. I just felt maybe I am too thin skinned for this kind of thing.
Well, the show went on. People had their congratulations and now it was the time where patrons could come in and actually purchase work. I stuck around, but still felt a little down. I still kept my happy face on and tried to hang in there. Then when I was across the room, some of my family noticed two men taking a serious look at my work. Then the two men went around the whole show and evaluated the works. Then the men came back to mine. It was a strange feeling. I watched them - should I dare say it - admire it!
Some time passed and those same two men returned. They then made a deal with the people in charge of the art show. The men left. I ran (or just walked quickly) over to my painting to find a "Sold" sign on it! I couldn't believe it! This was a huge reward for me. Better than 1st place!
As the show wrapped up, I gave my painting a once over and said good bye to it. If those men only knew what I put into it and the history behind it, they'll hopefully enjoy this work just as much as I did. My family and friends noticed that only two other paintings sold besides mine. I felt that maybe this show was worth it afterall.
This piece I worked on was a scene of the Doges Palace in Venice. Yes, a pretty ordinary scene, but I loved the sunset in the background and thought it would be a good show piece. Maybe not some kind of eye poppping kind of work, but for me, I put every ounce of my love into it. Moreso, the finish I put on the frame was also a labor of love. The frame was originally a blue color and I used acrylic paints to white wash it. Then I added some kind of varnish, sanded it down, dried it, did all kinds of things to it. I think I almost admired the frame more than the painting! Yikes!
So, here came the big day! I was very nervous, as I am generally shy, so setting things up and sitting and waiting and standing and waiting and mingling with strangers was unsettling on my nerves. But, I tried my best to put a brave face on. I had some family come and support me. The local newspaper took some pictures of me. People had snacks and drinks. A local jazz band played for us. It was actually, not very nerve wracking after all. Yet, when time came to announce the winners, my heart went into overload and raced with trepidation. I kept telling myself, "I am good enough to win, but I am not as good as some of these other artists and there are so many I'm up against - but, I am good enough."
Well, they announced, one by one, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mentions and then it was done. Nope, not one single piece of recognition. My heart then felt afflamed. I looked at the other art works feeling a little jaded and a bit let down. I then looked at my art work critically. Part of me wanted to take my work down and run with it in shame. I just felt maybe I am too thin skinned for this kind of thing.
Well, the show went on. People had their congratulations and now it was the time where patrons could come in and actually purchase work. I stuck around, but still felt a little down. I still kept my happy face on and tried to hang in there. Then when I was across the room, some of my family noticed two men taking a serious look at my work. Then the two men went around the whole show and evaluated the works. Then the men came back to mine. It was a strange feeling. I watched them - should I dare say it - admire it!
Some time passed and those same two men returned. They then made a deal with the people in charge of the art show. The men left. I ran (or just walked quickly) over to my painting to find a "Sold" sign on it! I couldn't believe it! This was a huge reward for me. Better than 1st place!
As the show wrapped up, I gave my painting a once over and said good bye to it. If those men only knew what I put into it and the history behind it, they'll hopefully enjoy this work just as much as I did. My family and friends noticed that only two other paintings sold besides mine. I felt that maybe this show was worth it afterall.
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