The Artist's Life - All Comments

re: Finding Your Personal Style

Margo5 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:04:46 GMT

Lori, thank you for this article. I try not to be concerned about style at this point because I am having so much fun learning. I think if I had been told in third grade that I could spend the rest of my life learning about art and that my math and history books would all have something to do with art, I probably would have died of happiness on the spot.

re: Finding Your Personal Style

Karyn — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:16:14 GMT

Very true, Lori. Its a concept that I keep running across in different artist statements and interview. They have all spent the time in the studio learning the elements, practicing with the medium before their own style comes out.

re: Finding a Successful Gallery

Lori Woodward — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:04:56 GMT

Mike,

Getting gallery representation can be easier if the gallery is newer and is not one of the big, well known galleries that advertise in art collector magazines. This is because those well-known galleries have huge costs associated with their rent and advertising costs, so they can't afford to take on artists who aren't already selling well or known by collectors.

I started out by visiting galleries within a 2 hour drive of my home - but did not let them know I was an artist. I first was approached by 3 galleries while I was doing outdoor shows, so I never really had to apply to them.

Usually, an artist snail mails a CD and photos, along with a bio and resume, and price list. When gallery owners look at your body of work, they ask themselves one thing: Would my clientele want to buy this work. It helps if you've already been selling your work. I know, a catch 22, but never the less, it's what gallery owners want to see.

That's why I started out selling at outdoor shows, local auctions, and online with portrait commissions. By the time a gallery approached me, I had a history of collectors.

re: Finding Your Personal Style

Lori Woodward — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:53:27 GMT

John, thank you for your comment on this forum. It's always nice to know that seasoned professional master painters - such as yourself - are striving to become even more masterful.

I've been admiring your paintings for many years - amazing that they're painted in acrylic. If anyone on here wants to see representational landscapes painted expertly in acrylic, check out John Cogan's website.

re: Finding Your Personal Style

John Cogan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:37:09 GMT

You are right, Lori. We never can stop learning and our style, though 'mature' at some point, is something we will continue to refine as long as we produce art.

re: Finding a Successful Gallery

Mike Walton — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:04:57 GMT

So Lori..How does one actually get gallery representation? Do I set up an appointment with the owner or representative? I've only belonged to a co-op gallery and that was done through an open competition.

Not sure if you've covered this in another thread or not..I looked through the rest of the blogs and didn't see it..Sorry if I missed it.

Thanks..Mike

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Margo5 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:51:09 GMT

Good information, Lori.

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Lori Woodward — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:52:26 GMT

Terry, try sitting at the side of your tent near the entrance - facing the other side of the tent or slightly toward people passing by. Offer a smile to anyone who establishes eye contact with you.

If you have a director's chair that is one of those high ones - that helps because it gets you almost at eye level with people who are standing in your booth.

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Fischer — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:44:39 GMT

I do have a nice white popup and some metal gridwalls. I could move my little table to the side and display less of my watercolors - for more impact. Alway awkward where I should sit (or stand). I will keep trying.

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Lori Woodward — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:31:30 GMT

Sorry to hear that Terry, bad weather definitely affects show attendance. Do you have one of those 10x10 popup tents with sides? But if they don't go to the show, there's not much anyone can do.

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Fischer — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:21:49 GMT

Thanks for the information, Lori. My last art in the park experience was not very encouraging. Even the few hours of sunshine between the rainstorm and the high winds brought little traffic in my booth. I will take another look at how I display my work.

Terry

re: How To Hang Your Show Like A Pro

Esther J. Williams — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:31:03 GMT

Lori, I like the idea of hanging the largest painting in the middle. I will do that for my summer show in Newport Beach this year. First, I have to paint a large oil painting. I will present it like the matriarch of all the smaller paintings. The style theme will carry throughout the rest of the works. Thanks for the tip!

re: How to Act Like an Art Collector

Robin11 — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:34:33 GMT

I don't belong to any groups or know any of the people you know, Lori, to give me any credibility as an artist or a collector.

But I do know this: any gallery who doesn't treat every customer with respect unless they drop names isn't representing their artists very well. Who wants to just park their work somewhere where it will only be shown if the customer is "connected"? Or shows themselves to be wealthy?

My cousin walked into a Jaguar dealership wearing casual clothes on his way home from work in one of his work trucks. They took one look and never bothered to speak to him. He drove to a Jag dealership about a half hour away and an hour later wrote a check for his wife's birthday present.

Doing some "mystery shopping" is a great idea, Lori!

re: How to Act Like an Art Collector

Lori Woodward — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:21:41 GMT

Owleagle, Oh, I am a real artist... just have my own point of view.

My "group" is the Putney Painters, led by Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik. My friends are Jeremy Lipking, Daniel Keys, Clayton Beck, etc. However, I write for the artworld of the bulk of artists who are trying to get into galleries - not those artists who are already working with them.

I'm also a collector - glad to hear you are. As a collector, I've entered galleries, and when the gallery staff marked me as an artist, I got completely ignored and one time even made fun of. This was a gallery where I had previously purchased work... it was in Tucson. I have more than often found that as soon as I identify myself as an artist (and I am not well known), the staff dismisses me.

Now if I walked in with Nancy Guzik or Richard Schmid, you bet I would get some attention. In fact, as soon as I let the staff know that Richard is my mentor and friend, they sure change their tune. It's happened too many times. It's just too bad that I have to establish my connection with well known artists to be taken seriously as a collector or artist.

Thanks for your input... because I'm not recognized, I have had an different experience - one that I don't want unknown artists to experience as they check out galleries to apply to.

Lori

re: How to Act Like an Art Collector

Owleagle — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:06:11 GMT

After I read your article it was obvious to me that you identify with a stereotypical perception of an artist (artists go in groups or scorted by a husband or non artist). Like some artists I know some very accomplished and some not. They do not go in groups and actually identify themselves as artists at the Gallery. I am an artist and a collector. My point is get out of the box of the group and what your notions of Galleries are. Be a real artist, free of hang ups, judgments, and to a hierarchical structure of art, galleries and the world. Thanks!