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The Right Art Gallery - How to Find One

Finding a new gallery on your art can be a daunting work for many artists and not all artists have that natural-sales-ability. But, the number one Cardinal Rule for any type of sales is sell yourself! Now how does one do that? All about Leslie Jean Porter 

First of all, honestly ask yourself a few important questions:

 Am I ready to get a gallery?
 Is my art salable?
 Is my art technically good?
 Have I created recognizable style?
 Do I've a cohesive body of training ready to display?
 Have I needed success selling my operate in art/craft shows, out of your studio as well as other non-gallery venues?
 Do I have the time to fulfill the supply & demand of a gallery?
 Do I've got a website that showcases my art and knowledge? (This is not a must, but highly suggested)
 Do I've got a portfolio, bio, resume & artist statement?

When the answers are yes, great - there's a chance you're ready to take the next step toward finding the right gallery. If the answer is no, then don't put yourself in a vulnerable position. Approaching a gallery prior to being ready is kind of like placing a gangly teenager in modeling school. It certainly can't help your self-esteem and it most likely will bruise your ego. Be patient and hone your craft before the ugly duckling turns into a swan.Okay. Which means you are ready for a gallery. It is now important to do-your-homework and think about where your artwork belongs within the art market. This can be easy to do and you can start from home:

 Flip through art magazines and check out gallery ads and also the artists they represent.
 Checkout gallery websites to see if your work has to be good fit on their behalf.
 Talk to fellow artists and still have them suggest galleries for you.
 If you paint traditional floral still life paintings think before you buy approaching a gallery that are experts in contemporary abstract art.
 On one other hand, all galleries are trying to find that fresh artist to include in their "artists' stable" but - within its own genre.

The next step is to venture out and visit some local galleries in the area or take a road trip to some galleries of one's targeted art market. But, view the gallery through the eyes of a collector, not as a designer.

 Watch and see how the staff greats and treats you.
 Are they courteous and professional?
 Walk through the gallery and scan the skill, look how it is hung and view the lighting.
 Ask for a price sheet if available.
 Be sure and obtain references on the gallery from other artists.
 Try and visualize your art hanging in the gallery and see the way it compares in quality with their other artists.
 Searching for the right gallery is a technique of elimination.

The more galleries you visit and research, the harder informed you will be about making the right choice. Now you have a shorter list of galleries which might be a good match and you're simply ready to approach a gallery. But, do not forget that a successful gallery with an above average reputation gets inundated with lots of artists' submissions per week. I keep in close exposure to the galleries that represent me around the world. They all have stellar reputations and therefore they are flooded with artists' inquiries each week. So how do you make yourself stand above the crowd?

Check your target gallery website and discover if they do have guidelines, follow them (or be a rebel and undertake it your own way, but you might get shut down). Should there be no guidelines you'll be able to try some of the suggestions below:

But, first more about Specific Gallery Requirements:

Some galleries, especially inside the high end fine art market have specific submission requirements and policies. Usually artists must submit work with review. This generally means a professional portfolio of at least 10 slides, photos or transparencies or a CD depicting recent works. Always send a self-addressed, stamped envelope or risk never seeing your material again.

The Portfolio Submission:

In the event you chose to send a portfolio straight to your chosen gallery, make sure and follow the guidelines stated earlier. Most artists today still simply send in a marketing package that features a professional portfolio which regularly times get stacked in a pile and overlooked. Don't attempt and get too cleaver with the presentation. Keep your portfolio tailored, professional and full of your best work. It is just a good idea to follow up fourteen days later with a telephone call.

The Cold Call:

This is how you pick up the phone and call the chosen gallery and pitch yourself. Practice and also have a notepad with your thoughts outlined so you do not ramble. Now, be ready to sell yourself because there is no artwork to cover up behind over the telephone. Here are a couple hints to help you make that decision...

 Check the gallery hours and exhibition schedule. If there is an event scheduled, help make your call at least a week before or a week following the after the event. You minimize the risk of interrupting a busy and stressed out director.
 It is best to generate phone calls either in the morning or following the day. This is when busy directors most generally are in their desks. And...call someone during the middle of week.
 Ask to talk to the Director. If he/she just isn't available ask when he/she will be available and do not leave an email. (You might not get a return call) So, you call back later.
 Keep the conversation short, friendly and also to the point.
 Introduce yourself, explain you are interested in their gallery, and briefly say to them a little bit about you as well as your art and your reason for a match on their behalf.
 Follow up the conversation having an email linking to your site or attach a few jpeg images of your work - do this within a day so they remember you. Mention with your email that if you may not hear back from them, you are going to check back - allow them to have one to two weeks.
 Or ask the gallery when they would prefer a portfolio, slides or a website to review

The Walk In:

Prepare to sell yourself. This is a more aggressive approach that can or cannot work - the treatment depends on how attuned you feel together with the director or owner. There isn't any set rules so expect to go-with-the-flow. Here are some ideas to help you take that part of the door:

 Just like the 'cold call' look into the gallery schedule and make certain you are not interrupting a serious event or busy time.
 Hopefully you must have done your homework and familiarized yourself with all the gallery.
 Look your best.
 Ask to speak with the owner or director Be told and demonstrate that you realize the gallery program.
 Let them know why your projects is a good match.
 Do not walk in with paintings tucked under your arm - this looks desperate. Leave a business card with your website information or possibly a portfolio for their review.
 Don't overwhelm all of them with too much information, leave them wanting more.
 Walk together with a good attitude.
 Be courteous.

Now why don't we say they really just like you and things have gone well...they might ask to have you send out them a few paintings for approval - or they may ask to see some are employed in person. At this point (it is worked for many of my artist friends, particularly if they are on a excursion) have few small framed types of your best work out in a car.

The Look-see:

Invite your targeted gallery to go to a current showing of your respective work. Many artists show their art is art/craft shows, restaurants, banks, interior design firms, frames shops as well as their own studios. If you're lucky enough to live in a community with a possible gallery in your case this approach might work. Make sure you send a printed invitation by having an image of your art for the director followed up which has a phone call.

The Referral:

Here is the best way of approaching a gallery. They have worked wonders to me in the past. If you network with artists, you most likely have friends with good connections. And yes, the same as in Hollywood - it's which team you know. Ask your artist friend to recommend you to definitely their gallery. Be sure to have your friend send the crooks to your website or let them have a portfolio of the art. This will peak the gallery's desire for you. Within a week it can be up to you to follow through. Refer to them as and remind the gallery that they were recommended to you through your mutual artist friend. Following that, hopefully you can make a working relationship.

The Gallery Request:

"If the mountain can't check out Mohammad, let the mountain visit Mohammad." What do I mean by that familiar, old statement? This is how the gallery approaches you! Yes, this may happen and has personally many times. But before you say, 'yes,' make sure to check the gallery's references and business record. Whenever they measure up and look as being a good fit, this can be the best of all worlds. The gallery picked you. This means they are excited to exhibit your work in their gallery -- and this can mean more sales.

The above suggestions are suggest that I have compiled from my years being an artist and chatting with galleries and fellow artists. All of us have battle scars and war stories to see, but I hope these ideas help to keep your pain low. But, remember -- "If initially you don't succeed, try, repeat the process," and "Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock." All about Leslie Jean Porter