FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW AND SELL YOUR ARTWORK
Some people find galleries scary – firstly they take a large percentage of your sales, secondly some of them are pretty snobbish and thirdly your ego can’t take a beating at this stage. So what are your options?
There are a few opportunities for showing and selling your art. Firstly there are shops and cafes, many of whom do not charge for you to use their walls. Secondly there are the occasional events such as fetes, fairs, arts and craft markets that, for a fee will allow you to exhibit your work. Thirdly there are art trails, indoor and outdoor exhibitions dedicated to art around the country so watch your local papers and The New Zealand Artist Magazine for details or contact your local art society. Some of these events have a selection process which might mean submitting some work for approval before you are accepted. Fourthly there are annual events such as A&P Shows, Field-days and Garden Discoveries. Here you might have a stall in a large marquee, garage or gazebo and have to trade for the duration of the event. So apart from your show fees, you will need to budget for travel, accommodation and food. Finally there are the home shows and fairs such as Dunkley’s, and trade fairs. These are usually hosted in exhibition and convention centres so cost a lot more when it comes to hiring your stall, but returns can be worth the outlay. These indoor shows offer more up-market conditions where the public can browse under cover in a cool, clean environment, at their leisure.
Making wise choices
Wherever you choose to exhibit, ensure that you do your homework. Get in touch with the organisers to find out what it is all about. Make sure you are familiar with the venue and are aware of all the costs and importantly how you are going to display your work.
The most valuable part of selling your own work is the face-to-face contact and personal relationships that you can create with clients. You can often tell from attitude and facial expression how they feel about your art. Smiles and enthusiasm often, but not always, follow with a sale. A serious approach could lead to a sale depending on your response. Be honest.
People don’t want a hard-luck story about how much you need the money and how hard you have worked. They just want to see that you are passionate about your work and believe in what you do. You need to know when to back off and let the client make the final decision. Be as professional as possible. Wrap the painting in bubble-wrap after a sale. Again, it shows you care.
Through experience you will learn which paintings sell best, and there is always the potential to pick up commissions as you are on hand to discuss the client’s needs.
If you have a large and interesting selection of art displayed, sales can be very good. When you exhibit regularly some folk will start collecting pieces and enjoy the personal contact. They will also pass on their ‘special find’ to others by word of mouth and in doing so increase your client base.
Toughen up
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and some take great pleasure in making sure you know what that opinion is. When dealing with the public you cannot afford to be too sensitive to criticism. You will probably hear this often: “No darling, no need to buy that, you can paint it easily yourself!” Or “I love that painting – do you have it in pink by any chance?” Or people will chat to each other as if you are not standing right there, discussing how you get that colour or what techniques you have used.
Research and know your market
You might be approached by gallery owners looking for new talent. The decision to move on to selling through galleries is a big one and must not be taken lightly. Research the particular gallery that you think might suit you. Get to know the owner and find out exactly what they expect from you and what you can expect from them. Get a written agreement on commission and insurance. Most importantly ensure that you have a transparent and happy relationship with the gallery owner. Once you are accepted by a gallery you may find they’ll want you to give up the casual outdoor type exhibitions.