In this episode of The BoldBrush Podcast we sat down with our CEO Clint Watson to discuss The Sovereign Artist Club. The idea for the club stemmed from a realization that we are currently living through the Renaissance 2.0. A time in which artists can thrive from their work and have more power than ever thanks to the world wide web!
Join us at SovereignArtistClub.com to get amazing tips and strategies to bust the starving artist myth!
How to get your art into an art gallery in 12 steps
A Twitter Thread
How to get your art into an art gallery in 12 steps.
The standard process is for chumps.
I used to own an art gallery - here's how to get the gallery owner's attention:
1. Identify your target galleries. Do NOT just send your portfolio to every gallery you see advertised. Make sure they sell your medium, your style, are reputable, and promote themselves.
2. Honestly assess the level and quality of your artwork and the artwork carried by your target galleries. Is you goal realistic? Are you targeting a gallery who represents master painters and you've been painting for a total of six months?
You have to be ready. If you are..
3. Go through each gallery's roster of artists looking for artists whom you personally know. If you really are at the same "level" as the artists in your target galleries, chances are you will have at least met some of them.
4. If you don't know anyone represented by any of the galleries, you probably need to do some networking and meet more people. Continue till you find a gallery that represents a colleague you know.
5. Ask your artist friend about the target gallery. Ask your friend what it is like to work with such and such gallery. Do they pay promptly? If you start hearing positive things then . . . .
6. Ask your artist friend if the gallery would like your work. Just ask. This is someone who knows you and the gallery....they'll give you an honest answer.
7. Ask your friend if they would tell the gallery about your work. (Only if they were positive in step 6). If your friend agrees . . .
8. Check the gallery's exhibition calendar. Identify a time when they are not overwhelmed with some huge show. Your friend will probably know what timing is best. When the time arrives. . .
9. Have the FRIEND call the gallery and casually mention you and your work.
This WILL peak the gallery owner's interest about you. The goal of this call is for your friend to let the gallery owner know that you'll be sending a portfolio and following up with a phone call.
10. If possible, have your FRIEND send the portfolio. Give the portfolio to your friend, ask her to write on a post-it note "this is the artist I told you about" and send it. (Make sure you pay for postage). It will get opened for sure with the friend's name on the outside
11. After the portfolio arrives at the gallery you will probably get a phone call. If you don't, call them and make sure they actually received the portfolio, let them know that you are the artist that "so-and-so told you about...."
12. At this point a dialog should open with the gallery. They may still turn down your work, but your discussions will be relaxed, casual and friendly. If they do turn you down, ask them if they know of any other galleries where your work might be a better fit.
Sound like work? Of course. Every career is a lot of work and being an artist is no different. If your career is worth it, then the work is worth it.
I can share as a former gallery owner, I was overloaded with portfolios and they sat for weeks, even months. But if I had a recommendation from a current gallery artist, I ALWAYS looked. Promptly.
If you enjoyed this thread or found it useful, can you do me a favor? 🙏
Click the tweet quoted below then click the like and retweet buttons so it gets seen by more people.
Clintavo ⚜️🎨 @clintavo
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We generally expand these ideas into more detail for paying Sovereign Artist Club members.
The Sovereign Artist Era Podcast