Chapter Seven

Galleries, Portfolios, and Web Pages

It probably seems that I am just flying through this book, but to be honest I am skimming and trying to pick up the major key points.


All semester I have listened to Vaughn talk about how important it is to get yourself out there. Enter into shows at the university or you never know where your website might take you. Yes, Vaughn, I have been listening. Exposure is what is going to get you the "big bucks" as Vaughn would say. In order to be seen, heard, and paid any attention to you have to put in the effort and the man hours by updating your blog/website, going to galleries and taking a portfolio. When I see an artist, I will admit I tend to think more about painters, which is good considering Dunning was focused on painters too. I see someone who sits in front of a canvas all day long in a studio with paint all over their clothes, glasses instead of contacts, one brush in their mouth the other whisking away trying to make the perfect image. The only problem with this is that if they were to walk into a gallery like that they would most likely be turned away, and I say this not to be rude but to put the reality into your head. A gallery is a business, just like any fanchise, and they are looking for someone who can not only produce great art to look at but can back it up in a professional manner. Have a clean-cut portfolio, valid credentials, but still be able to show their hard work, without the greasy hair and painted clothing.


Now, you're probably thinking, "I have a website, the people only see my art, not me when I am creating it," but what if that site leads to calls from someone who wants to purchase a piece of your art, are you going to show up in your white jumpsuit with red, green, yellow, blue, and orange paint blobs or are you going to meet them in a nice, professional setting, with a suit and tie/dress and heels, and treat it like an upscale transaction? I think I would go with the latter.


So utilize these methods of spreading the word on yourself. Websites are nice, its quick and simple access to examples of your work, but keep it updated. Portfolios are nice when that gallery calls and says they want to give you a show. And, those gallery professionals want, not only for you to make them proud by presenting yourself in a business manner, but to make yourself proud by presenting your work that way because you feel that it deserves that kind of respect.