Tag Archives: “art business”

Art Help & Info

Selling Yourself Short

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"Crutch" by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 12"w x 6"h; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2014
“Crutch” by Amy Guidry; Acrylic on canvas; 12″w x 6″h; SOLD; (c) Amy Guidry 2014

Some think that as a “new” artist, you have to start selling your art very low until you start selling like crazy, then you can raise your prices.  A lot of people would multiply the width by height of their art and that number would be the price.  Or if you’re “good,” you can then multiply that by 2.  What?

While there is some truth to starting out small when you are a new artist, it is absolutely ridiculous to think that a painting that took 40 (or more) hours to create should be worth a paltry amount.  Not to mention supply costs, packaging and shipping costs, and any other fees such as to your photographer or web designer.  Starting out, you won’t be able to recoup all of your costs, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall that short of doing so.

For the most part, I have yet to see any emerging artist overcharging for their work.  It’s usually the opposite.

Why is it that when we make something by hand, it must be cheaper than anything else?  Why are we willing to shell out more for some mass-produced, made-in-china crap than for something created, an original mind you, by a “starving” artist?  And why do artists feel that their work isn’t worth it?  Is it lack of confidence?  Is it because the grass is greener on the other side?  Whatever the reasoning, it needs to stop.

Be proud of your work.  It’s the only one in the world.  There are no others.  It’s unique.  And you made it yourself.  It was created from your imagination and unwavering dedication.  You spent endless hours sketching it, then actually producing it, forgoing weekends or holidays off, and time with your family just to finish this one piece of art.  Why settle for less?  Be confident in your work and the rest will follow.

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www.AmyGuidry.com

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Art Help & Info

Growing your success

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Amy Guidry giving a talk at the New Orleans Museum of Art
Amy Guidry giving a talk at the New Orleans Museum of Art

I had a question from someone wanting to know my thoughts on his acceptance into a particular publication (Studio Visit, to be precise, which I have discussed before here).  Often when I would get my work featured in a certain show or a magazine, I would get questions as to whether that led to something bigger.  Because I don’t ever rely on just one opportunity, I can’t pinpoint or put some sort of quantitative measurement to it.  While it would be nice to come up with a specific formula that doing X + Y = Z, I find it is best to have a continuous cycle of productivity going.

I don’t believe there is ever one accomplishment that opens doors.  On rare occasion you hear of some now-famous artist that was discovered and then had a sold-out show.  These are the stories that artists hear and think “that could be me.”  For the overwhelming majority of artists, including the famous ones, it was a series of events that got them to where they are today.

So in the case of the artist that contacted me, I told him that it is not so much about being in the magazine, but what you do with it.

For example:

– Once he is published in the magazine, get extra copies to send to collectors

– If you can afford it, get additional copies for potential buyers as well (anyone that seems really interested in your work)

– Give copies of the magazine to galleries as part of your portfolio presentation

– Inform your local press (newspapers, radio, etc.) that you got into the magazine

Find ways to make the most of your accomplishments and extend their shelf-life.  No one opportunity will do it, but if you can make it snowball into more, you’ll increase your chances of getting bigger and/or more opportunities.

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www.AmyGuidry.com

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Art Help & Info

Are you passionate?

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Amy Guidry discusses her work with viewers at the Paul & Lulu Hilliard Museum

Judging by my title, you’d think this was a quiz you’d find in Cosmo.  Actually, I read an article by Norm Brodsky in Inc. Magazine recently that inspired me to write this post.  He mentioned seeing a Rolling Stones concert, watching Mick Jagger performing at the age of 69, wondering how or even why he does it.  He’s not exactly hurting for money, he’s getting older- sorry, but true, and touring is a lot even for young kids, so why continue to do it?  Mr. Brodsky’s point- passion.  Clearly this man has passion for what he does.  I can completely relate.  While I am no Mick Jagger, I can completely relate to the need (yes, this is a need) to create.  That passion is what makes you get up everyday and do what you do, despite rejection, despite challenges, and despite just having a bad day in general, only to get up the next day and do it all over again.

There are some artists out there that give up because they didn’t get into a show or a particular gallery or their work didn’t sell like they expected.  There are those that give up because galleries are not knocking down their doors.  And there are those that continue to paint (or sculpt, or draw, etc.) but don’t ever expect anything to come of it.  If you are happy with that, that is perfectly fine, but if you want more for your art, then you’re going to have to give it your all.  Whatever you choose to do in life, that has to be your passion.  It has to be the thing you get up for everyday.  It has to be the thing you choose to do and do it well.  Be the best damn artist, baker, or candlestick-maker ever.  And it doesn’t stop there.  Don’t just master your craft, but also learn the skills required to make that business succeed.  Continue your education- no, I don’t mean go back to school, necessarily, but continue to learn through other sources such as the wonderful web.  And get out of your comfort zone.  Being successful at anything requires taking on new challenges or doing things we are not accustomed to.  Lastly, be flexible.  If something doesn’t go as expected, learn to adapt or figure out a new way of accomplishing the task at hand.

It seems like a given that you are passionate about your art, but that’s not always the case.  Figure out what it is that brings you joy and if need be, kick it into high gear.  Take charge of your [art] career.

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www.AmyGuidry.com

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Art Help & Info

Art and Press: Show Me Some Love

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“The Wild West” by Amy Guidry as featured in Professional Artist magazine’s article “Communicating Social Messages through Art, Partnership and Publicity” by Renee Phillips

A recent discussion online brought up the lack of enough media coverage of visual art.  It is true that the number of features written about art have gone down over the past several years and it doesn’t help that some publications suffered from the economic downturn.  Some suggested that art may be too “complicated” for people to understand (bah!) while others thought bias may be given to other art forms such as music or literature.  There may be some truth to this, but I think the real reasons are much bigger.  To start, art is a luxury item and is marketed as such.  There are some smaller works that are more affordable for a wide range of budgets, but for the most part, art is a luxury item which means it is expensive due to scarcity, quality, technique, and materials, thus the price reflects this.  Part of the appeal of luxury items is that they are exclusive.  This shrinks the number of people that not only own such items, but also those that may feel comfortable enough to ask for the price.  Now, I don’t believe that art has to be completely out of reach and there are ways that it can be an easier purchase without sacrificing the artist’s own time and expense but that is another topic.  For the moment, let’s just stick with high-end luxury items.

Adding to this exclusivity are many galleries that like to orchestrate exactly which hands their works go in.  There are many blue-chip galleries which only want to see their artists in the “right” collection, thus adding to the gallery’s status.  And I have to admit that there are those galleries with the infamous “gallerina” giving the cold shoulder to visitors.  Most galleries don’t operate this way but unfortunately this is the common perception.  The “white box” psychology has taken over and makes many people uncomfortable with the art world.

To top it all off, I find that many artists and even galleries do not send out press releases to the media or when they do, it’s the same drivel that many writers receive over and over again.  It’s a boring presentation of facts- who, what, where, when, and if you include an artist statement, why.  Sure, it’s a big deal to the artist and to the gallery that they’re having a show, but why should it be a big deal to the public?  The public wants a story.  I’m an artist and even I find press releases about shows to be a snore.  I want to know the artist’s life story- why they created this work and I don’t mean some nonsensical philosophy using every vocabulary word you had to learn for the SAT’s.  What brought you to this point in your life?  What did you overcome to make this work?  What in your travels inspired this series?  It doesn’t have to be dramatic like a soap opera- although that sort of thing always interests the media- but it should be informative enough that a writer can weave this into a great story.

Even if you are lucky enough to get the elusive great review in an art magazine, these publications are for a specific niche and are not read by the general public.  If you want your art to be seen in mainstream media, as was expressed in this conversation, then you’re going to have to broaden your reach, be proactive, send press releases (good ones!!), and ask for interviews.  Be your own PR team.  Let the public get to know you as a person.

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Art Help & Info

Why Losing Fans is a Good Thing

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Facebook Fan Page for Amy Guidry Artist

After reading the title of this post, you’d probably think I’m being sarcastic or just plain crazy.  Actually, no.  The thing is, anytime you are losing “fans” (email newsletter subscribers, Facebook Fans, etc.), you’re probably not actually losing fans, you’re losing people that weren’t really interested in the first place.  There are many reasons why someone may subscribe to your newsletter or be your fan on Facebook or follow you on Twitter.  You would hope that it’s because they just love your art, but that’s not always the case.  Some are other artists just doing research on you, some are acquaintances that felt obligated to join because you asked, and some may have been interested but quickly discovered that your work is not what they expected- the list goes on.

So why is this a good thing?  Because it translates to more time and effort put into those who do care about your art, and less wasted on those that weren’t interested.  For every email, every phone call, every Tweet, every newsletter, every postcard, etc. etc., there is less time, money, and energy invested into those that are not interested in your art, thus allowing you to focus on those that do care.  Sure, you want to know that your art resonates with tons of people- everyone, for that matter- but it’s not going to do that if they’re hitting the delete button every time you send them something.  And it’s not that you’re doing anything wrong or that your art is “bad.”  Some people are just not going to be interested, but this frees you up to fully invest in those that are.  If you were to send out a newsletter and end up with a few “unsubscribes” as a result and one heartfelt email from a fan, that fan’s response far outweighs the unsubscribes.  (More than likely those unsubscribes are people you’ve never heard from anyway.)  Having a meaningful connection with your fans is much more rewarding and better for your career seeing as these are the folks that will talk about your art, come to your shows, and share your news or posts with others.

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Art Help & Info

The Big Time

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“Heads II” by Amy Guidry; acrylic on canvas; 12″ x 12″; (c) Amy Guidry 2013

There seems to be a common misconception among artists and even among the general public, for that matter, that I wanted to take a moment to dispel.  Some are of the opinion that if they can just accomplish [insert goal here] that they will make it as an artist (although this applies to non-artists as well).  The thing is, there will never be “one” gallery or “one” show or “one” award that will “make” you.  I believe this misconception stems from what appears to be the overnight success of others.  Anytime we hear about an artist or musician or athlete in the news for the first time (to our knowledge), we think they are an overnight success because we’ve never heard of them before and now they are famous.  It wasn’t that they accomplished one particular goal and found instant fame.  Sure, there is probably one particular accomplishment being highlighted in said news feature, but that’s simply because they need a hook for their story.  The fact is, this person has been working their butt off “behind the scenes.”  Just because we’ve never heard of them before doesn’t mean that this now-superstar wasn’t working two jobs or repeatedly getting rejected or struggling to make a name for themselves or all of the above at some point in time.  I’ve heard of many artists that worked odd jobs and couldn’t get into galleries that are now successful.

In order to become a success at anything, whether you are an artist or not, is to diligently apply yourself to each opportunity.  Sure, Larry Gagosian could walk into your studio, buy your work and make you a star overnight, but VERY rarely does that ever happen.  And even in those instances, if you were to look backward you will see a series of small steps that led up to that moment.  You have to build your career, brick by brick, layer by layer.  There’s no quick-fix, magic pill, or get-rich-quick scheme that will do the work for you.

Although instant success would be nice, the good news is it’s much more realistic (and reassuring) to know that you are in control of your success.  Rest assured that the steps you are taking now are improving your career rather than waiting around and just hoping for a lucky break.  Take a look at what you’ve accomplished over the past year, or even over the past few years, and you will probably find that you’ve done much more than you ever thought possible.  Now imagine what you could accomplish over the upcoming year, or five years from now, or ten.  “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” – Les Brown.

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Art Help & Info

Perceptions

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As an artist, therefore business owner, I can tell you it takes a lot of work to do what I do.  Which is why it is always surprising to me when people are confused by the amount of time I spend marketing my work.  Someone once said that it must be “relaxing” and so nice to “just paint all day.”  HA!  That is clearly not the case.  Artists know this but many still struggle with the idea of taking time away from the easel to market their work.

The thing is no one cares about our work as much as we do.  It may seem that if you have gained the coveted gallery representation that you are able to just paint all day, but that is not the case.  Why else do you see so many artists with representation with various galleries, myself included?  I can tell you, and even the gallery owners will tell you, that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.  Galleries are dealing with multiple artists and also multiple tastes and preferences.  You are not their only artist and they can’t possibly devote all their time and energy solely into your work.

It is up to you to grow your business, get your work seen, show in different galleries in different cities or even different countries, and meet people.  If you want people to know your art even exists, you will have to learn to market it and make the time to do so.  If you’re still reading this, clearly you’re serious about your work but I’m sure some of you are groaning at the thought.  But hear me out.  I have artists from all over email me and ask me how I did this, that, and the other.  Some of them assume that I “knew someone” or I was “lucky” but (though I haven’t done any actual math on this) I would say that 99% of what I’ve accomplished is a direct, or sometimes indirect result, of my actions.  If you want it done, you need to do it yourself.  Call that gallery, email that magazine, write that press release.  Whatever you are looking to gain, you will have to take the steps to make that happen.  It won’t just fall into your lap.  Very rarely does that ever happen.

Make time to work in the studio, but plan to spend a good portion of your day or week marketing as well.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

Update your website

Attend gallery openings

Send out a press release

Create a Fan Page for your art on Facebook

Hand out business cards

Send an email newsletter

Give a talk about your art

Read a marketing book!

These are just a few examples.  Think big.  Whatever you want to accomplish with your art- do it.  Make a list and take action.

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Art Help & Info

Field of Dreams

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Artist Amy Guidry with her work at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall
Artist Amy Guidry with her work at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall

I decided to re-post this since it was a popular post I had done awhile back. So for those of you that are new or may have missed this, I hope you find it inspiring!

No one cares about your art more than you do. It’s true. It’s not unlike showing your vacation photos to everyone. They mean well, but after about two minutes, the enthusiasm wears off and their eyes glaze over. I was inspired to write this after going through some old art magazines to clear out the mountain of periodicals I’ve saved. I came across a rather disheartening article in a very popular magazine. The author was giving advice on how to be a successful artist. Some of the author’s tips? Paint what sells- not more “complex” paintings, don’t bother showing in libraries or university galleries since they don’t generate sales (museums usually don’t either, but I don’t know an artist alive that wouldn’t jump at the chance to show in a museum), and sell on Ebay- specifically bright, colorful, quick paintings- no drawings. I know better than this and even I found it depressing! I can only imagine what other artists must think.

So this is what leads me to my frustration. I don’t care who they are or if they mean well, no one truly cares about your art or your art career as much as you do. This is why you are the only one that can determine what your goals are and if, at the end of the day, you’ve done all that you can to achieve those goals. Don’t listen to the naysayers, the haters, the critics, the cynics, or the non-believers. What do they know anyway? Even some of the experts can’t always predict what you, personally, need to do. That’s why it’s up to you to take in all this information and filter through it and find what is applicable and toss away what’s not. You know what you need to do. You know if your work is the best it can be. You know what you should create. If you try to “paint what sells,” you’ll be chasing your tail for quite some time. Popularity changes as do marketing trends. Something that sells one day, won’t the next. That’s why there are trend analysts that make a living at this. Great work is great work and it will attract its own popularity. And while I’m at it- if you were to avoid university galleries, libraries, museums, or any other venue for fear of little to no sales, you wouldn’t be an artist, would you? I couldn’t imagine not having the experience of seeing art, especially when I was a student, at a university gallery or museum. Some of the most significant shows of our time come from these venues.

In my own personal experience, I’ve heard it all. I’ve been told what I should paint, how I should paint, and I’ve even had a drunk non-artist tell me what is and isn’t art. When I made the decision to paint and to try to get into a gallery exhibit, even one of my “good” friends told me that I couldn’t do it. It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to any of these people, otherwise I may not have even been an artist at all. Anyone listening to that kind of advice would quit before even starting. Don’t make that mistake. If you’re already a working artist, just keep on trucking. If you’re just starting out, stay focused and put your blinders on. And maybe invest in some good ear plugs.

Being a true artist takes grit. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and you’ll need to develop a thick skin. However, I can’t imagine a more rewarding experience. I always like to think of these words by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

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Art Help & Info

You Like Me, Right Now, You Like Me: The Case for Social Media

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SPIKE
Sally Field\’s 1985 Oscar Acceptance Speech
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Spike Full Episodes Spike Video Clips Spike on Facebook

With all the social media sites out there- Google+, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.- it has a lot of us all wondering if we really need to be on these sites.  As an artist, I have to say yes… I can hear the groans now… Does it really matter?  In short, absolutely.  Not that this is a popularity contest, but those likes, plus 1’s, and tweets are important.  Sure, they give you a boost of confidence and let you know that someone out there is taking notice to the work you’re doing- everyone wants to have their “Sally Field moment” – you “like” me.  But more importantly, it’s about trust.  Social media sites, time-suckers that they are, actually help build brand trust.  They allow people to get to know you, get better insight into your art, see what you are doing with your art career, and it also gives them confidence to buy your art when they can see that others like you as well.  In fact, the number of fans you have on Facebook, for example, builds confidence among other fans and potential buyers.  All the social media kudos you receive show that they are not alone- that others like your work and buy it, too- therefore they should join the club.  Because of these sites, others are able to vouch for you.

So how to manage all these sites?  And is one more important than the other?  Well, I have to admit that I do have my personal preferences when it comes to social media, however, I do think it is important to be present on all of them to some extent.  To keep things from getting out of control, I would recommend that you first set time limits.  Don’t get distracted with reading posts and watching videos.  Limit your social media time to only work-related posts and interactions when you are on the clock.  You can always go back later at the end of the day to do your personal posts, etc.

I know some of you may frown upon this, but copy and paste is your best friend when it comes to posting about your art.  I see no harm in replicating posts from one site to another.  It will save you time while maximizing your reach.  More than likely no one is going to be seeing the same posts from one site to another anyway.  Not everyone is on all social media sites and even if they are, they still may not see all your posts due to their short shelf-life as well as Facebook’s use of EdgeRank (which filters out 99% of posts by friends and businesses).  It really is best to cross-post in order to broaden your audience.

One last note- this may sound contradictory given your time restraints, but do try to respond to your fans’ comments in a timely manner.  If you post a painting or you ask a question, people are going to respond rather quickly, so be around to give them a response as well.  If you find that this is exceeding your time limit, perhaps find a way to wrap things up and exit the conversation.  You could thank everyone and say that you are going back to the studio now.  Or maybe entice them to come back by saying that you’re off to work on a piece and will come back with a “sneak peek” photo later.  Speaking of which, I need to get back to my easel as well.  If you have questions or comments concerning social media, feel free to to share them here!

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Art Help & Info

What It Takes

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I wanted to take a moment to discuss some concerns that I hear repeatedly amongst artist friends and online.  If you are reading this post, then more than likely you are an artist or maybe an art enthusiast.  Some of you may have embarked upon making a career of your art while others are afraid to do so for various reasons.  And of the ones that are currently working on their art careers, you may find yourselves discouraged at times or frustrated that things are not going as planned.  So what do you do about it?  Well, I am here to say that first of all, don’t give up.  And don’t be scared, or discouraged, or angry, or sad, or frustrated, etc., etc., etc.  This is a subjective business and not everyone will feel that your work suits their gallery or their living rooms.  And that’s okay.

Let’s face it.  This career is not for sissies.  But if you love your art, which I’m sure you do, then the other stuff won’t really matter.  Take pride in your work and take pride in all that you have accomplished.  Even if you’re just starting out, you have a lot to be proud of just in taking the first step to starting your career.  Shockingly enough, most people do not take those first steps (and that’s including those that are not even artists).  It takes guts to make the first move.  You’re getting out of your comfort zone.  And even once you are well into your career, you will find that you still have to shake things up and get out of your comfort zone again and again.  As the stakes get higher, you need to do more as well as reach more.  But that’s okay because you love what you do.

Aside from loving your work, you have to be consistent.  That is the one thing that I see so many artists drop the ball on.  Consistency is key.  You can’t expect to accomplish everything overnight.  You will have to slowly build and take each step towards building your exhibition experience, your portfolio, your sales, your awards, etc.  And just because you accomplish one goal, doesn’t mean you can stop.  You have to keep on plugging away at your career.  You can’t just coast or rest on your laurels.  You’ll need to have new work to show, you’ll need to expand to other cities, other states, other countries even.  You’ll need to keep moving.  How many bands can you think of that were one-hit wonders?  How many actors can you think of that were popular and then seemed to disappear from the face of the Earth?  You may find it hard to even think of examples but once you do, you’ll be thinking, “oh yeah… whatever happened to…?”  Don’t be one of those cases.  You are not a flash in the pan.  You’re serious about your career and you are here to stay.

The good news is it’s not about luck!  Sure, sometimes you may happen to be in the right place at the right time, but that won’t be often.  And even if it does happen, it won’t necessarily make your career.  Even for the positive things that happen in your career, if it wasn’t directly related to your doing, if you trace it back, you will probably find that it was thanks to one of the “seeds” you planted in the first place.  You don’t need to buy a Magic 8 ball or get a tarot reading.  Just keep putting yourself out there, creating more, improving as much as possible, marketing, networking, exhibiting, etc.  You don’t need luck- luck is hard to get anyway.  Consistency is easy enough to do and is a sure bet.

Stay strong, be consistent, and be professional.  The rest will follow.

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