Today I'm hosting Alyson B. Stanfield, author of I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. Alyson is here as part of the blog tour to help promote the book and is also giving away a free copy. She's invited me to ask a question related to the book, so here goes . . .
What is the best piece of advice that you could give to an emerging artist?
That's easy. For most artists, it would be: Get your art out there! Be so in love with your art that you can't wait to get out of bed and share it with people.
Don't wait for opportunity to knock on your door. Make sure more and more people are seeing your work and that you're not hoarding it for the perfect occasion.
Yes, you should enter juried shows, but don't stick to the safe ones. Go beyond your usual circle and introduce your art to new audiences. Subscribe to Art Calendar or an online service like ArtDeadlines.com or ArtDeadlinesList.com so you can keep up with the call for entries.
I would also caution emerging artists not to write off non-traditional venues. Sure, a local restaurant might not be as prestigious as a gallery in a big city, but what good is your art doing you while you sit on it and wait for that gallery? You never know what might come of hanging your art in a restaurant or doctor's office or bank lobby.
This brings me to something else. Although it's important to get your work out there as much as you can, it's equally important to know what you're getting into. That means doing your homework, meeting face-to-face with individuals, and that you need something in writing for most venues. You don't need to hang your art at every restaurant. You need to hang your art at those venues that will treat it with respect and treat you as the professional you are. If you don't know what you're getting into--if you don't know the right questions to ask--you can't expect others to cover all of the bases.
Bottom line: Get your art out of the studio and into venues where more people can see it.
Interested in winning a free copy of I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion? Visit this site, read the instructions, and enter. Your odds are good as she's giving away a free copy on most of the blog tour stops. You can increase your odds by visiting the other blog tour stops and entering on those sites as well.
9 comments:
Excellent question - and as usual an excellent answer from Alyson.
What a simple and refreshing reminder. Thanks!
Brenda
This is a great topic and it brought up another question for me. An artist friend of mine, who works primarily in ceramics recently participated in a "salon" put on by the Marin Arts Council. Many of the participants were artists who have received grants from MAC. My friend has been teaching for more than 20 years, giving her own workshops, and exhibiting nationally. The announcements that MAC puts out about these events refers to the participating artists as "emerging artists". When does one "graduate" from the "emerging artist" moniker? What is the definition of an "emerging artist"?
Christine
note to self---get my art out there...rebecca
A very good point, it's so easy to get despondent and think that a gallery show is the only way to get my work out there.
This is such good informatiom.I am really going to try to follow those suggestions.
Sandy
I have been following Alison's newsletters and blog for quite a while and she always surprise me with her fresh and simple approach to marketing. I just had to share all this great information on my blog, watercolourcenturion.blogspot.com
Yes, and I have to admit - I would love to win her book!
This is an article which will make many artists(including me) think about marketing in a different light.
Thank you for sharing your views!
This was very helpful because some of the previous topics were just getting me kind of discouraged.
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