Some good advice came my way from Jason at Xandau Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, regarding taking a quality check of your art. He stresses the importance of continuous improvement in what you do.
He says, "I have known and worked with hundreds of artists over the years. The most successful artists are devoted to high quality. They have the ability to step back from their work and look at it through their buyer's eyes. Art collectors are picky. They demand attention to detail. Their homes are immaculate. You must create work that will fit seamlessly into their homes."
Jason believes that the medium doesn't matter - sculpture, jewelry, paintings, photography or fiber art - the presentation must be flawless.
He suggests thinking of each work you create as a masterpiece. Treat it as such.
His advice in regards to one small thing to improve the quality of your work:
"Invite someone you trust to evaluate the quality of your art. You should invite an artist you admire, or a designer, or a gallery owner over to the studio for coffee. Present 5-6 pieces. Ask the question 'What are three things I could do to improve the quality of my presentation?'
It is his belief that an objective observer will see your art in a way you never could. Jason advises to repeat this process every 1-2 years and make a commitment to constantly improve your quality.
Excellent advice, wouldn't you agree?
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Artist Statement
Most visual artists can talk freely and fluidly about their work: what inspires them; their composition, materials, and technique; what they’re trying to say with their art. When they have to put these ideas in print, though—which they inevitably must—they often find themselves at a loss for words.
Visual artists are generally not writers and writing per can be alien to them, because it relies on a far different mental palette. Writing, after all, originates in a different part of the brain. Indeed, writers see the world differently than visual artists and work with another set of tools, obviously. However, the radical differences between these two modes of expression may actually explain why they so often complement one another.
I have been learning about marketing from Jason Horejs owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. Recently, he has launched a series of free, mini-workshops. Watch this 25 minute session with New York arts writer Adam Eisenstat on writing an artist statement.
Visual artists are generally not writers and writing per can be alien to them, because it relies on a far different mental palette. Writing, after all, originates in a different part of the brain. Indeed, writers see the world differently than visual artists and work with another set of tools, obviously. However, the radical differences between these two modes of expression may actually explain why they so often complement one another.
I have been learning about marketing from Jason Horejs owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. Recently, he has launched a series of free, mini-workshops. Watch this 25 minute session with New York arts writer Adam Eisenstat on writing an artist statement.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Call-For-Art Program for Collectors
The Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona came up with a great idea; a call-for-art program for collectors.
The way it works is that if you have a particular space in your home or office which has stymied your best efforts at finding the right piece of art, you may send them images of the space, along with dimensions, ideas of what you are looking for, and your budget. They, in turn, will send the call out to their network of thousands of artists who will send you images of potential pieces.
This is an exciting new way for you to let the art find you. They will soon have a page up on their website allowing you to upload images directly, but for now, you may simply email the request directly to Jason: jason@xanadugallery.com
Maybe I can join this network?
The way it works is that if you have a particular space in your home or office which has stymied your best efforts at finding the right piece of art, you may send them images of the space, along with dimensions, ideas of what you are looking for, and your budget. They, in turn, will send the call out to their network of thousands of artists who will send you images of potential pieces.
This is an exciting new way for you to let the art find you. They will soon have a page up on their website allowing you to upload images directly, but for now, you may simply email the request directly to Jason: jason@xanadugallery.com
Maybe I can join this network?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sound Advice on Pricing Art
Pricing one's art is challenging.
I came across some good advice from Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Did you know that one of the most common mistakes artists make when approaching a gallery for representation is not having a concrete pricing structure for their work? No matter how strong your portfolio is, or how much a gallery owner likes your work, if you show the slightest hesitation or uncertainty about the value of your work you risk your professionalism in the eyes of the gallery owner you are approaching. When you are asked the value of your work you need to have clear and concise pricing structure that you can easily explain to your prospective clients and gallery owners.
When you are ready to start approaching galleries there are three steps you should take to establish the value of your work:
1. Do your homework. Spend some time on the internet and visiting galleries. Find artists who are at similar points in their careers, and, if possible, who are in similar genres. See how they are pricing their work and see if you can find their formula (are they pricing by the size of the piece, by the complexity of the work or by the time they are investing in the creation of the piece?). Understanding your "competition" is an important first step in arriving at a price for your work.
2. Build a strong track record of sales. Find ways to start selling your work. Ideally you will start selling in a gallery, but if that is not possible find an alternate path to collectors. The internet, eBay, art festivals and interior design professionals can provide you with opportunities to begin to establish the value of your art. Remember, the value of art is a perceived value - so as you begin to sell your work you have to create demand to justify the price of your work.
3. Develop a simple, consistent pricing strategy for your work. Come up with a formula that you can easily apply to all of your work, whether you price by the size, or by your material costs, or some other easily measured factor - the key is keeping it simple.
Other considerations when pricing:
You are better off setting your price a little low and then raising it as artwork begins to sell than you would be overpricing and valuing your work out of the market.
Avoid pricing by emotion - your emotional connection to your work is different than that of a collector. Sometimes an artist's least favorite work is the first to sell!
When discussing pricing, either with galleries or collectors, always speak in terms of the retail price. The price you are getting for your work when you sell it yourself will be the same price the gallery will be able to sell it for.
I came across some good advice from Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Did you know that one of the most common mistakes artists make when approaching a gallery for representation is not having a concrete pricing structure for their work? No matter how strong your portfolio is, or how much a gallery owner likes your work, if you show the slightest hesitation or uncertainty about the value of your work you risk your professionalism in the eyes of the gallery owner you are approaching. When you are asked the value of your work you need to have clear and concise pricing structure that you can easily explain to your prospective clients and gallery owners.
When you are ready to start approaching galleries there are three steps you should take to establish the value of your work:
1. Do your homework. Spend some time on the internet and visiting galleries. Find artists who are at similar points in their careers, and, if possible, who are in similar genres. See how they are pricing their work and see if you can find their formula (are they pricing by the size of the piece, by the complexity of the work or by the time they are investing in the creation of the piece?). Understanding your "competition" is an important first step in arriving at a price for your work.
2. Build a strong track record of sales. Find ways to start selling your work. Ideally you will start selling in a gallery, but if that is not possible find an alternate path to collectors. The internet, eBay, art festivals and interior design professionals can provide you with opportunities to begin to establish the value of your art. Remember, the value of art is a perceived value - so as you begin to sell your work you have to create demand to justify the price of your work.
3. Develop a simple, consistent pricing strategy for your work. Come up with a formula that you can easily apply to all of your work, whether you price by the size, or by your material costs, or some other easily measured factor - the key is keeping it simple.
Other considerations when pricing:
You are better off setting your price a little low and then raising it as artwork begins to sell than you would be overpricing and valuing your work out of the market.
Avoid pricing by emotion - your emotional connection to your work is different than that of a collector. Sometimes an artist's least favorite work is the first to sell!
When discussing pricing, either with galleries or collectors, always speak in terms of the retail price. The price you are getting for your work when you sell it yourself will be the same price the gallery will be able to sell it for.
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