I’m an artist looking to sell my work. Can you offer me some information on ways to market my paintings as well as how to get my artwork published?
-H. Lassiter, Suffolk, VA
The opportunities for exposure are endless for artists, but your entry into the art world will be what you make of it.
To start, contact art galleries in your area to find out which of them support local artists. Also become an active member of area art societies and museums; lending your support to the arts will give you a leg up on your own pursuits. Your community’s fine arts organization, the Suffolk Art League (www.suffolk artleague.org), hosts an Annual Open Members Show and provides workshops. Furthermore, create a body of work: about two dozen paintings in the style, color, and subject matter that reflect you as an artist. You will need this when you meet with galleries you would like to be represented by.
Develop a Website to showcase your art. Even if you do not sell it online, people can view your work there, providing contact information for those interested in buying. Ask veteran artists to help you price your artwork accordingly.
Read Breaking into the Art World: How to Start Making a Living As an Artist by Brian Marshall White (Virtualbookworm. com Publishing; $19.95) and The Fine Artist’s Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion: Innovative Techniques to Build Your Career as an Artist by Julius Vitali (Allworth Press; $19.95).
There’s no time like the present. be ready for a crisis with these tips:
Pull Together: Besides understanding the changing role of the media and being Internet-savvy, crisis management professionals must be able to strategize, provide tactical solutions, set a functioning agenda, and have experience across multiple platforms. Smith recommends that key players such as a crisis consultant, legal advisers, and a spokesperson be handpicked via referrals.
Prepare: Develop a detailed plan that includes the company’s key messages, what people should know about the crisis, where and how those messages will be delivered, company’s target audience, and the crisis alert protocol with a pre-established notification system. “It also behooves an organization to identify current crises facing its industry and develop its own plan for use if necessary,” says Smith.
Practice: Periodically run drills with the comprised team to work out kinks and ensure all involved understand protocol and their anticipated role during a crisis. Smith says media training is imperative for all those who may be put in a position to field questions from the public and/or press.