Artist Dos & Don'ts

Framing for a Lifetime

Since becoming a gallery owner, I've learned what works for me as a sales rep for artists. Please read the list below before requesting an appointment with me for a showing. Assuming my policies and philosophies are acceptable, I'd be happy to hear from you.

• First and foremost, I'm a frame shop. Financially, my best month so far was July 2008 (during a supposedly bad economy), and in that month, only three pieces of consignment art sold, totaling less than $150. August 2008 was just as good with slightly more in art sales. Because so much of my income is generated through my frame shop, custom framing remains my top priority.

• Shop around. Before making the leap to consignment sales, visit several galleries to see which ones best fit your subject matter, your medium, and your price range. I've sold several $3000 - $4000 pieces, but never a $10,000 one. Most of what I sell retails under $100.

• Make an appointment in advance of your visit. DO NOT walk into a gallery without an appointment and say, "I have some stuff in my car I wanna show you." DO NOT walk into a gallery without an appointment and ask, "Could you look at my drawings/paintings/pots and tell me if I'm any good?" DO NOT call five minutes out and say, "I'm almost there--can I bring in my artwork right now?" NEVER walk into a gallery without an appointment and say, "I need gas money--will you buy this from me for $50?" (I'm sad to say I'm not making any of this up.)

Refer to bullet item # 1--remember, that $500 frame job in the back is my priority. New artists are welcome, but with an appointment that works for both of us.

And no, I can't buy your work outright. To sell your work outright, you'll need to rent space at a trade show.

• If you get one, be prepared for your appointment. Download the contract, read it, and bring it with you to the appointment. You should also bring your inventory list, completed in advance, with your works' titles and prices.

• Be professional. Do not display your prints in Saran Wrap and Scotch tape. Mount and mat them inside clear sleeves (which I can sell to you), or frame them. I offer all artists a 15% discount on framing their own work. If you're bringing in pottery, jewelry, or other 3D items, pack them well--no dings, dents, or scratches accepted.

• If possible, provide POP (point-of-purchase) materials. This can be as simple as a small stack of your business cards or as extensive as brochures or a poster.

• Write an Artist Statement. Customers want to know about you, your background, your training, and the inspiration for your work. Help us sell you; your artwork will sell better.

• Guarantee your work. If a necklace breaks, please fix it. If your artwork slips down inside the frame, please repair it or pay me to do so (unless of course I built the frame, in which case I'll happily fix it). If a pot cracks in the dishwasher, please replace it.

• Rotate your work. Especially when showing in several galleries at the same time, you should easily be able to rotate and freshen your work every 3-4 months. After that, work becomes stale and is less likely to sell. Also, if you're not producing enough new work each year to replace each gallery's inventory at least once, you may need to ask yourself whether being a professional artist is possible for you right now.

• Do a show with your gallery. A show can be on a single theme, it can be a retrospective, a joint show with other artists, etc. Be prepared to share expenses, and on opening night, dress professionally and thank the gallery owner for taking a chance on you.

• Be polite. Saying "please" and "thank you" goes a long way toward building a positive artist/gallery relationship. I once had an artist tell me, "You wouldn't be in business if it weren't for us artists." Another said, "I'm doing you a favor." Neither statement is true in my shop--as I've said, I sell mainly custom picture frames, not artwork.

My Mission Statement states that one of my goals is to represent local artists who don't or can't operate a gallery of their own. To me, it's important to make local art available to the public. However, I must also balance this philosophy with the practicality of doing business. I know you'll understand.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

JoAnn Martin

Owner

Framing for a Lifetime