WHERE TO START...

I have been thinking a lot about how to discuss the various aspects of being in the business of art is such a way that it makes sense to an emerging artist, yet still has value to a more experienced artist. There are a lot of different things to consider, starting with were to START!

Not very many people have ever seen this painting, and please don't laugh,
but this is my very first painting. I  was very proud that I could actually paint what
I saw in the photograph and I still have this little dear. Everyone starts somewhere...

Most artists who make selling their art into a business, don't just wake up one morning and decide to do it. Most of us have been doing art for as long as we can remember and the shift to seeing it as a business opportunity may take years to formulate and then even more time to realize in tangible form.

The topics that I would like to speak about are many: developing a body of work, creating a portfolio and an artist statement, approaching galleries, what galleries want to see in an artist before they will represent them, what galleries will expect after they agree to represent an artist, and the list goes on and on. How to prepare for a feature show is something that comes after all of these other steps and while it is what I am doing right now, you probably are not. We will have plenty of time to discuss these other things over the next few weeks as I get to work on my show.

I created my first art-based business when I was about 27. I went to college right out of high school, got a degree, got a good job and then I was laid off. I was a Speech Pathologist and the teachers with more experience out numbered me 100 to 1. It wasn't looking good. "The Sewing Studio" grew out of my ability to sew just about anything at a time when I really needed to make some money and the business took on a life of its own before I knew what was happening.

One of my Wearable Art dresses made out of
hand-dyed and printed silk circa 1989.

I made award winning costumes for theater companies and at Halloween, I sewed wedding dresses, I designed and created Wearable Art pieces that sold in fancy boutiques, I took on production contracts for other artists, if you could make it out of fabric or leather, I could probably figure out how to sew it into a garment. I was incredibly busy all the time. But.... I was ill prepared, had no reserves and didn't have a clue how to run a profitable business. I over-committed, under-estimated and made every mistake that you could think of. By the end of five years I was divorced, exhausted and broke but I sure had learned a lot about owning a business and the next time, I did much better. I made the bulk of my living for the next 20 years from sewing and worked in galleries selling jewelry and art whenever I needed some extra income. It was not until 8 years ago that I started to paint and identify myself as a painter.

The unfinished painting that is on my table right now.
I am thinking about calling her "Woman with a Secret"
but  I will have to see what she says.

I have over 30 years of experience in the art/gallery business that I would like to share with other artists. Over the weekend, I plan on really looking at the different topics that I could discuss and share in this  blog. Hopefully you will return to see what I come up with!

Have an inspiring, creative weekend and take time to practice some delicious self-care.

Namaste,
Yarrow

To see more of my my paintings, prints, cards and jewelry, please visit my Etsy shop.