My Art Advice: Should I send a gallery a link to my art or images of my art by email in order to be considered for gallery representation?

I get questions like this often from emerging artists. This is a delicate issue. This question reminds me that the world wide web is sometimes a double-edged sword for artists. On one side you can cut yourself short by annoying galleries and other exhibiting venues by emailing them random information about your work. On the other side you can carve out your career by building your presence online. In regards to this question, be careful which way you swing the blade-- especially if you are just starting out. Artists want to land gallery representation, but that does not mean that every gallery wants to be baited by a thousand emails from hopeful emerging artists each day.

Before you send a random email to a gallery about your art remember that there might be hundreds of other artists doing the same thing at the same time. What will happen? You will most likely have your email marked as spam or blocked. If you are not blocked and you continue to send messages about your work you will most likely become an inside joke at the gallery rather than land representation. Worst case scenario... you will annoy the person on the other end and they will end up telling their associates about you. Word can travel fast and in the art world-- even on the most basic level --everything is about presence. You want to put your best face forward-- not blow it off with one quick letter. Annoying gallery owners can be career suicide depending on the status of the gallery.

Artists often forget that a gallery is a business. Galleries do not display work simply for the viewing pleasure of visitors. They have paychecks to write and lights to keep on-- it is a business just like any other. While it is true that galleries need artists to run their business, you need to remember that they already have a stable of artists-- they need art, but that does not mean that they need your art. You might be thinking, " If that is the case, why do the galleries have their email listed if they don't want artists to contact them?"... In most cases a gallery has their email listed for two reasons. 1.) They can send out exhibit information to their email list from that account. 2.) A random collector can write to them with questions about an artist that the gallery represents-- though most will call the gallery before writing them. Having an email address listed does not mean that the gallery is offering an open invitation to hopeful artists.

There are exceptions. Some galleries want artists to send examples of their work by email. Many of those galleries have ads in art publications stating that fact (just as galleries that do not want artists to send samples of their art by email will often have some fine print-- sometimes BIG print --stating that under their contact information!!!). However, I think it is better for artists to attend openings at the gallery they are interested in instead of sending a desperate email to the gallery about their work and why it should be represented. As I stated before, there could be thousands of artist worldwide sending emails to the gallery with the same hope that you have at the same time. You want to be a face... not a random name listed in the galleries email inbox-- or trash bin for that matter. Brick & mortar galleries do not have the manpower to address thousands of emails like that.

So what can you do? Attend openings-- get to know the people who are already exhibited at the gallery and be friendly to the gallery staff. By getting to know people and being friendly I do not mean that you should go up and say, "I really like this space. Are they looking for new talent?" or "Can you get me in here, my work is great!" to everyone you meet! Just enjoy yourself... be yourself-- leave the 'I'm a brooding artist' or 'I'm better than this place' persona at the door. Eventually you can slide the fact that you are an artist into the conversation, but keep it short.Business cards that contain a link to your personal website or accounts that you have on art sites like www.myartspace.com can come in handy if a conversation goes well-- be prepared!

Some of you might be saying, "But I live hundreds of miles away! Sending an email is my only option!". Well, if that is the case you might want to ask yourself if you want to be represented by a gallery that you can't visit in person at least once per month, especially if you are new to the scene. With a ton of luck your email effort might land you gallery representation, but if you are not able to actually visit the gallery you will not know if your work is actually in sight of gallery patrons or somewhere in a backroom waiting to be pulled out when-- and if --someone wants to view it. That is not to suggest that galleries are shady, but they do tend to cater to the needs of represented artists who can actually visit the gallery often. Thus, you might want to focus on exhibiting opportunities near you or online venues that specialize in giving opportunities to artists who would otherwise be isolated.

Keep in mind that I'm mainly talking about city galleries. Rural galleries might have a different outlook on 'view my art' soliciting. I still think that getting to know more about a gallery in person, no matter where the gallery is located, is the best choice for you if you are seeking gallery representation. Also, remember that you do not exactly need to rely on brick & mortar galleries ... you can always represent yourself by utilizing sites like www.myartspace.com, www.youtube.com, and www.myspace.com as tools for exposure. Combine your efforts-- place links to your art accounts on your Youtube and Myspace account and place links to your Youtube and Myspace accounts on your art accounts. Be active online... network with artists and curators that you meet. Keep in mind that many established artists started out this way. Don't sweat over gallery representation.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
www.myartspace.com
www.myartspace.com/balhatain
www.myartspace.com/blog
www.myartspace.com/interviews

My Art Advice: If I post my work online doesn't that mean that someone is more apt to steal my style? I don't want people to paint like I do!

This is another common question that is asked of me. It can be hard to define 'style', it is one of those issues that can be debated. With that said, your use of 'style' implies the manner in which you paint, the methods you use, the marks that you make with your brush, and the fear that someone will create images utilizing those same kind of marks and methods. With that said, if someone steals your style you should feel honored-- it must mean that you are doing something right in the eyes of someone. More power to the style 'borrowers', 'thieves', and 'cutthroats'! Why do I declare this? Because if you observe this issue within the context of art history you will find that this 'visual theft' of style gives rise to new movements in art and to new styles all together. So this fear of having your style 'stolen' should not be your main concern when uploading art online. In other words, you should focus on doing what YOU are doing and accept the fact that you are part of a visual tradition.

This concern over 'style theft' is common. I frequent several art forums and find that many artists think that they own their 'style'. These artists get very upset when another artist decides to work in a similar manner. Legally speaking, you can't copyright an artistic style. The image itself is copyrighted, but not the manner in which you created it-- the methods you used and the marks that you made. Allow me to repeat that in bold-- YOU CAN'T COPYRIGHT AN ARTISTIC STYLE! For example, if you paint blue figures with white backgrounds you can't file suit if someone else does the same unless the paintings are very close to being identical. There is not much that you can do legally if an artist utilizes the same types of marks, the same colors, and even similar subject matter. If this was the case people would not bother to paint!

Still worried about people stealing your 'style' if you upload your work online? Think of it this way, are you influenced or inspired by another artist or perhaps an art movement from the past? If so, in some way-- even if it is buried in your mind --you are 'stealing' from those styles... those ideas. You are utilizing similar marks and taking a similar direction with your art-- marks and direction that you may not have taken had you not had knowledge of that artist or art movement. By doing so, you add an authentic touch to that visual tradition-- but you can't deny the debt that you owe to those who have came before.

Styles and methods of creation have been 'borrowed' throughout time. One artist will 'take' ideas from another artist or a group of artists and build upon it. We all owe a certain debt to artists who have came before... so it is naive to think that your 'style' is free from the observation and exploration of others-- I would go as far as to say that it is a sign of insecurity if you feel that way. Thus, who are you to say that your art should be free from the observation and exploration of your peers?

I will go further with this! I think it is safe to say that every artist has told visual white lies with their work-- we are all inspired or influenced by someone-- and those ideas are molded into our practice-- even if we are not aware of it. One could say that this is a glorified type of theft. In that sense, every artist is a thief. So if you are worried about someone 'stealing' your 'style'... step back-- view your work --and ask yourself how many artists you've stolen or borrowed from. After giving this some thought... ask yourself how many artists they have stolen or borrowed from. At that point you will see how the cards are stacked and you will be less likely to conceal your hand.

We do 'borrow' or 'steal'-- though steal might be a bold choice of word --from other artists regardless if we admit it or not... or are even aware of it. Show me your work and I can show you the work of a dozen artists who worked in a similar manner-- artists who have had a lot of exposure... meaning that at some point you have probably observed their work in a book, magazine, or on TV. Think of it this way, when we are young a peer draws a smiley face in class-- what happens next? A dozen kids end up drawing a smiley face and each add their own bit of truth to it. However, the original motivation to draw the smiley face was 'borrowed' or 'stolen' from the kid who did it first. Each child adds his or her own perspective to the original image that had been etched into his or her mind, but the foundation for that creation can be traced back to the child who drew it first in the classroom. Those of you who have taught will know exactly what mean. Is that not theft of style on its most basic terms? Does it matter?

I'm not suggesting that people should openly steal styles, but if someone does it to you... don't feel so bad. As I mentioned, it obviously means you are doing something right. Your focus should be on creating new works. In a sense, we humans are conditioned to borrow ideas, to steal ideas, to build upon the information that we have observed-- and make it our own. This is not exactly a negative trait... and none of us are above it. As far as art is concerned, we experience this theft in our youth the first time we draw a smiley face... so why do we feel that we are above it later in life? Why feel that your art should be protected from the thoughts and actions of others?

Here is my direct answer to this question-- if someone wants to 'borrow' or 'steal' your 'style'-- let them without a second thought. Chances are they will not have the same energy in their work that you do. Who knows... maybe they will end up utilizing the skills they have learned from 'borrowing' in order to develop their own visual direction. Perhaps they will end up doing what you do-- better. That is how art movements are made and shaped. It is the foundation of art history! To fear this is nothing more than a sign of insecurity. Again, that is my opinion-- and I understand that it is a philosophical one --take it for what it is worth.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
www.myartspace.com
www.myartspace.com/balhatain
www.myartspace.com/blog
www.myartspace.com/interviews

Welcome Monmouth University to myartspace!

We want to welcome all the great art students from Monmouth University to the myartpace community. This blog is intended to be a launching pad for lots of dialog between the art community at the university.