Taking your first steps into the art industry

Leaving art school and making the transition to a successful life as a working artist is no mean feat but it’s not impossible, and neither is it all about luck, talent or knowing the right people. There are plenty of things you can do to improve your chances of being seen, finding gallery representation and hitting the big time. Read on to find out.

Networking

Oh yes, you’ve got to get out there to be seen! There’s no point slogging away in your studio producing your work if no one ever gets to meet you. Curators, gallerists and buyers all want to know who they are dealing with, and want to build a relationship with you before they’ll consider investing in you. So that means getting out there are attending private views, go to art fairs and talking to galleries exhibiting, running a market stall, entering competitions and open calls and talking to as many industry people as you can wherever you go. But be subtle about it, no one wants a business card stuffed in their hand out of the blue. And if you do meet a gallery owner at an event, follow up with an email and an introduction to your work.

Perfecting your internet presence

Get the basics right online and you’ll be off to a great start. Make sure your online portfolio, wherever it is, is up to date and showing your best work. Yes, you want to show how multidimensional, flexible and brilliant you are, but weed out any weak work that doesn’t reflect what you can really do. Quality over quantity is the key thing to think of, even if you’re just starting out.

Make sure you have an Instagram profile dedicated to your artwork and keep the family snaps, dog pics and goofy night out photos out of there. Make a second account for all that stuff if you want to have it online and keep your artist’s account as professional as possible. And make sure your website, if you have one, online portfolio and contact details are right there in your profile. Make it as easy as possible for interested people to get in touch with you, and let them know you are open to commissions!

Build your public profile

You need to build up your profile as a professional artist, so consider creating a newsletter, writing a blog or recording a podcast and building up your profile that way. When you get a decent number of followers you can reach out to news outlets to comment on art industry news, if they pick you up your voice goes even further, and the more people who know about you, the more your reputation grows.

Turn visitors into buyers and buyers into collectors

Use your newsletter or podcast to promote your work and allow your readers to get to know you and your process. The more comfortable they feel with you and the more they feel your work suits their lifestyle/ideals/character, the more likely they are to buy or commission something from you. Building that network doesn’t end with a sale or a commission though, that buyer might just turn into a collector if you build on the relationship you have established and try to maximise the connections you have. It’s far easier than building something up from scratch, so make the most out of every contact.

Volunteer at a gallery or arts organisation

Meeting the right people can make all the difference so spend some free time volunteering at an art gallery or in an arts organisation and you’ll be building skills, experience and contacts as you go. You’ll get great insider insight into how things work, how artists are treated or perceived, and what you should and shouldn’t do when you get your chance to present or exhibit your work.

Do some community work

As an emerging artist you need to build on any exposure you can get, so apply for community art projects in your area, public art commissions and other work opportunities. You never know who you will meet along the way, what media coverage you might get, or who might see your work this way. You’ll also build up your contacts and your CV, as well as learning valuable skills as you complete the project, or, if you don’t get the job, learn what you need to do so your next application is better and easier to complete.

Work well with others

Once you get that break, however small, make sure you’re pleasant to work with. This doesn’t mean capitulating to a client’s every whim, but if you don’t agree do so amiably, lay out your reasons and be willing to compromise. If you’re reliable, easy to work with and deliver on time and to budget, your client will go away with a favourable impression of you and that’s exactly what you want. If you can go above and beyond the call of duty without compromising on quality or working for unreasonable rates, you’ll look even better.