Contact some local art galleries about exhibiting my work

Tomorrow is the opening reception at an exhibition that will have two of my paintings. It’s a group landscape exhibition in a city two hours away, and a good artist friend of mine is coming to the opening with me. If my work is sold, the owner of the gallery told me that he’ll be wanting more. My prices are lower than the established artists’s work, so hoping this will not look strange, but encourage a sale. Also, I’m going to be in another exhibition in a gallery here in Ottawa next month. Things are moving along in the right direction, and I’m really excited. I just wish more people (who can afford it) were interested in buying original art instead of buying prints from IKEA.

Tomorrow I’m heading to a commercial gallery in another city two hours from here, to show my work to the owner. I’m hoping he likes it and wants to exhibit at least a couple of pieces for now, and maybe include me in a group show next year. Keeping fingers crossed.

and I had some very positive results! This gallery is relatively new, but is very professional and the space is gorgeous. It’s also in a larger city, which is better than the smaller touristy towns that are dead in the winter. The owner of this gallery was interested in my work, and told me to bring in a few pieces after the summer is over. I’m feeling really good with the responses I’ve received from the two galleries I’ve contacted so far. There’s one I’m saving that’s here in my city…I want to have some solid representation from the two galleries I just contacted before I approach this one in town. I’m so excited!

with trepidation because I’m an emerging artist and I don’t have that many credentials such as showing my work in other galleries. It’s a small private gallery in a touristy town not far from Ottawa. The owner responded by asking to see some jpegs of my current work and what galleries I may have shown in. I sent her 10 jpegs and told her about the art association I joined, how I show in this gallery regularly (it’s under the auspices of Ottawa, so it’s considered a bona fide gallery), plus the Celebration juried exhibit I had my work in at the university during Congress 2009, and the shows I’ve had in local venues like restaurants. She replied right away and asked the price and size of each piece, and the media, since these were not on the jpegs…I’d sent a link to my website but I guess she preferred to have jpegs emailed to her. Then she replied right away and said she loves my work, the colours and moods and to keep painting! And, when she has an exhibit for an emerging artist (which she does from time to time in between her established artists) she’ll contact me and I’ll bring some original work to her so we can see what to show!!! I’m so excited! I knew when I contacted a gallery it would be a bit premature at this stage in my art career, but I received a very positive and encouraging response. :)

I have a solo exhibition starting next week that runs until the end of August, and I thought I’d contact one of the small galleries here in town, ask if they’d be interested in representing me, and besides pointing them to my website, letting them know they can view my work at the exhibit. I just don’t know if I have enough work to submit yet, but I am impatient and I really want to see what happens.

I’ve decided to contact three galleries, all small ones that are located just outside of my city, in smaller artsy towns. After I add 5 new paintings to my website, I’ll write to them and see what happens.

I’m thinking this might be better planned for a year from now. I need more shows in local venues, and more exposure. My artist friend and I have an exhibition of our work from now until April 25th at a popular restaurant downtown, and I have a show in June, and one in December, so these types of shows will give me more credibility when I approach a gallery. Plus, galleries take a huge commission, so I’m not in any hurry. Here’s a pic of Distant Storm, one of my new pieces.

I finally got around to submitting two proposals for two group exhibition at a gallery in the city. I still plan to approach two other commercial galleries to represent me, and I think I have a large enough body of work behind me to take this step. It’s exciting, but if I get rejected, I wonder how it will affect my feelings regarding my work.

I’ve looked into about 5 commercial galleries here in Ottawa (one in Merrickville) and they’re good possibilities. I just wonder about all of the fees and commission…I guess I won’t find out the details until I submit/get accepted. They want a link to my website, or a CD with images of my work, plus an artist’s CV. I haven’t had that many shows in local galleries, except one…mostly in restaurants, etc, so I don’t come across as very ‘professional.’ But, I’m still going to see what happens. I have to start somewhere! It’s a bit daunting though.