Want to sell your work in Denver?

[snowmd]

Do you know anyone interested in studio space to work and show or main gallery space to rent with no commission taken? My husband and I have just opened a great new art gallery in Denver and are looking for interested artists to show in two week shows (nightly or longer available as well). Advertising included. Give us a call if you are interested or pass our name on.

Melissa and Mike
Space Gallery
303-744-1274
snowmd@hotmail.com

[bruin70]

m&m,,,,there are better ways to represent artists than throwing a net out into the sea.....{M}

[MichaelRH]

Hello Melissa & Mike - (welcome to Wetcanvas!)

I just got off the phone with Mike..and yes, I'm very interested in the possibility of showing (some) of my work in Denver.

As I've indicated to Mike...I'm in Fort Collins, and have shown work in Westminster, Colorado a number of years ago.

bruin70..I believe there are other ways certainly. It sounds like their review process is standard proceedure (review of work for potential showing). A slide review for one. Denver is about 65 miles from Fort Collins, so I am interested and would welcome more dialog and information.

btw bruin70, there was a small gallery in Westminster, Colorado and I showed in their annual erotic art show. The gallery no longer exists, but it was great fun...and I was able to meet some wonderful people..artists and buyers alike.

I will certainly head to physical galleries when I feel very comfortable with a (unified) body of work (to include paintings and drawings), but I thought Melissa's note here was interesting enough to make a call.

What are some of the methods you would recommend Milt? I'm serious here..I've done very little marketing..any additional suggestions would be appreciated.
--Michael

[bruin70]

hiya, mike.

i was addressing the gallery side of this. i would be cautious either as gallery or artist in carrying on business this way. call me a traditionalist.

but to answer you,,,,i would start looking in more marketable areas. big cities aren't always the answer.

i'd start with santa fe, taos, scottsdale, carmel, and big areas like hilton head, aspen, vale,,,,,,,,,,

send laser prints or something of size. 35mm's are a pain for galleries because that means pulling out the projector.

SHOW ONE STYLE. don't try covering all the bases.

entering group shows is solid. you see where you stand. so do the galleries.

don't wait too long till you're satisfied with your art,,,,,,,,,,,then you'll never get anything done.

if you feel qualified, see if you can get some seminar work going. gain notoriety that way.

i see a lot of drawing from you. drawings are a hard sell. unless you have something very special to offer. you would have to think "monumentally".....{M}




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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[Illustrator]

Big cities are not always the answer but having lived in Denver almost all my life until a year ago...it has an awesome art community that is very strong. Santa Fe and Taos? That is win or break there! The competition is just crazy...Denver is a great market!
John
[quote]
but to answer you,,,,i would start looking in more marketable areas. big cities aren't always the answer.

i'd start with santa fe, taos, scottsdale, carmel, and big areas like hilton head, aspen, vale,,,,,,,,,,



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My Online Portfolio
http://www.portfolios.com/profile.wga?MyUrl=JohnDeBord

My Greeting Card and Children's Illustration
http://gallery.passion4art.com/members/johndebord/index.html

[Karlin]

Originally posted by bruin70:
...but to answer you,,,,i would start looking in more marketable areas. big cities aren't always the answer.

i'd start with santa fe, taos, scottsdale, carmel, and big areas like hilton head, aspen, vale,,,,,,,,,,

Milt, do you by any chance show at the Hansen Gallery in Carmel? I remember seeing some work there which I very much admired that the work on your web pages reminds me of...

And another question: wouldn't you say that where you have success in showing depends also on the kind of work you do? For instance, you don't see a whole lot of abstract work in Carmel (I live near there)....

Thank you muchly for the visual sumptuousness of the work you've shared online.

With happy, delighted eyes,
Karen

[bruin70]

you might have seen skip liepke prints. he and i were roomates. a lot of people get our art confused.

And another question: wouldn't you say that where you have success in showing depends also on the kind of work you do? For instance, you don't see a whole lot of abstract work in Carmel (I live near there)....
_______________________

that would certainly be a consideration. and if you're starting out, that might be the way to go. however, don't let that CHANGE your art. be truthful to yourself and your honesty will show. THAT,,,,may be your best selling point.....{M}

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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[kathleenfaith]

[I am intersted but I am such a long way in England and it would be a real pain sending all my framed work and costly... are there any other alternatives you can suggest to me
examples of my sork are on www.kathleenfaith.com

[Karlin]

Originally posted by bruin70:
you might have seen skip liepke prints. he and i were roomates. a lot of people get our art confused.

I will check the next time I get a chance. It was gorgeous work.

And another question: wouldn't you say that where you have success in showing depends also on the kind of work you do? For instance, you don't see a whole lot of abstract work in Carmel (I live near there)....
_______________________

that would certainly be a consideration. and if you're starting out, that might be the way to go. however, don't let that CHANGE your art. be truthful to yourself and your honesty will show. THAT,,,,may be your best selling point.....{M}

[/quote]

Oh, absolutely. I am starting out, in showing my work (well, I began showing it and building a resume in earnest three years ago), although I've been doing the work seriously over the last twenty-five years, with long hiatuses in the middle.

I haven't yet approached any galleries, partly because I had not yet been able to be as prolific as I would like, and partly - okay, number one - because I've been a goldurned chicken. My stuff doesn't seem like Carmel gallery kind of work to me, though, so I'm thinking I'll need to start scouting in other places. And get over this goldurned chickenness.

Thank you for the advice. I think remaining honest and true to the work, and myself, is essential.

Appreciatively,
Karen

[Karlin]

Re: the Skip Liepke prints -

Bingo - if his first name is Malcolm. They were lithos.

Small worldishly,
Karen

[bruin70]

yup,,,,dat be he.

if there is no time schedule for you, consider entering shows and hope you get "discovered" by a gallery. that way, you have more power......than having gone to a gallery instead.....{M}

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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[bruin70]

also, k,,,,,,,,you'll be surprised at where you find markets. a gallery owner approached me once,,,,from montgomery, ala.
i thought,,,,"montgomery, alabama!!!???"
apparently there's a large medical community there. doctors, btw, love art. so ,,,you never know. try tourist areas, wealthy areas, big city areas, vacation areas, art community areas,,,,,,medical profession areas ....{M}

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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[LarrySeiler]

i'd start with santa fe, taos, scottsdale, carmel, and big areas like hilton head, aspen, vale,,,,,,,,,,

send laser prints or something of size. 35mm's are a pain for galleries because that means pulling out the projector

Hey Milt....in lieu of my preparing for school letting out this spring, I'm assembling and putting together a new bio, samples of my work, etc; either to leave with a prospective gallery or mail out.

I was, well...won't say surprised, but curious with your assessment of 35mm slides. So many venues request them, so many art advisors for marketing say to send them. Yet, my experience or observation was to see busy gallery owners hold them up to a light above their head for a short quick glance and toss 'em on the table they were at the time working on.

Think the time will come when one decent photo and an invite to see other samples of the artist's work online will amount to anything? I know resolution is wanting, but it often gives ample sense to those experienced with art works.

I used to send out dozens of slide holders and works with my bio...you would recommend one or two large photos. Interested to hear others pipe in on this...and more thoughts if any from you Milt.

I have a sister and brother-in-law who own a home in Salt Lake, Utah...and visiting could reach out to Park City (which I hear is good). My mother retiring from Culver City, just bought a home in Arizona...so another base of operations to travel about from. And...I'll have to find time to paint and reorient myself around the Tetons of Wyoming and galleries there.
peace,

Larry
http://lseiler.artistnation.com


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"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

[MichaelRH]

I've been enjoying reading all of the comments in this thread. Thank you once again milt for your suggestions and thoughts.

I have been thinking of Taos, Santa Fe, Scottsdale, Carmel..(Palm Springs!??)..even Aspen and Vail..(they aren't TOO far away).
Laser prints sounds good..some good quality to them now-days.

"SHOW ONE STYLE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...(yep!) milt...that word DISCIPLINE is back to haunt me again!! lol

"Don't wait too long before you're satisfied with your art"......................yes, thanks again for that suggestion milt..(and Arlene!)

I tend to agree with you milt..about selling drawings. Some of the important drawings that I have seen (that have sold or not)..in galleries...are quite large..more "formal" in terms of "finish" than my sketches.

Karlin..I remember the "Hansen" gallery in Carmel. Some very nice work represented there when I walked through the gallery.

Nice to see everyone's suggestions and comments here. The marketing of yourself and your art is one of the major keys to success.
Anything you'd care to tell us milt, will be greatly appreciated I'm sure.
OK, before I post...milt...care to share any comments about YOUR early first successes? ie: after art-school...did you have a fairly solid body of consistant work which you felt very good about?
(thx) Michael
btw, milt, I'm guessing that you had a pretty solid following, and many people must have admired your work during your illustration days?? Have you remained with your early galleries? (Hope I'm not being too nosy!)

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited January 06, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited January 06, 2001).]

[Karlin]

Originally posted by bruin70:
yup,,,,dat be he.

if there is no time schedule for you, consider entering shows and hope you get "discovered" by a gallery. that way, you have more power......than having gone to a gallery instead.....{M}

Thank you... yes, that's what I've been doing, figuring I needed to just get my work out there, build up a resume, and build a (at least a little, local) reputation. I've been doing pretty well at that, too, which has been gratifying, including a lot of press coverage as a result of putting together a large local group show on what's become a hot topic in this area (growth).

I have some friends who've mentioned that they could, or might be able to, introduce me
to gallery owners who carry their work. That certainly seems easier than making cold calls of one sort or another.

These are galleries in California, in Pacific Grove, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara (not sure if the last one will pan out or not).

Any recommendations?

Taking lots of notes,
Karen