My son is a very good artist.(see http://www.fictitiousarts.com/) Can you help him find an agent in Seattlle?

Question

Martin lives in Bellingham WA . He is a talented artist but has trouble approaching galleries and asking them to look at his work. He needs someone to represent him. I am willing to pay you $50 for any leads that lead to a contract between Martin and
an agent that gets him a show or individual sale.

Answer 1

Hi -
Your son has some chops -- and there are as many different ways to get represented as there are artists -- but here are a few words of advice for your son -- Martin, use what you can and disregard the rest.

1. First, you should know that the agent or representative you are hoping to find IS the gallery owner, who represents the artist's work to his clients and in return will usually take a commission of 50%.

2. Everyone has trouble approaching galleries - I'm afraid it comes with the territory and is part of the job. It might help to realize that you're not the first person in the world to ask a gallery director or dealer to look at his stuff.

The etiquette varies but is predictable. Mail them a sheet of 6-12 slides of your work with an SASE so you can get your slides back -- and a letter of introduction. The letter should state your goals and intentions as an artist and the direction you hope to take your work, as well as a brief sentence or two on why you think you and this gallery would be a good fit. Follow up with a phone call and see if they are willing to schedule a time for you to bring in a few pieces to show. Stay connected by attending that gallery's show openings and getting on their mailing list.

Phoning or walking in with slides is not considered the done thing.

3. You really need to redo your web site. This is your most accessible public representation of your work and it isn't working well. All the wallpaper images are cluttered and distracting to the point that I can't see the work properly. You also make it difficult to find photos of your work right away. This site has too many bells and whistles. A solid, neutral background and a gallery of large photos of his work - good ones, taken professionally or at least by someone who knows how to photograph artwork - and links clearly marked Gallery of Images that puts viewers immediately in front of a gallery of images will improve the visibility of your work.

Do not let this be a multi-use site. If you are interested in attracting a fine art clientele you need to restrict the gallery to fine art, not to samples of your faux finishes and interior design work. A second site can handle those things separately. The whole effect of the site is unclear and confused -- and confusing.

4. You need to create a slide portfolio, again, with someone who knows how to photograph art work. It should be 8-10 slides of your best work and you will need several copies to circulate.

5. You need to familiarize yourself with which galleries promote work that is like your stuff and send them your slides. Concentrate on those that you think would be a good fit.

6. You may need to invest in a show opening at your studio, if it is a good space, or at a local venue and invite local gallery owners to attend so they can see the work in person and in a gallery setting. Local art associations and community centers or libraries are good places for this. If you go in with a couple of other artists who are ready to show they can share the cost and it will be more attractive to gallery owners to see three or four people's work instead of one.

7. Have a full-color high-quality postcard printed of your best work - 6x8 if possible - and mail it to local galleries. This exposes them to your work. Such a postcard should also be used for a show opening.


8. Analogs to agencies -- There are a couple of high-end portrait agencies out there but from the brief look I got at your page it doesn't look like your cup of tea.

Interior decorators are good people to talk to about placing work. They are asked to decorate homes and often make use of artists, so if you can show his slide portfolio to a design firm and convince them to use your stuff, it might be worth your while.

Local juried shows are a good way to get some visibility.

The more you circulate with other local artists the more connections you will make and the more likely it is that you will have a chance to show your work. Much of the work showing out there today is presented via word of mouth. It takes time but it is worth doing.

If you are unsure about how to find out about local gallery events, try the bulletin board at the art departments of local colleges or at the Gage Academy in Seattle, one of the best schools going. They constantly circulate information about who is doing what.

Many -- perhaps most -- artists have a shy streak, but it's something that must be overcome if you want to gain visibility.

Be aware that the work might not get any traction right away, but hang in there. In the art world, the goodies go to the ones who don't give up easily.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am willing to pay you $500 for any leads that lead to a contract between me ( i am an a good artist too ) and an agent.
Man, he must find his way by himself, I understand you are worried because yo are his father but take it easy.
To get into a gallery or find an agent is quite difficult. I will suggest you something, first thing he must do is a solo show in a place that is not a gallery, let says an institution that promotes art in your town, you could go to the town council and ask there. Then you have to print a small brochure, poster whatever, then you have to invite galleries and friends to the show, gallerist love to discover artists.
You probably have to invest some money in your son but this is the right way. Believe me, I am an professional artist for more than 15 years and work with a gallery in Paris, another in Turin, London, Miami and I know how this works.
You must pay attention to those galleries that are willing to show your son's paintings or sculptures but asking you for money, those are not galleries, that people live from artists.
Good look!

Answer 3

Have your son do an Internet search for art contests. He should also work to overcome his fear of approaching galleries. All he needs to do is have a CD of his best work, and his current work, take it to the gallery, and ask them to take a look at it.
If that gallery is not the right one for his style of work, he can try others.
Agents exist, but they just take a further cut of the sales price, after the gallery takes the usually 50%, so that will leave him with very little. Also, why would he want an agent in Seattle when he lives in Bellingham? The local community is the best place for artists to sell their work. Since you are not a trained artist, I'll explain further. Some one who lives in Hawaii would not expect to find an audience with people in Alaska, would they? Who wants art on their walls that represents some other community? People want to see art from their age and their community, and their political situation, as well. The exception to this would be art that is completely non-objective, meaning it is without any recognizable elements. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

Do what I did: find a cheap storefront and rent it out. I have about 1500 sq ft in a business district with other occupants like antique stores, cafe's, and florists. I do all my work there, plus have a big picture window to show my art. Lots of interesting people come in. Its better than a gallery, because the artist is right there all the time and people think thats so cool.

Answer 5

To get him more known, open up a building or warehouse like a previous answer has said, invite many people, including press from known artist magazines( The magazines are a good contact point). Be prepared to sell the pictures

However, as an art enthusiast, I can honestly say there isn't a great deal there that grabs me. I have looked at his samples and to be honest, if i wanted pictures of wood, I would buy a plank of wood.

I did like the samples - Bronze Frieze / Asylum Wall though.

Answer 6

Well, I can advize you to contact any and all areas of the country whwere arts communities exist like "Salado, Texas" which is filled with galleries, "Austin, Texas" as well,.... where the art community comes alive at moments. Contact "Lisa Wright at "Azel art supply" in Austin at 512 477-1762 and tell her that Rick from Oregon had you call and ask about possibilities....also call George Atall at "Austin Galleries" on 6th street and ask him or one of his associates about options.......Also Try the North Texas galleries which are in numbers by the dozen....The University of Texas at Austin, art dept....public shows, etc........also, never offer an agent money for offers of possible representation, they'll just blow it on coke or gold chains or tiffany glass, none of which they appreciate enough to actually collect for themselves..nice website by the way!.very lucky young man to have you for a mother..please dont send me money, I'm an artist and I'd blow it on art supplies to make art I cant afford even to keep for my kids futures.
R. Morris Patterson
aka:
Nathan Brown Simmons

dont ask, it's a long tedious story of gloom and abused child stories that nobody would think would think would lead a child up such a glorious artist's life. I can be found in lots of galleries in TEXAS and the rest of the world or in auction houses from time to time........at least thats what I hear.....good luck to you.

Answer 7

Sorry, but the link to the site doesn't connect. Please try again. Actually, I'm looking for art work myself and would like to see your son's work. My daughter is Director of GASP Gallery in Boston, MA.

Answer 8

link works fine just delete the ")" newbie

http://www.fictitiousarts.com/