Get any eye rolling out of the way: we’re going back to basics and laying out the most practical advice for creatives that want to exhibit and make a sale.
When we talk about do’s and don’ts for artists, it’s very likely our audience thinks that we’re establishing a guide for folks who are new to the game. But believe it or not, the exact opposite is true, and our curators run into these very issues with seasoned professionals every single day.
As artists ourselves, we have a unique vantage point in the industry. On top of linking creatives with interested collectors, corporate buyers, businesses, architects, and more, we have a remarkable edge in terms of understanding what clients need and the steps artists need to take to help us market, sell, or even reproduce the work. We know both sides of the business, so we have a nuanced understanding of each player’s role and the different steps required.
As the old adage goes, “help us help you”. Many clients make decisions based on how they predict a job will go, meaning they’re paying attention to details that are all too easy to overlook. Things like image clarity and file size actually matter—and they can make all the difference when it comes to landing a new contract and enhancing your working relationships.
The do’s and don’ts of leaving a signature
Finishing a piece that you’ve been toiling over for months can make you want to punctuate its completion with dramatic flair, splashing a large signature across your work and indicating that it’s finally done. But don’t be so quick to leave your mark: signatures can actually work against you, and more often than not, it’s better to make an effort to conceal it than allow it to distort the composition.
When thinking about the do’s and don’ts of signing your work, you’ll need to think of it as a design element. Even if it’s not your intention, a bold signature can ultimately impact your composition and detract from the other visual elements that you’ve deliberately incorporated into your art. In short: it can cheapen the final piece, so think very carefully about whether or not your signature serves you.
Some other helpful advice from Michael Damico is to avoid signing with Sharpies and cheap ink pens, which tend to smudge, transfer, smear, fade, and corrode. His solution? To use a pencil: “It’s the most archival thing you can possibly sign with.”
The do’s and don’ts of capturing your work
Perhaps the most common pitfall, many artists lack the resources or ability to adequately capture their work and digitize it. Especially for artists that work traditionally or on a larger scale, it can be difficult to reset and approach this process seriously.
But as much as it might feel like you’ve already finished the piece, you need to think about how to digitize the work just as artfully as you originally approached it. Things like file size and clarity are crucial, especially if you’re hoping to sell reproductions or use a platform like Readymade. It also goes without saying that, when sharing your work online, you should be representing it with integrity. A poorly lit shot of a canvas leaning against your studio wall is never going to impress, or even worse, it can turn people off.
Invest in a great headshot
People are curious about the genius behind the art, and taking an excellent headshot is actually a great way to further connect and help contextualize the work. Don’t think of it as simple vanity!
Regardless of your target audience, a great headshot is just another tool to differentiate yourself from the competition. Are you actively involved in a major urban art scene? Galleries often prioritize a certain “cool eccentricity”. Or are you working more commercially with a team like ATP.art? Headshots are actually a part of our professional decks and are presented to clients, making them a major part of the decision making process.
A great headshot should feel like an extension of your personality.
The do’s and don’ts of crafting an artist statement
A skill that comes naturally to some and feels like pulling teeth to others, writing a thoughtful artist statement can be the key to forging profound connections with potential buyers and collectors. And while it can take a little finesse, sitting with this task and taking it seriously is an important part of putting yourself out there as an artist.
So what should you consider?
- Don’t expect to write the perfect artist statement on the first try. If you haven’t spent time revising and refining it several times, you’re not thinking thoughtfully about it.
- Use descriptive and meaningful adjectives to paint a vivid picture of your practice.
- Don’t refer to yourself as an emerging artist. It isn’t bad, but an artist statement should feel timeless, not like you’re defining one moment early in your career.
- Do speak about yourself like a confident, established artist. Be proud of your work and yourself. Self-assurance is respectable.
- Don’t use overly complicated language or jargon. You want your readers to understand who you are and your work. Write clear and thoughtful sentences.
- Do review your artist statement annually—at least. Read through your statement line by line and ask yourself if all the sentences still hold their weight and remain relevant to your practice.
It’s worth asking others to read over your work and offer input, and if you’re still struggling, you might consider working with a professional writer or even exploring tools like our AI helper to bring your statement to the next level.
We all love a little mystery, but when you’re talking about yourself professionally, you need to be clear.
The do’s and don’ts of writing about your work
Not entirely dissimilar from the above (but still worth mentioning), supporting your work with an articulate and thoughtful statement can help your audience understand your intention and connect more deeply. Especially if you focus on the conceptual or aim to communicate a deeply personal history or truth, offering context is crucial when helping people understand the purpose of your art.
Give yourself some time to sit with this assignment and allow yourself to brainstorm. Prioritize honesty over sounding smart or profound—authenticity is the real key here. What compelled you to create this piece? What did you learn through the process? And how do you hope to impact others? These statements are but a few sentences, but think of them as poetry: every sentence, every word, has power. Choose them wisely.
Do’s and don’ts of sharing your work online
Love it or hate it, if you’re a professional artist, you’ll need to keep your website current and maintain a social media presence. From connecting with the people that might invest in your practice to finding other creatives and building a community, maintaining an up-to-date online presence is an important way to share what you’ve been up to and generate interest, all while demonstrating that you’re active and engaged.
Keep your website current and revisit it often to make sure that you’re sharing the work that you’re proud of—and that you’d like to keep making. One of the best insights we’ve learned is that the work you show is the work you’ll get, so if you’ve started exploring a new direction and have tired of your previous approach, you might want to set those older images aside.
READ CAREFULLY.
Forgive the all caps, but this is a universal failing, and one that leads to lost time and lost opportunities. And it happens to the best of us.
Are you applying to an art contest, like one of our Open Calls? Don’t skip over the fine print: without fail, every contest we jury has an artist that rises to the top, but sadly doesn’t meet a specific requirement that was made clear (as you might expect, they are not selected).
Or are you working with a client on an exciting yet fast-moving project that expects specific deliverables? Overlooking key details will lead to confusion and put things behind schedule, which will delay the entire project and potentially harm you professionally.
Reading carefully and absorbing the salient points is crucial to conducting yourself professionally, and it can save both your time and your reputation. Don’t skim over important details.
We all have our strengths, and many artists are more invested in creating the work itself as opposed to focusing on the nitty gritty details. And that’s a hurdle that we can empathize with.
But be humble, be professional, and take a moment to pause and look at how you present your work. Imagine you’re in an art buyer’s shoes: do you have quick, easy access to the information you need? Are the images clear and do they tell a larger story? Taking the time to revisit the basics is a wise investment, and one that we’ve seen open doors. Don’t underestimate it.
