Comments on: The Hard Part of Your Work as an Artist

By: Carolyn

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:45:53 +0000

I’ve been given the responsibility of managing my father’s life body of art work. He is 88, has been prolific, dropped out of exhibiting in the 60s and is still working.
We have over 400 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and lots more. I am recording conversations with him about his life and work to document and catalogue it. My goal is to re-introduce his work to the art world, to have it included in significant public collections and arrange some exhibitions while he is still alive.
I love this project which will continue for the rest of my life, but I frequently feel overwhelmed. There is so much to do and I am not an artist, this is not my background. I feel comfortable with the documentation and cataloguing but approaching curators and gallery owners with a convincing proposal is a huge barrier.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:10:43 +0000

In reply to Peter Ahrens.

I suggest setting a deadline and telling everyone about it. That’s the only way I got my new site done last summer. You sound so close!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:10:01 +0000

In reply to Kathryn Willis.

I would try multiple approaches, including using social media and sending postcards. I have a new Instant Answer Guide coming out with this approach.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:01:22 +0000

In reply to Leslie Allen.

Leslie: Of course, your health comes first.
Is balance a problem because you want to go out with your husband, enjoy his company? Or does he interrupt you?

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By: Kathryn Willis

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 14:18:18 +0000

In reply to Alyson Stanfield.

Mostly I have done mailings to galleries, sending a cover letter, my website information and including a couple of postcards with images of my art. This isn’t hard, but it hasn’t been very successful. At a recent marketing seminar it was suggested that the best way is face to face contact with the gallery with portfolio in hand. I have my portfolio ready, I think you could say I am facing resistance to move forward.

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By: Peter Ahrens

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 07:33:44 +0000

In reply to Alyson Stanfield.

Right now I’m working on my website and putting the finishing touches to it. I want to make it as good as possible to convert people into buying customers. I have worked a long time on it now and I just want to launch it so I can start going out and taking more photographs again.

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By: Leslie Allen

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:58:06 +0000

Hi Alyson, thanks for all your help!
The hardest part for me is finding time to paint in large blocks of time.
Balance is more of a problem now that my husband is retired.
Also hard for me is fatigue, and other health problems. Some days I just can’t up the steam to do much at all, let alone paint.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:49:19 +0000

In reply to Will Eskridge.

Will: Gosh, I’m so sorry about that. It’s awful when money deals come between friends. I always say that’s where you need a contract most. It’s either a contract or a friend and I choose the friend.
Doesn’t sound like a very nice friend to me!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:47:31 +0000

In reply to J.D. Fielder.

JD: That’s understandable! Good luck with your studies.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:47:14 +0000

In reply to Lori Woodward.

Lori: I think we all worry about our work not being accepted.
Why do you think that your activities need to make a difference to others?

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