ARTIST PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES

ARTIST PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES
http://www.lightspacetime.com/newsletter/20-free-art-portfolio-websites-to-market-your-art/

An artist's portfolio is an edited collection of their best artwork intended to
showcase an artist's style or method of work. A portfolio is used by artists to
show employers their versatility by showing different samples of current work.
Typically, the work reflects an artist's best work or a depth in

one specific area of work.

Historically, Portfolios were printed out and placed into a book. With the increased
use of the internet and email however, there are now websites that host online portfolios
that are available to a wider audience. Sometimes an artist's portfolio can be
referred to as a lookbook.

http://www.squarespace.com/tour/artist-websites

This article feature ideas on how to create a successful artist portfolio and how to present
your portfolio to galleries or to anyone. The information is useful to anyone in working in
fine art or commercial art. It will help all photographers, painters and other artists that
might one day have to create artist
portfolio or present their artworks to a gallery.

To become successful in today's art market, an artist must have a vision, they must master the
technical skills required in your art medium, and the artist needs to understand of the business of art.

When presenting a portfolio, not only the artists work is being judged, the artist is also being
judged. Is this artist or photographer serious? Will he or she succeed in the art world? Are they
worthy of being represented?

Your artist portfolio should impress viewers with your vision and with how well you have mastered
the technical aspects of photography. To go along with your portfolio, you should provide good
artist support materials.

This site was designed to help you to understand the importance of good artist support materials
and help you to understand the business side of art.



Photography Bookstore
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Click this link and visit our new Bookstore.

PERSPECTIVE

Remember, no matter what you've heard or read, your work doesn't stand alone. Whenever a gallery
owner, museum curator, or art consultant reviews your portfolio, the memory of your photographs will
be only part of what you leave behind. Just as packaging plays an increasingly important role in
product marketing, you
are as integral to your presentation as your images.

A successful portfolio presentation is absolutely necessary if you expect to become represented
gallery or make a lot of sales.

PORTFOLIO DESIGN

Your photographs must be presented in a professional manner. Choose only finished prints for your
portfolio. Never show work prints or unspotted prints. Always show your best work. Plan your portfolio
carefully. A good portfolio should have continuity and provide viewers with a clear idea as to
what your vision is.
It should be organized by subjects or different photographic styles. Horizontal and vertical images,
as well as different size prints should be organized and grouped separately. Black and white images
and color images should
also be grouped separately for easier viewing.

Your work should be presented in an appropriate portfolio case or shipping case. If you are presenting
your work to a gallery, it is best to use a case specifically designed for fine art photography.
Cases are usually available from good local photography or art supply stores. You can also purchase
them through mail
order companies.

Your photographs should be completely finished prints that are ready for sale. They should be overmatted,
signed, dated, titled, numbered, and stamped with your print identification stamp. Before making your
portfolio presentation, remove any tissue or plastic bags that protect the prints. Make sure that
your overmats
are clean and free of any finger prints.

Your window overmats should be well cut, with clean straight lines, and look as good as possible.
If you are having problems cutting them, try a professional frame shop. Shop around for the best
prices, and if money is a problem, consider trading art for matting.

EDITING YOUR ARTWORK

Your portfolio must be well-edited, and you may not be the best judge of your own work. Since it
is often difficult to be objective about your own photographs, you might have someone you respect
view and critique your portfolio prior to showing it to a gallery. This will ensure that the
work you show is your strongest work.

Limit the number of photographs you are showing to no more than twenty prints. You might even
consider as few as ten prints. The main objective of your first visit is just to introduce your
work to the gallery. Make the experience of looking at your work as pleasant and positive as
possible so that you can come
back another day. It could take several portfolio presentations before the gallery gets to
know you and decides to represent you.

Present only one thematically unified or otherwise cohesive body of work. If you have more than
one body of work to show, show your strongest work first and trust that your success will allow
you to present your work again.

INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION

Start off on a positive note, make a complimentary comment about the gallery or the artworks on
display. Thank the reviewer for taking the time to look at your work. Briefly introduce yourself
and your photographic history. Keep it short, because your work is more important at this stage.

Assume that the person looking at your work is a professional. Don't insist on white gloves or
make a fuss about the handling of your work. If you are overly concerned, handle the work for
the reviewer. Always keep in mind that you want to make it as easy as possible for the reviewer,
so that you will be welcomed
back again.

Don't interfere with normal business that might be going on during the portfolio review. Never
interrupt a sales effort or impede a possible sale. Before you begin your presentation, let the
reviewer know that you understand the importance of normal business, and that you will not mind
an interruption if
something comes up.

Listen carefully and don't hesitate to take notes if necessary. Try to identify the reviewers
favorite photographs. You might want to show them again on another visit.

Keep your questions to a minimum. Try to eliminate negative responses from the reviewer,
and always avoid questions that can be answered with a "no." Don't ask for representation,
and don't ask for an exhibition, because you can assume that the person looking at your work
knows what you want. The reviewer will
discuss representation or exhibitions if they are available to you. Your main purpose in
showing your portfolio is to have the gallery become familiar with your work.

If you have arranged for a thirty-minute appointment, time your presentation so that you
will be ready to walk out the door in thirty minutes or less. Stretching your appointment,
unless the reviewer requests it, will do you more harm than good.

If you have slides of additional work, have them ready and be prepared to show them if (and
only if) the person reviewing asks to see more of your work. Slides are frequently used by
galleries and art consultants to show clients images. Slides should always be of prints,
not duplicates of slides. Mastering the
art of making good quality slides will be a benefit to your career. If you are having
difficulties making good slides, let a professional lab or someone who knows how to make
them do it for you.

PREPARATION

Before contacting a gallery, find out what type of art they show. Look at the work of the
artists they represent and make sure that your photographs will fit into the gallery's
profile and positioning.

Inquire about the gallery's current reviewing procedures and comply with the review methods
requested. The best way to do this is to ask the gallery. Methods of review vary. You might
have to leave your portfolio overnight, or you might have to leave it for a week. Some galleries
will review only artist
slides. Others may ask for a recommendation from a gallery artist or a collector. It is important
to follow the gallery's review procedure, especially on your first review. Request a special
review only as a last resort,
only if you are absolutely unable to comply with the standard review process.

Find out the name and position of the person reviewing artists' portfolios and write down his
or her name with correct spelling. This is important for future visits and correspondence with
the gallery. If you expect the reviewers to remember who you are, have the same courtesy and
remember them.

TIMING YOUR PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Call or write several weeks ahead of time requesting an opportunity to show your work. If
writing, be sure to include a self-addressed envelope with a reply card. Always address your
request to the person reviewing work. If you are not sure who that is, call the gallery and
find out. Form letters are frequently
sent to galleries and typically are not well-received.

Avoid short-notice appointments ("I'm in town for only one day! Can you look at my work?").
Never "cold call" that is drop in without an appointment and ask for a review on the spot.

On the day of your portfolio presentation, call to confirm your appointment and ask, "Is this
still a good time for you to look at my work or would another time be better?" As in all aspects

of business, your timing will be crucial.

Be on time for your appointment. If you are unable to make your appointment, phone as far in
advance as possible and try to reschedule. Be sensitive to the gallery's priorities. Don't
try to get your work reviewed at a time when a new exhibition is being installed, or when
the gallery has an opening or other
scheduled event.

Timing is one very important for a successful portfolio review.

COMMON SENSE

Be friendly, positive, polite, and courteous. Avoid being rude or inconsiderate. Keep in mind
that you are asking a decision maker to help you. Through your words and actions, indicate that
you place great value on that person's time and opinions. Are you making his or her job easier
or more difficult? Have you
visited the space before? Do you know anything about current programs, new directions, or the
history of the exhibition space? You should learn as much as possible about the gallery before
your review. Show them that you
know and care about what they are doing. Remember that when asking a gallery to work with you,
you are asking it to care about you, to invest time and money in you. You are also asking it to
o become your business partner.

FOLLOW-UP

Create a marketing card for your manual or computerized files. A marketing card is a record of
who you have contacted and what you contacted them about. Include the following information:
name of reviewer, name and address of the gallery, telephone number, date of review, type of
work presented, impressions,
comments, what material you left behind, results of the review, and type of follow-up you have planned.

Be sure to send a thank you card to the person who looked at your portfolio. Send a postcard of
one of your images, so that it will remind the reviewer of what work you presented. Follow-up in
four to six months, or whenever you have a new portfolio of images to show.

You can create and send real postcards from AmazingMail, click on the link try one. The quality
is excellent and you can upload your own images to create a postcard.

HAVE PATIENCE

Developing a relationship with a gallery is like developing any other valuable relationship;
the chances are that it won't happen overnight. But if you are not patient, professional and
polite, chances are it won't happen at all.

A gallery owner or anyone else to whom you are showing your portfolio has many things to do
beyond discovering new artists. Be aware and sensitive to the difference between your
priorities and the priorities of whomever is seeing your photographs.

To become a successful professional artist takes more than good artwork. To succeed, you must
understand the business of art, create a good portfolio, and master your portfolio presentation.
You can and will become a successful visual artist if you have good timing, some luck,
and the desire to become successful.




Be sure to visit the other sections of art-support.com where you'll find additional
articles and useful photography resources.

For books on how to sell photography and the business of art,
as well as artist career guidance, please visit our Bookstore.

The information on this page is copyright protected and is intended for individual artist use only
. Do not reproduce or use any part of this website or it's contents without written consent
from Art-Support. Contact Information.http://art-support.com/portfolio.htm
EXHIBITING YOUR ARTWORK

After completing a body of work, the goal of most artists is to have their artworks
featured in a exhibition. However, finding good art galleries and exhibition space is not
an easy task and it takes time and effort. This article features ideas and information on
how to locate art galleries and exhibition space
to display your artwork.


First, identify a few art galleries where you would like to exhibit. After identifying
potential galleries or exhibition space your next task is convince the decision makers that
your artworks should be exhibited. It is important to carefully figure out the best way to
introduce yourself and your artwork
. This is also where a good carefully planned and organized artist portfolio comes into play.


Be sure to read Artist Portfolio Guidelines, because it goes into detail and provides steps
on how to organize your artist portfolio, how to contact art galleries, the best way to
present your portfolio, and other advise for your art presentation.


What I want you to remember at this time, is that the whole process of finding a gallery,
getting to know them, and presenting your portfolio takes time and careful planning. First
impressions are as important as a well organized portfolio and how well you are personally
y liked will also have a big impact on
whether your artworks is shown or represented. Always act in a professional business-like
manner and master your portfolio presentation skills.


Your art career is important, so learn as much as you can about the business of art. If you’re
creative, master the process of making good artwork, have patience and work hard at finding
the right exhibition spaces, you will find art galleries and exhibition spaces willing to
work with you.



Locating Art Galleries and Exhibition Space

How do you identify and locate art galleries, exhibition space or art sale outlets? The best
way is to get on the Internet or visit your local library and do some art homework! Finding
potential exhibition spaces can be difficult and challenging but one thing is for sure,
you’ll need to do some research.


Local Newspapers: Look for art gallery listings in local newspapers, they will usually be
found in the arts and entertainment section and appear once or twice a week. You will find
that most newspapers also have online versions making the Internet an important resource
for locating articles about art, art
galleries and online newspapers. Newslink.org provides comprehensive links to online
daily newspaper: http://newslink.org/daynews.html.


Gallery Guides: Regional or national photography and art gallery guides are an excellent
place to look for galleries. Here are four that provided good online art gallery listings.

Photograph - Photography exhibition listings in New York, national and international
photography exhibition listings.
ArtAccess.com - Art galleries in the Northwest, including Seattle and Portland art
galleries.
ArtScene - Southern California art galleries.


Other Online Gallery Listings: Be sure to check Art-Support's two online gallery guides,
updated and checked frequently.

Comprehensive listing of photography galleries is on Art-Support.com.
More than 4000 art gallery links can be found at Art-Collecting.com.


Monthly Magazines: B&W (Black & White Magazine) is currently one of the best photography
magazines and they include a listing of photography exhibitions in the magazine.
For a list of current photography magazines.


Ask your photography friends if they have any ideas about where to exhibit your work. Pick
their brains, especially regarding towns that you have not visited. They might introduce you
to the galleries they are affiliated with. Get active on-line and use email. Also, talk
to art professionals like, museum curators,
gallery owners, critics, art professors, and framers. They will most likely have ideas on
who you can contact regarding exhibition spaces.


Talk with local art consultants and corporate art consultants, they may have valuable ideas about
art venues for showing your work. You will usually find art consultants listed in the yellow
pages along with art dealers.