| Local businesses are often the best places to sell | | | | association's business card. On it, write the title of |
| your original arts and crafts. If your goal is gallery | | | | the art, the artist, the price, and how to contact the |
| representation, local sales can build your reputation, | | | | art association for more information. |
| and fill in your resume. In addition, income from local | | | | Of course, this should be something better than |
| sales can exceed what you earn with some galleries. | | | | voicemail; someone needs to be on hand to answer |
| JOIN REGIONAL ART ASSOCIATIONS | | | | the phone. A member who works at home is good |
| Most communities have an art association of some | | | | for this job. |
| kind. You'll find them listed in the yellow pages of | | | | If your local art club hasn't done this before, help |
| your local phone book, and sometimes online. Look in | | | | them to set it up. The art association can have a |
| categories such as "Clubs", "Associations", and so on. | | | | single phone number, and use Call Forwarding to |
| These groups are usually a mix of professionals and | | | | whomever is manning the phones that day. |
| eager amateurs. At their meetings, I've seen | | | | HELP YOUR ART CLUB TURN PROFESSIONAL |
| everything from gorgeous, $10K watercolors to | | | | If you are in an art association that doesn't have a |
| crocheted dolls in unnatural colors & fibers. No two | | | | working relationship with local businesses, bring it up |
| groups are the same. Visit as a guest before joining, | | | | at the next business meeting. Some members may |
| and see if the association or club is right for you. | | | | already work at offices or shops that would |
| Most art associations sponsor regular gallery shows in | | | | cheerfully display your art. |
| their own meeting place or in a town hall or library | | | | There are issues to sort out, including how the art is |
| meeting room. They often have at least one outdoor | | | | insured, if it's protected from damage, and so on. |
| art show, at which you can display your art and | | | | You can check with other art associations and see |
| perhaps demonstrate your techniques. | | | | how they handle it. |
| Art association meetings include regular | | | | Once you start contacting businesses about displaying |
| demonstrations (of art technique) by artists who will | | | | local art, you may be surprised at how easy this is. |
| usually sell some art to the members, too. This can | | | | ART ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT CARD |
| be a good outlet if you want to do demos. | | | | PURCHASES |
| Start by creating a form letter that you'll send to | | | | In most cases, the art association makes the sale, |
| every art association in the phone book. When the | | | | and has a merchant account that accepts checks and |
| demo is announced, make sure that the publicity | | | | credit cards. The art association takes a percentage |
| mentions that you'll have art for sale, too. The art | | | | of the sales, usually about 20%. At the end of the |
| association takes a commission based on how much | | | | month, the association issues a check to everyone |
| you sell, and everyone goes home happy. | | | | whose art sold that month. |
| USE THE ART ASSOCIATION'S CONTACTS FOR | | | | IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT ART GROUP FOR |
| LOCAL SALES | | | | YOUR WORK |
| Many art associations have working relationships with | | | | If you don't have a local art association--or if their |
| local businesses, especially restaurants, bookstores, | | | | interests don't match yours--start your own. A |
| beauty salons, and banks... anyone with blank wall | | | | simple, free announcement in the local newspaper will |
| space that wants an "art show" to generate interest. | | | | attract interest, and your public library can probably |
| (They use this to attract visitors and for press | | | | provide a free meeting room. |
| releases, publicity, etc.) Libraries are less likely to be | | | | Selling your arts and crafts locally is a great first step |
| able to offer work for sale, but it depends upon the | | | | for any artist. In addition, it's usually fun, brings you |
| local laws. | | | | recognition from your neighbors, and adds a little |
| This works best if the sales go through the art | | | | extra beauty to the businesses that participate. |
| association. Next to each piece of art, place the art | | | | |