Take the First Step
Have you put together a show of your work? If you are an artist that would like to share your work, make some sales or just connect with like-minded souls then it is time to put your work out into the world. Have you shied away from putting together a show because you don’t consider yourself ready? It is time to say yes to your dreams and your art. Don’t let that inner critic talk you out of it. Be brave, be ready and say yes. I hope my story may inspire you.
I had plans to get an MFA in sculpture following graduation, but the universe had different plans for me. The university where I was finishing both a fine art degree and a science degree told me no, I couldn’t get an MFA from them. Back then the administrators could not see outside the rigid parameters they had set for continuing in the art department. They thought students should go to a different school to get an MFA in order to have a wider influence from instructors. I was in my 30's and working full time as well as going to school. They were concerned that I would not develop my own voice but be too closely aligned with my instructor’s work. The funny thing is I had studied printmaking and painting and not taken a sculpture class at all so as to avoid this issue. After I got over my initial disappointment and frustration, I knew there were higher forces at play here. A similar thing happened with my graduate work in cognitive science. My professor retired in my first semester of graduate work and the one who took over had a completely different bent of study than what I wanted to follow. I got my undergraduate degree and proceeded to explore and define my own path.
In the middle of all this I had a conversation with my painting professor who had become a mentor. He asked me why at my age (I was in my mid-30's) did I want to get an MFA. This was in the late 90’s and someone hopefully wouldn’t ask a student that question today. He said most people get an MFA in order to teach at university, museum work or do research. I told him I wanted to be a professional artist. He said you don’t need a graduate degree to do that, and he told me what to do on my own to get the equivalent of an MFA for a working artist. This is not meant to dismiss getting a higher degree, but it was what worked for me, and I have never looked back.
In a graduate program he explained you would develop a body of work and put together a show for your thesis. Fancy words for make a lot of work to develop your own voice and then learn how to document, exhibit and promote your art and yourself. This was 25 years ago, and the technology is different, but the steps are the same, especially the internal steps. So first you say yes. That voice in your head that may laugh at you and tell you that you are not ready. First step is to grab the remote and hit mute to turn that voice off.
How much work do you have and how much will you need? Let’s say you have never done this before and you don’t have a lot of finished work, yet. This is motivation to get started and set yourself a goal. Get 10 pieces finished. This isn’t many. Figure out how many pieces you will need for a show and work toward it.
Ideas:
If you have recently moved to a new area or you are just getting started on your path, I suggest you join a local art group, take an art class, get connected and utilize social media and meet ups.
Explore venues like the local library to host a show. Sometimes you don’t need many pieces, or you can team up with others. Community centers, churches, community galleries, public places like banks, assisted living homes, and restaurants are wonderful places to get started. I have done them all.
Art groups host shows, CAFÉ is the place to submit to calls and it is ok to start with online shows, but eventually you want to host an in-person event. Studio tours or art walks can be a wonderful way to meet other artists as well as sell some work.
I like to begin a project with a theme or title for my work. This will help you stay on track. Write an artist statement about the body of work you will create. This is like writing an outline. You can always go back and revise as the work moves along. I find doing some journaling is a way to prime the pump for inspiration.
Write a bio and take a head shot. This is all so easy to do now with smart phones and internet tutorials.
Photograph your art. Do it properly. As a juror I have rejected submissions for shows because the person took a poor photo of the art on a cluttered bed. At least learn how to crop.
Finish the art so it is ready to hang. This may involve framing, varnishing, wiring, titling, signing and adding a date.
Get a website. Even in today’s world where many people use social media to share their work, I believe that having your own domain name and not being subject to the whims of big corporations is even more important today. I have used FASO, Fine Art Studios Online for over a decade. It is a customizable template-based website that you can create and update yourself. Here’s a link to get a free trial or a discounted year. I am recently sponsored by them, but I have been telling everyone about them long before that. They have a built-in newsletter format that is perfect for collecting names of people interested in your art. If you rely on Facebook or Instagram to host your art, you are subject to their algorithms. I use everything available to me, both social and my website. As an artist my branding is my name and my art. Get your domain name as your own name. Your business model may change but your name represents you.
Back to my story. I listened to my art teacher and followed his advice. I found a large gallery space at a local art venue. They rented the space for a very reasonable amount. I was a poor student and I had to do everything on the cheap. I made my own frames, learned software to make postcards and flyers. I hung the show, adjusted the lighting and I even made sheer curtains to control glare. I contacted radio and print publications, wrote my bio, artist statement and press releases. This was just before social media. I made flyers and invited everyone I knew and more. My mom made food, a friend videotaped a presentation and a talk I gave. I bartered and traded for things I couldn’t do myself. I put out a book to collect names, numbers and comments. The show was up for a month. I sold 2 pieces, but what I learned was invaluable. It was the equivalent of a 2-year program, and I did it in 6 months. I still have the original book where people wrote comments along with their names and I love to go back and read some of the comments. Some of those first people that collected my work were family and friends. This is how we all begin.
You must first say yes to yourself and your dream. Step into it even f you don’t believe it yet. Nothing will happen if you don’t try. There is a saying, fake it until you make it. I look at it like a pep talk. So, grab the remote, mute the critic and say yes. I have been making my living as an artist for over 25 years and if you want to learn more about the business of art, I will be doing a Zoom talk with Northwind Art online April 5th. You can find out more here.
If you would like more info on FASO website, click here. Take a look at my website https://www.sandraduranwilson.com/ and you will see a link in the banner that will take you to a show that is currently up at the performing arts center at my alma mater. It is the second time they have invited me, and it feels pretty darn good after all these years. Check out the annotated price list to get an idea of how you can begin to put together an event. I will be popping in with more blog posts on getting your art out there. It is also something I address in my workshops as well.
FASO website links https://l.faso.com/ct
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