Someone wants to use your art for free. Do you let them? Maybe yes, maybe no. It's often a matter of who has what to gain. If you're both starting out, have limited funds, each have lots to gain and little to lose, then probably yes. If you have more to gain, more than "everyone

Food may be a great conversation starter but art is right up there as well. All you need is for two strangers to be looking at the same piece and for one to say something to the other. It can be anything. Life experiences, memories, emotions, challenges, social issues, opinions,

It's always good for artists and galleries to consider working more on each other's behalves. How? If someone loves your art or your gallery but can't afford the prices, you can refer them to artists or galleries selling work that's more in their budgets. Why? Because more people

Every wonder why galleries don't take more risks with the art and artists they show? Easy answer. Risks are risky. Galleries need to survive in order to keep showing art. And that means selling enough work to meet and hopefully exceed expenses. Pretty much all galleries would

Have you shown internationally, won awards, are in collections, etc? If yes, include the details. General statements are not enough and could raise more questions than answers. Galleries, collectors, and other art pros who may be considering your art almost always require

Many galleries don't have client bases that are all that deep. One sign may be that first shows sell well but next ones do not, assuming artists even get them. Also, some gallery business models are based on showing artists for short periods, while others take longer views,

Artists like to talk about how art "speaks" to viewers, but there's a major flaw in logic with this thinking. What is it? The assumption that art only speaks one universal language regardless of what kind of art it is. And that language is somehow understandable to everyone. In

Artist question: "If galleries won't take more risks on emerging artists, how do we get the resumes we need?" Easy answer: Start at the beginning. There are plenty of opportunities for emerging artists, mainly at "emerging galleries," newer ones starting out just like you. You

Pros inspect art much more carefully than typical viewers and leave nothing to chance. They want to make sure artists consider every last detail when creating their work. In other words, they expect competency in medium, composition, materials, construction, how effectively

A common artist misconception is that many galleries can sell any art by any artist to anyone anywhere. So they waste all kinds of time searching for these imaginary outcomes believing that if they can find a gallery, they'll hardly ever have to worry about selling again. Unless

Art collecting is a dynamic pursuit, as is how collectors buy. Take age for example. Sooner or later, most buyers "age out." They reach points in their lives where they focus more on selling or donating what they own than continuing to buy. At the same time, younger collectors

Number one no-no if you're showing with a gallery? Making sales behind their back. Trust counts big in artland and galleries often drop artists who violate it. Worse yet, the art world is small and word can travel fast. You risk compromising your overall credibility, and all for

Writing about your art in complex formal terms hardly anyone can understand while at the same time wanting as large an audience as possible to appreciate it makes no sense. Though you may get some degree of satisfaction that you know more than we do, keeping your audience small,

Are you showing your art? Anything, anywhere? Gallery, art fair, alternative venue, open studios, art walk, private home, you name it? Whatever it is, take photos, videos, make posts, etc. Why? It's a tangible record. And it's so easy to do. It may turn out to be no big deal. Or

One of the most overused unproductive artist nags? "You really have to see it in person." Why? Everyone already knows this. No need to rub it in or make them feel worse. Assuming they seem serious, work with them instead. Say you understand and offer to send any additional images

If you contact galleries, curators, collectors, or anyone else in the art world with specific inquiries or requests, start with who you are, basic info about your art, and what you want. Don't start with general questions that are impossible to answer without this information,

You and a gallery may be able to sell your art simultaneously without stepping on each other's toes. Like if a gallery only wants certain types of art and not others, ask if you can sell work they don't want. See if you can come to terms. As attractive as a gallery show may be,

We all know the best way to experience art is in person. No need to belabor the point by stating the obvious. Especially to anyone who contacts you about your art. If you don't know where they live, how they feel about in-person meetings, how they want to proceed, let them bring

Reasons people prefer viewing art online: They feel uncomfortable or intimidated in galleries or around artists. They worry someone is going to try and sell them something. They live too far away to see it in person. They can see way more art way faster than if they have to

Why should artists educate themselves about how the business works? Because unfortunately isolated individuals and dealers out there prey on artists who don't believe the business side is all that important. Or they think doing business compromises their "artistic integrity," is