Clint, this week I put feelers out asking what artists want to know. Today, one artist said that since it's unlikely that she'll ever work with a high profile gallery or maybe not work with galleries at all, how will she find her audience.

That's an excellent question, and I think one that confuses many artists. There are many types of audiences for art, and many types of art... finding a match between your art and an audience is what it takes.

I started out doing outdoor art shows in New England states. I sold a lot of paintings, grew a mailing list, and was approached by 3 galleries while doing those shows. I also participated in fundraisers where wealthy people attended, but I made sure I had a reserve price on my work (reasonable) and got a decent percentage of the sale... usually 40 percent. Most often I offered portrait commissions, and the folks who bought those were not art collectors.

Well.. I made them into art collectors ;-) Finding your audience on your own can be difficult, but not at all impossible.

This article explains the connundrum of why there are so many incredibly talented artists who are still living in their mother's basement....

Getting your work seen by people who like the type of work you do can be challenging.

When you sell a painting, it's important to get contact information of the purchaser and send them an invitation EVERY time your work is shown, whether it's a gallery show, a juried show, an open studio, or even an outdorr art fair.

Even if they do not come, the invitation reminds them of your existence.

Obviously, the invitation is most effective if it shows a piece of your art.

Ann Bell