Show time Are you tempted to exhibit your work at a big art event? Tanya Combrinck gets expert advice from four experienced artists
Having a booth at a large art convention opens up opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a chance to meet the people who enjoy your work, impress employers, network with other artists, and make a great profit by selling your work.
“The sense of connection and satisfaction you get from knowing your work resonates with people is impossible to experience online, and is priceless,” says Naomi VanDoren, an adventure fantasy artist and author.
While the rewards are great, every artist will hit a learning curve when they first start exhibiting. “Setting up a booth or table involves a significant amount of trial and error,” says Naomi. There are also many logistical factors to juggle, attendance costs that will eat into your profit, and you’ll need to experiment to find out what inventory works well for you.
Thorough preparation is important, but so are attitude and expectations. Naomi advises you focus on staying positive and being ready for the fact there’s a lot you won’t be able to control. “Embrace the unpredictability and focus on building meaningful relationships with the audience, collectors and exhibitors,” she says.
TAKING STOCK
In selecting your inventory, keep it simple for your first few shows. “Stick to a selection of your best work; you can start with your top 10 prints, for example,” Naomi recommends. “If you sell out, you can always take orders and ship them later.”
Prints are a safe bet because they’re easy to create and sell well. It’s good to get them in standard sizes. Naomi also finds that books and pins are great sellers, although they’re a little trickier to manage. “The key is to start small and gradually expand your offerings as you gain experience and understand what sells well,” she says.
