I've applied to a lot of shows over the years…and I’ve made a ton of mistakes through the process. I’ve also been on the jury of lots of shows and have seen the same mistakes made by artists. Here are the top mistakes, and some tips on how to avoid them.

You worry that if you send the email, you’ll bother people.

And maybe it’s true.

Maybe there are people who open their computers and phones, see your email, and feel bothered.

And that’s ok.

I spent a good chunk of my day yesterday getting the gallery ready for the Holidays.

I pulled out my boxes of decorations, did a deep clean, and got out my spackle and paint to patch over the nail holes from the last show.

As I made my rounds with my spackle and putty knife, I was thinking about how many holes I’ve put into these walls over the past 3.5 years.

Artist statements should be banned.

If you’ve ever worried about imposing on people while marketing…this one is for you.

As artists, we dream about luxurious amounts of time in the studio making our art. We dream about opening nights. We dream about sold out shows. One thing most of us don’t dream about is owning an art business.

Getting out there and showing your art is an art business essential.

Talking to people is the most effective way to help people experience your art, and feel all the feels.

It took me and my husband 2 hours to set up my EZ Up tent at my first outdoor art show.
Two hours....
And that was just getting the tent up and the sides zipped on.
And then I tied wire to the 4 sides of the tent frame to string my work from.
As the paintings dangled and danced in the summer breeze, collectors would reach up and hold them still so they could look at them.

The “starving artist” is a social construct that roots itself in the belief that creativity is undervalued.

The starving artist belief sounds like...“You will never be able to make a decent living as an artist.” insert subtext of...because people undervalue creativity.

I happen to love getting awards...

Sometimes, I win them...

And sometimes the prize patrol drives right on by my booth...

And that’s ok because prizes aren’t a measuring tool how good of an artist I am.