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ABN
(THIRD AND FOURTH) OPINION ARTIST ARTIST
GETTING A SECOND IS YOUR ART READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?
"I 20 BY JODI WALSH
s my art ready?" It's a question that, at one point, all artists must ask themselves. And it's one that can be diffi cult to answer.
While the praise your art receives
from well-meaning friends and fam- ily members undoubtedly feels good, they're no substitute for having your art critiqued by an industry insider with whom you have a professional relation- ship—or no relationship at all! It's not easy fi nding someone who is
willing to honestly critique your work, and it's even harder to fi nd someone willing to off er feedback on its salability and presentation. T ough one's art may be of the highest quality, the chances of it being marketable could still be low. So where can you fi nd someone
to critique your work? T e answer is behind you. T ink back to every work- shop and class you've ever taken and give the instructors a call. Ask the man- ager of the store where you purchase your art supplies what he or she thinks of your latest piece. Some art associa- tions and cooperatives will off er cri- tiques for a modest fee. Contact some-
one in the art department of a local college, as professors are oſt en willing to give critiques. You get the idea. Once you've found someone willing
to give you honest feedback, it's best to have him or her critique the original work, not photos of it. Be sure to ask about the quality of the presentation as well as that of the artwork itself. T e back of your work should be as neat and
"INVITE
CRITICISM AND TAKE STOCK OF YOUR ART."
presentable as the front, with all rele- vant information—your name, the title of the piece, its medium and size—there and easy to read. Your work should al- ways be "gallery-ready." Don't be afraid to ask professionals
for their opinions. Most artists fi nd that they benefi t from it. Always remember that you asked for the critique; you don't have to agree with everything
that's said, but you should keep an open mind during the process. Aſt er your work has been critiqued,
it's time for you to make some tough decisions about what to change, what to keep and where you might need more feedback. T is is also a good time to take a long, hard look at your medium of choice. Research the vendors you use and fi nd out if they have any new materials to off er. Consider trying out new vendors, too. Media are changing rapidly, so it's to our advantage to keep ahead of the curve. Go ahead and open a few new doors.
Invite criticism and take stock of your art. Really, what's the worst that could happen? ABN
Jodi Walsh lives and creates her art-
work in the Washington, D.C. metropol- itan area. She is the founder of House of Artistry (www.houseofartistry.com) and creator of the "12 STEP Program for Artists: The Art of Doing Business." As an artist career consultant, Walsh offers portfolio and Website reviews as well as private career consultations. In May, Walsh opened Gallery 555dc (www.gallery555dc.com). E-mail her at HouseofArtistry@aol.com.
MARCH/APRIL 2012
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