As the most requested magazine in the industry, Art Business News stays true to its mission of reporting the latest industry news and emerging trends driving the fine art market. ABN: The art industry's news leader since 1977.
PERSPECTIVES ABN MAKE SOME NOISE
THE DELICATE ART OF SELLING YOURSELF BY JENNIFER M. WOOD
W
hen it comes to promoting your work, there are two speeds from which you can choose: Just enough or full throttle. While, to some, the idea of talking up your art and accom- plishments may be about as appealing as a day in the dentist's chair, there's simply no way of getting around it. If you want
people to connect with your work, they have to connect with you. T e way to do that is to put yourself out there; to let potential clients in on who you are and what inspires you. It's no coincidence that this issue—which you may very well be reading
amidst the wonderfully creative mayhem that is Artexpo New York—is chock full of advice and examples of successful self-promotion tactics. Because indus- try events like Artexpo serve as a sort of microcosm for the art marketplace as a whole, where you are one among many talented artists, all vying for the atten- tion (and cash) of the same potential buyers. As art market veteran Barney Davey states in his article on "T e Art of Self-
Promotion," (p. 48) "Without marketing and promotion, an artist has only a pleasant hobby." Art is such a deeply personal endeavor that it's easy for an artist to get lost in his or her own creative process. But if you want to see your work hanging somewhere other than the wall of your own studio (or in your mom's living room), it's essential to make some noise. T at's certainly a sentiment that the "Top 50 Emerging Artists" (p. 34) profi led in our cover story share. In "If the Art Fits," (p. 30) ABN Contributing Editor Linda Mariano notes
that one of the questions an artist who is considering licensing must ask him or herself is: "Do you like promoting yourself and your artwork by calling and e- mailing people?" (T e answer, of course, should be a resounding "Yes!") Be your own biggest cheerleader and you might just be surprised by how
quickly a large squad of supporters assembles behind you. Speaking of self-promotion: T e rest of this issue is bursting with great con-
tent, too. (See how easy that was to boast?) In "What's Stopping You?" Cristi Smith shares the things that she and her fellow gallery owners don't want to tell you when you're pitching your work (p. 26). In "Stop Right T ere!" Gary Kerr points out the 12 mistakes that every artist should avoid (p. 56). And in "Comic Relief," our very own—and very talented—Associate Editor Rebecca Pahle chats up a handful of independent comic book artists about the ways in which they're bridging the gap between creators, publishers and consumers (p. 44). If you like what you read here, be sure to visit us at ArtBusinessNews.com,
where we'll be introducing a whole new slate of online-only features, like "Work of the Week," where we share our favorite pieces of your work. E-mail your most attention-grabbing work to letters@artbusinessnews.com for consideration. And use that same address to give us your feedback on how we're doing. Don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, either. See you in May! ABN
6 March/April 2012
130 Seventh Avenue, #107 New York NY 10011 Phone: 800/768-6020 Fax: 646/405-5172 E-mail: letters@artbusinessnews.com Web: www.artbusinessnews.com
__________________________________________ Publisher John McNulty
Editor-in-Chief Jennifer M. Wood
Associate Editor Rebecca Pahle
Contributing Editors Craig Kausen, Linda Mariano, Michael Pacitti, Robert Reeder, Litsa Spanos, Dale Stephens
Contributing Writers Rick Barnett, Barney Davey, Gary T. Kerr, Cristi Smith, Jodi Walsh
Editorial Intern Laurel Dammann
__________________________________________ Art Director Margaux Medewitz-Zesch
Production Manager Kathryn Tongay-Carr
__________________________________________ To advertise in Art Business News, contact: Eric Smith 216/225-0962 eric@artbusinessnews.com
__________________________________________ Subscriptions to Art Business News are available to U.S. subscribers for $20 for one year (six issues). Call 855/881-5861 or visit us online at www.artbusinessnews.com.
__________________________________________ Art Business News is published six times per
year by Next Step Media, LLC. The name "Art Business News" is a registered trademark of Next Step Media, LLC. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without express written consent of publisher.
Copyright © 2012
MARCH/APRIL 2012