A year and a half ago Aaron made me a handsome promo email. He took six of my paintings, formatted them together with my website address in the middle. Clear, concise and to the point. All I had to do was write a few words of introduction about myself and my interest in the gallery I am querying. For a year and a half I thought about it, mulled over what to say, gathered a few email addresses of galleries around the world I might be interested in pursuing, and did basically nothing. It sat there on my desktop, waiting.
Then this past week, because my studio is invaded with builders and building supplies and my entire house is in a state of upheaval, I sent a few out. I’m not completely satisfied with how I introduced myself, will have to tweak it some, but it is better than not sending it. My first impulse was to say, basically, “I’m a strong and unique artist; take a chance on someone you don’t know.” But I didn’t, of course.
Self-promotion is difficult, at best. Not something I enjoy. Most of my gallery connections have been through direct contact or recommendations. One gallery owner in New York saw my work at a framer’s and we had a fairly long, good relationship, until she shifted to show only Fluxus artists. Several others have been through friends. One enduring connection came from a gallery owner searching on the internet. It is still difficult for me to initiate the business part of making art. But it has to be done. And with the added pressure of needing to pay for fixing my house, I was finally (finally!) able to send out some promo emails.
(The "still in progress" blurb goes at the top!)
I've been reading Night Studio again by Musa Mayer and Guston talks about the response by a viewer when looking at a painting, should be one of 'reverberation'. I've been looking more and more at your paintings, at their color, texture, line quality and their 'curtaining' of what is inside, outside or on the borders and I can feel that reverberation.
Keep sending those promo emails!