Competition standards and gallery etiquette

Framing for exhibition

• Mats, if used, should be clean and neutral, not dark or colored.
• Frames should be simple.
• Frames should be clean and in good condition.
• Wiring should not be too tight and properly and firmly affixed. Wires should have a tiny bit of play in them, allowing someone to put their hand behind the picture to hang it.It is extremely difficult to do this when the wires are pulled straight and tight.
• Framing should not distract from the artwork. The viewer should see the artwork, not the frame!Creative framing is not necessarily good framing, especially in a competition.Creative framing can often prevent a piece of artwork from receiving an award.

Price your work consistent with all of your artwork sales.
Gallery walls are the marketing floor space. Galleries are not museums and are there for sales. Do not price your paintings in order to hold onto them for future competitions. If this is your desire, compete only in museum and non-sales shows. Sales are essential for galleries to stay in business. Pricing should reflect what your buyers are paying. You should never reduce your selling prices, so make sure the prices have a proven track history. Research will be done by the galleries and the buyers. If you are asking high prices, be willing to provide the patrons with comparable sales and credentials that back it up. In other words, the pricing should be in line with the majority of the exhibition so there is no question regarding the true market value of the art.

No photos without the artist’s permission.
Taking photos of artwork legally compromises the artist’s copyright. If a copyright issue were to go into litigation, the fact that photos were previously taken would open the door to who can or cannot have a “copy” of the artwork. It’s a serious problem, not to mention that even phone cameras are so good now that reproductions can be made from the photos. Never take a picture of artwork without the artist’s permission or without the organization’s permission.

If pictures are needed for promotional purposes or for presentation at an organization, photos can be acquired through the sponsor and with permission/contract with the artists that are in the show. Prospectus should read: “The artist gives (show sponsor) permission to use the image of accepted works for advertising and promotions and will provide the appropriate digital image upon request. The (show sponsor) will not use the image in any other manner of reproduction without the artist’s permission.”

Do not touch the artwork. Do not touch the glass on the artwork.
It leaves fingerprints on the glass or plexiglass and makes a nightmare cleaning job for gallery staff. Some pastels are presented under museum glass. Fingers on museum glass leave a permanent mark that makes a very expensive replacement for the artist that owns the piece.

A minor point of note - galleries offer wine and appetizers as such.
These are not meant to be a full dinner for family and friends.Dine before or after the event.

When you have works included in an exhibition, make every effort to invite and encourage patrons to attend. Filling a gallery only with family and friends is good for the ego and moral support but not good for your sales.  It is the gallery’s job to promote your work and to make every effort to sell it.

When you work with a gallery and you work as a team, your success will be much greater.
Promote your exhibit on your website, in your newsletter, on your blog, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. Get the word out and sales will follow.

Reprinted courtesy of The Gallery at Round Top, Round Top, Texas