Bye Bye, Summer. Hello, Art Season!
Summer is coming to a close. In fact, the kids may be back to school already where you live! I’ve always loved this time of year, even though it’s been years since I went “back to school” in the fall. This time of year is just about as powerful as the start of the year in January! Everything seems to grind to a halt in the summer, or at least go at a slower pace. All of a sudden, things heat up quickly!
If you’re an art lover or art collector, you may have noticed a bit of a quieter period in your local galleries this summer. Galleries use the slower summer season to try out new artists, since there is less risk. However, you’ll definitely see a push for some compelling and competitive shows during the fall! If you’re looking to collect a new artwork, it’s a great time to get in touch with local gallerists and artists to let them know and ask them to keep you in the loop.
Artists, Get Ready!
If you’re an artist like me, you may have seen that the open calls for art dropped off a bit for the summer. Well, now’s the time to check in with your local guild and local galleries, and head over to your favorite open call website, because there are tons of exciting opportunities being announced! This is the time to check your inventory and identify what opportunities best align with your art, your goals, and your circumstances. And then get your ducks in a row to submit your applications! Check your artist statement and bio—do they need a quick refresh? Has your work been photographed?
This might also be the time to create a direct sales strategy to sell a series directly from your website before the end of the 3rd quarter. It takes some planning to do this, and now’s the time to get started! You’ll need a series of work (it can be as small as five paintings), a method to sell them (most importantly, a method of accepting payment securely), and a publicity plan. If you have a newsletter, this would be the perfect way to build excitement and provide early access, so your subscribers get the first opportunity to buy your work. Next, you need to spread the word using social media and any other method you can think of. Don’t forget to think through the details of things like shipping costs and materials.
You Can Follow My Lead
I invite you to follow me on Instagram to get a peek into how I’m approaching this busy fall art season. I’ve been at this for years and while I switch things up a bit every year, I’ve found what really works for me. This year, I’m throwing a really fun (and fuzzy) curveball into my fall art ramp-up: we’re adopting another dog to join our “pack.”