The Pros and Cons of Art Shows

May 26, 2011
Alina Bradford

Paintings at an Art Show - Alina Bradford

There are several things to consider before an artist places paintings into an art show.

Thanks to the Internet, there are many more avenues for artists to meet new clients and sell their work. This new way of selling art can make a new artist wonder: Are conventional art shows worth it? It really on depends on your personality and selling style as an artist.

I have entered quite a few art shows over the years, and here is what I have found.

Expense

One con of frequenting the art show circuit is that they can drain an artist’s pocket. Most shows require an entry fee, which can range from a few dollars to around $50 per painting. The art also has to be framed in high-grade frames, which can be a huge expense. Slides or digital copies of the art are sometimes required and add to the expense as well.

Don't forget to include the costs of travel to the show or shipping to get the art to the show. If you already don’t have a good, steady flow of income from your art, the money to fund just one art show entry can be out of reach.

The Flow of Money

There is a saying, "All money flows toward the artist." This is a good tip for any beginning artist. Always focus on ways to make money flow toward you and not into someone else's pocket. If you believe that you will sell paintings through the art show or you believe that you have a good chance at winning the cash prize, go for it, but be realistic when figuring up your costs and profits.

Add up the entry fee, cost of framing, cost of supplies and the transportation expenses, and then subtract that number from the cost of your painting. If you sold your painting, would you be making an acceptable profit?

Networking

One of the best reasons to join an art show is the opportunity to network. There's almost no better place to hand out business cards and talk about your work. At an art show, you have a crowd that is interested in fine art and willing to listen to the creative minds behind the paintings. Use this opportunity to build a mailing list by talking about your inspirations to anyone who will listen and take down their contact information while you have them captivated.

Many artists have their own motivation for entering art shows. As you can see, there are some pros and cons that have to be weighed before deciding to add this opportunity to your business plan.