Negotiations Between Artist and Gallery, Contracts Must Be Clear, Flattery Gets Ya Nowhere Pt. 2

Part Two:

I moved to Hawaii leaving my paintings, all nicely framed, which was an expense and further investment on my part. I was new to the gallery scene though and still enamored that my work was in San Francisco in the famed Union Square. My investment was around 10 paintings as I recall.

Time passed and the gallery folded. The owner long gone. I lost all of my paintings and contact with the gallery owner completely.

Since that time I am very careful with galleries.

Consignment should provoke many questions. I live in Hawaii so obviously the shipping cost of my large paintings to ship to the mainland is not cheap. I do not pay for all of the shipping costs because of that and require the gallery to pay at least one way. I also require a very specific contract with the owners name and home phone and address.

There are a zillion galleries that come and go. Selling art is an art in itself and not everyone is in fact an artist. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to hang your work in a gallery especially in high traffic areas of the country, but it must be thought about as a commitment and business deal. If a gallery is going to 'make it' they will put the attention to detail that it needs to be successful. The contract must be well thought out first and foremost. Artists need to feel confident that their work will be hung with care and know when and if it goes into storage.

Continued on part three.