Customer Reviews

ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm an emerging artist who's been shooting for the past couple of years. I've done some shows in the non-profit realm, but only in the past few months have I been actively trying to figure out the ins and outs of the gallery scene.

For months now, I've been scrounging for the most basic information: How do for-profit galleries operate? What kind of contractual/financial obligations are required? How do you properly document your work? I've gone to workshops, interviewed artists, and dug through a lot of junk on the internet...

Only to find that everything I needed (and lots more) was in this book.

This is the definitive how-to book on running a fine art business (from the artist's side), specifically in regards to working with galleries. They don't offer any secret formulas for success, but instead dish out best practices for presenting yourself as professionally as possible.

What amazed me most was the depth of subject matter this book covers. It offers everything from sample legal forms to explicit instructions on how to pack your work for shipment. They use a very open and honest writing style throughout. Instead of coming across as preachy or snobbish, the authors sound more like a good friend letting you in on the secrets of the industry.

An interesting device they use throughout is to include relevant quotes from art professionals on almost every spread. These tie in directly with the subject matter of each section and represent the perspectives of artists, curators and gallery owners. It's one thing for the author to say what he or she thinks, but another thing when you get other voices add to the mix.

My only complaint about the book is a very minor one. While the book is striking in its design, I question the use of a bold sans serif for the body text throughout the book. There's enough white space and leading to make it work, but it seems a choice of aesthetics over practicality.

I don't often get this jazzed about books (especially not over a how-to manual). But I've seen firsthand what a lack of comprehensive resources there are for artists trying to figure out the how's and what's of the art world. This book does a magnificent job of filling that void and I'd recommend it to any artist who's trying to get established.

Where was Art/Work when I was just starting out? Here's a down-to-earth book that teaches you all the nitty-gritty details you didn't learn in art school.

Art/Work gives artists of every level the tools they need to make it in the highly competitive art world. Whether you're an art school grad looking for a gallery, a mid-career artist managing a busy studio, or someone just thinking about becoming a professional artist, this book will help you build your career and protect yourself along the way.

Heather Darcy Bhandari, a gallery director, and Jonathan Melber, an arts lawyer, walk you through issues directly related to being a visual artist. They show you, for example, how to tackle business basics such as tracking inventory and preparing invoices; how to take legal precautions like registering a copyright and drafting consignment forms; how to use promotional tools like websites and business cards; and how to approach career decisions such as choosing the right venue to show your work. I found the chapter in dealing with galleries most informative, and I've been a practicing artist for almost 30 years.

In addition to drawing on their own experiences, Bhandari and Melber interviewed nearly one hundred curators, dealers, and other arts professionals to talk about what they expect from and look for in artists. The authors also talked to a variety of artists and the lessons they've learned navigating the cutthroat world of art.

No matter what kind of artist you are -- or want to be --No matter what your media, or what stage you are in your career, this book can help you. Art/Work covers everything you need to know to succeed, saving you from having to learn it all the hard way -- and letting you spend more time making art.

It's all very well to write a book for artists, but if you are working for galleries, you may have a bias.

This bias is actually a Huge problem...

In the art world, when an artist gives a work to a gallery on consignment, the gallery is not putting any cash into the artist's hands...

Traditionally, this meant a ONE THIRD COMMISSION to the gallery if the work sold...

No cash outlay for any commodity on the open market, only gives a fraction of what a retailer might get if they bought the commodity wholesale...

In fact, if a product is bought at a wholesale price, the retailer has tremendous powers to mark up the price- this is how the art market has become such a wild ride...

Now, back to the book...The book talks about 50%...But the authors have not the age or perspective or wisdom in business to understand the ethic of 50%...

50% is the wholesale price of the art work...At a 50% discount to the gallery, the gallery should be BUYING the work outright...

No other product sells for half price unless it has been purchased wholesale...

Those that know art & the art market know that one third was standard. They know that 50% without cash down is exploitative...They know that young artists don't know any of this...

Galleries have been getting away with this scam for the past decade because since 9/11, artists have been desperate to accept any offers, no matter how ridiculous, many idiots actually paying to show...

Is it right to take money from an artist to pay for their own show? No. But people do it.

Is it right to get a half off price from an artist without any cash payment? No, but people do it...

This is a flaw in this book. A fatal flaw.

Do the authors know this is a flaw?

Possibly. But their bias is For the gallery, not for the artist, so they will argue in defense of the practice, saying everyone is doing it.

I do not read books to know what everyone is doing. I read to learn. To be taught.

I am disappointed that the authors do not know the rules. The real rules. Not the ones made up in the past ten years.

If any artists are listening, please know this, ONE THIRD IS THE TRADITIONAL COMMISSION YOU GIVE FOR ON CONSIGNMENT ART WORKS TO A GALLERY....

50% is only if they buy the work from your studio to re-sell...

If they don't give you cash in hand, they don't get 50 percent. That is wholesale.

Once they buy it from you wholesale they can mark it up as they please.

But for Gosh sakes, don't give more than a third to a gallery if they don't buy the work from you...It is highway robbery. Ask an old person, they will set you straight if you don't believe me...

& beware of books for artists written by galleries...(though there were some good parts to this book- the commission thing sort of kills it)...sorry...

This book is a great resource for graduating students and working artists alike. It is an excellent primer to navigating how to handle yourself professionally in the art world if you are unfamiliar, and the book is also deep enough that I think even working professionals can gleam tips and extra knowledge . Insight comes not only from the two authors, but also from many working artists, gallerists, curator's, etc... as they share their knowledge as it relates to each chapter. Having so many opinions expressed really shows you the multiple paths you can take and also often unsaid rules people must navigate to become a working artist. An excellent Title!

It may sound strange, but I haven't read this book in it's entirety yet because of how excellent it is. What I found myself doing, right off the bat, is implementing many of the suggestions into my art career. A lot of what's mentioned, especially in the myriad quotes from interviews with various artists and gallerists, is simply stuff to keep in mind while engaging in this or that element of the profession. What's been making me put down the book is a multitude of vital recommendations that I can bring to bear immediately. The reason I can't make it through the whole book is that these recommendations are so pertinent that I've been having to step back and actually work on them and put them into practice. For instance, I have been in the process of developing my website, but once I read the relevant chapter in Art/Work I found that I had to modify a lot of what was going into the site to account for all of these different elements of which I simply couldn't have been aware before reading this book.

All in all, I have to say that Art/Work is a necessity for beginning and even mid-career artists. Yes, a necessity. I didn't even bother recommending it to my friends, I just bought several copies and handed them out. If you take seriously what the authors say, the advice in this book could increase the success of your career by magnitudes. This book is probably most valuable to those of us who think we have it all under control, because it really will open your eyes to things you couldn't possibly have known you were missing or doing wrong. Don't waste another day fumbling through your professional art career. Get Art/Work immediately.

I was browsing one day at a book store and came across this gem. If you're starting out as an independent artist, this is a Godsend. I could not put it down after I started reading. This would've helped me tremendously when I left art school years ago, but alas, it's never too late!! Follow your passion!

Again, this is a must-read if you're a fresh artist, and on top of that, the price is excellent!! You can't lose!!

This is a fantastic, comprehensive resource for anyone wondering how the heck they can actually BE a working artist. This book helps anyone who is creative navigate a world with taxes, copyrights, landlords and other financial, legal, and detail-oriented obstacles. Thank you for writing it!

As someone who has always considered himself an artist but only recently thought about turning art into a part-time or full-time career, I know that Art/Work will serve as an invaluable resource as I start to move in this direction.

The book provides a comprehensive yet quite detailed introduction to navigating the art world, from how to write a resume to how to choose a day job and how to select the best venue for showing and selling work. Despite the amount of ground they cover and the very realistic portrayal of the challengies and complexities of pursuing an art career, authors Jonathan Melber and Heather Darcy Bhandari manage to avoid making the whole endeavor seem impossibly daunting. The conversational style and the inclusion of direct quotations from artists, curators, gallery owners and other professionals help to demystify and personalize the process.

The book's organization, with frequent subject headings, lists of items where appropriate, and the direct quotations in the margins, is also very successful in providing information that goes into great depth but can still be used for quick reference. In addition, the sample resumes, cover letters, application forms, templates, and other visuals are an essential complement to the text.

I highly recommend this book, whether you've already begun an art career or are considering the implications of doing so.

I bought a copy of this book for all my graduating seniors in photography. I wish I had this book about 9 years ago when I graduated with an MFA. Definitely worth the read! Easy to understand, great examples and overall I would recommend to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with continuing in their art practice upon graduation!

This book is an excellent resource for both the budding artist and the professional artist. Replete with with great information and resource materials.