In this digitally connected world we live in, all art galleries are literally just a finger click away, so when searching for the right gallery to show (and sell) your work in , don’t just start randomly clicking on ones in the area you are targeting and then start sending them copied and pasted emails. .
Stop. Study their websites. Take a look at the artists they represent. Look at the past shows they have had and see if they ever have group shows or open calls. And most importantly, look at their submission policies for new artists
Honestly ask yourself “Would my work even fit in here? “
The Fourth Commandment - Thou Shalt Be Kind to the Newbies
Be kind to the beginners, the newbies and the students of your chosen field. Answer their questions not with world-weary snark or arrogant disdain, but with a sincere attempt towards being helpful and sharing your knowledge.
If you think something is incorrect or not a good idea - then offer them an alternative or (what you think is) a correct path based on your experience and share that..
In short - be helpful. Don't be a jerk.
It is not only good karma and the right thing to do, it (being a jerk) also can come back to bite you in the ass years later...
For a lot of these newbies eventually become your peers and sometimes rise to greater heights than where you are at (and they might even be in a position to accept or reject your work for a show, award or prize. The world we find ourselves in is often a small and interconnected one!)...
It's a fact of human nature that people tend to recall perceived slights or blatant put-downs just as strongly (even more so in fact) than the helpful advice they receive at the beginning of their journey..
Or, as the old saying goes: Be kind to the people on the way up - you will meet them all again on the way down..
