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Thread: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

  1. #1

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    What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    I have the opportunity to participate in an artists group that focusses on getting emerging artists work seen in my local area. The group includes artists using various media and they do a number of publications, exhibitions and projects throughout the year.

    My goals in my photography have never been about making money from it, but rather to share things as I see them. I dont profess to be an expert, although like many here I often receive compliments for the work I display whether at work or in a couple of cafe's and restaurants where I have displayed my work (these have had dedicated galleries for local artists attached to them). I have drifted along over the last few years trying different things in my photography and have found that I am most comfortable now producing 8x20 soft focus landscapes printed using alternate processes (predominantly salt printing) and have been for a couple of years now.

    For me the only drawbacks in becoming involved are the risk of rejection (my self esteem is sometimes not as high as it could be), and the risk of trying to create what someone else wants rather than what I want to create.

    My question is whether you would, or have, become involved in an emerging artists group, and if would you do it even if your goals were not so much about selling work, but sharing it with others, or are there better ways of doing it? Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Craig Griffiths

  2. #2
    ROL's Avatar
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Toss it out into the middle of the road.

    Sorry, my art–esteem is pretty low myself these days

  3. #3
    ROL's Avatar
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Quote Originally Posted by ROL View Post
    Toss it out into the middle of the road.

    Sorry, my art–esteem is pretty low myself these days
    Now, that wasn't really very helpful, was it?

  4. #4
    ROL's Avatar
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Quote Originally Posted by ROL View Post
    Now, that wasn't really very helpful, was it?
    I said I was sorry.

  5. #5
    ROL's Avatar
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Quote Originally Posted by ROL View Post
    I said I was sorry.
    This brief interlude brought to you as an alternative to deletion.

    Reason: Stupid Comment

  6. #6

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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    facebook

  7. #7

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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Become some "recognized" art snobs bitch.
    *************************
    Eric Rose
    www.ericrose.com


    I don't play the piano, I don't have a beard and I listen to AC/DC in the darkroom. I have no hope as a photographer.

  8. #8

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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    i know quite a number of photographers who make their living with their work, sold through galleries (all in the A or B list category). Without an exception, none has made it there as the result of 'knowing someone'. They work hard (*VERY* hard) at what they do. They made sure their work was seen by as many gallery owners as possible, and didn't stop because someone didn't like what they saw. More than a few of them have participated in portfolio reviews (not the ones given by other photographers giving workshops.. but those on a National/International level.. Photolucida, Review Santa Fe, FotoFest...).

    Their work is unique, with a style that is recognizable. if someone says 'your work looks like....', that's a good thing if you want to produce work like ... , not a good thing if you want representation in galleries.

    If I could recommend just one resource as a sanity check as to where your work is, it would be Mary Swanson ( http://mvswanson.com/ ). She knows the Photo Art market like none other, and has very little problem in being direct about your work. No one will walk out of a consulting session with her with false hopes of photographic stardom... but you will come out with a reality check, and a plan on how to get where you want to go.

    the above is only based on my experiences so far, and only really relevant if you're looking at getting your work seen on a National/International level

    (oh.. and none spend much time on the Internet)

  9. #9
    Abuser of God's Sunlight
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Rose View Post
    Become some "recognized" art snobs bitch.
    Are there personals in the back pages of Art Forum?

  10. #10
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
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    Re: What is the best approach to getting your work seen

    Do a project that is thematic and get it published. You are far more likely at the beginning of your career to get a thematic project published and shown than a collection of your "Art" photography. Hence I did the projects on Chaco Canyon and historic New Mexico churches and had numerous publications, books and exhibits. Those projects still have legs today. Thematic projects can reach broader audiences than just the art crowd so they are more attractive to magazines museums etc.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

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