Getting your art into a gallery is a significant milestone for any artist. It validates your work, exposes it to a broader audience, and can lead to increased sales and recognition. Here are some essential steps and tips to help you achieve this goal.
Embarking on the journey of becoming a professional artist involves more than just mastering your craft—it requires thoughtful curation and strategic planning to develop a cohesive body of work that resonates with viewers and establishes your artistic voice. One way to showcase your talent and vision is through the creation of a series—a collection of artworks that share a common theme, concept, or visual style.
In this blog, we’ll explore the process of creating a series as a professional artist, offering practical tips and insights to help you craft a compelling narrative through your art.
The foundation of any successful series lies in a clear and compelling concept. Begin by brainstorming ideas and exploring themes that resonate with you on a personal or emotional level. Consider what message or story you want to convey through your series and how you can express it visually. Whether it’s exploring a specific subject matter, delving into a particular emotion, or investigating a conceptual idea, your concept should serve as the guiding force behind your series.
Visual cohesion is essential for creating a series that feels unified and tells a story. Choose elements such as color palettes, composition styles, and artistic techniques that tie your artworks together visually. Consistency in these visual aspects helps create a sense of harmony and continuity throughout your series.
Consider the structure and scope of your series, including the number of canvas paintings you plan to create and the order in which they will be presented. Think about how each piece contributes to the narrative of the series and how they can be arranged to create a cohesive flow of ideas. Whether you’re creating a small series of interconnected pieces or a larger, more expansive collection, having a clear plan in place can help guide your creative process and ensure coherence in your final presentation.
Creating a series is an iterative process that often involves experimentation, refinement, and revision. Allow yourself the freedom to explore different ideas, techniques, and approaches as you develop your series. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries, take risks, and challenge yourself creatively.
A fresh set of eyes is a valuable part when creating a series. Asking feedback from peers, mentors, or trusted colleagues can provide valuable insights and perspectives on your work. Share your progress regularly and invite constructive criticism to help identify areas for improvement and refinement. Consider joining artist critique groups, participating in portfolio reviews, or seeking mentorship from established artists to gain valuable feedback and guidance throughout the development of your series.
As you near completion of your series, take the time to review each canvas painting with a critical eye and fine-tune any details or elements that may detract from the overall cohesion and impact of your series. Pay attention to composition, color balance, and narrative coherence, ensuring that each piece contributes meaningfully to the series.
Once your series is complete, take the time to document each artwork professionally through high-quality photography or digital scanning. Consider creating a dedicated portfolio or online gallery to showcase your series, accompanied by an artist’s statement that provides insight into the conceptual framework and vision behind your work. Explore opportunities to exhibit your series in galleries, art fairs, or online platforms to share your talent and connect with audiences who resonate with your artistic vision.
After completing your series, reflect on your creative process and the outcomes achieved. Consider what worked well and what challenges you encountered along the way. Use this reflection as an opportunity for growth and learning, identifying lessons learned and areas for improvement that you can apply to future artistic endeavors. Remember that creating a series is not just about the finished artworks but also about the journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration it affords.
Creating a series as a professional artist is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning, creative vision, and dedication to craft. Through thoughtful execution and presentation, a well-crafted series has the power to captivate audiences, evoke emotion, and leave a lasting impression that transcends the boundaries of the canvas.
Dining establishments are now incorporating art in their décor to showcase their collections and to also entice customers. Aside from offering delicious food, these restaurants and cafés also serve as art galleries, displaying paintings on canvas, sculptures, and other artworks. If you’re an artist, or an art lover, check out these restaurants:
Casa Lever, New York. Casa Lever is a fine dining restaurant in Manhattan which displays modern art. Several portraits of celebrities created by Andy Warhol grace the walls of this restaurant. The portraits include Sylvester Stallone, Aretha Franklin, and Giorgio Armani.
Four Seasons Restaurant, New York. Four Seasons Restaurant displays changing galleries of Modern Art, including artworks from Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Helen Frankenthaler. There’s an interesting story about American artist Mark Rothko. Rothko was commissioned to create a series paintings for the dining rooms. He created the paintings with “malicious intentions” but then decided to return the advance payment and kept his paintings for himself.
The Leopard at des Artistes, New York. The Leopard is an Italian fine dining restaurant in New York. The dining area displays the six panels of wood nypmhs and paintings by American artist Howard Chandler Christy which includes The Parrot Girl, The Swing Girl, and Fountain of Youth.
Tru, Chicago. The interiors of Tru looks like an art gallery, with its high ceilings, pin-spot lights, and white walls. It displays pieces from some of the best 20th century artists such as the King of the Pop Artists Andy Warhol, American geometric painter Peter Halley, and German abstract painter Gerhard Richter.
L’Escargot, London. Opened in 1927, L’Escargot houses an extensive collection of original artworks by some of the famous artists in the 20th century such as French painter Henri Matisse, English painter David Hockney, Spanish painter & sculptor Joan Miró, and Russian artist Marc Chagall.
Maxim’s, Paris. Maxim’s is famous for its Art Nouveau interior decor. It displays an extensive collection of illustrious masterpieces from the Belle Epoch. Maxim’s display more than 500 original, signed pieces from all over the world.
La Colombe d’Or, St. Paul de Vence, France. La Colombe d’Or is a hotel and restaurant located in an old medieval town in France. Paul Roux started it as a café bar in 1920 and then later opened an inn which attracted artists from neighbor towns. Many paintings now grace the walls of the restaurant since artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse who were frequent customers exchanged their works as payment for meals or their stay.
Image source: www.casalever.com
The National Gallery of Art showcases world-class collections in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts. It houses an extensive selection of the finest works from the Middle Ages to the present. The Museum serves the country by preserving, collecting, exhibiting, and fostering understanding of works of art at the highest standards. It offers different programs, tours, free lectures, and resources to educate the public about art history, art appreciation, and more.
The National Gallery of Art will be opening its doors to several exhibitions in the coming months. Try to visit the Museum for these upcoming events. Passes are not required for these exhibits.
A World of Bonds: Frederick Sommer’s Photography and Friendships
June 16 – August 4, 2013
West Building Ground Floor
This is a one-room exhibition showing 27 photos, prints, collages, and drawings of Frederick Sommer (1905-1999). Sommer explored a wide range of subjects such as surreal arrangements of objects, disorienting landscapes, and virtual abstractions. The exhibition will let the public be able to take a peek inside how Sommers shared ideas with his friends such as Edward Weston, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Charles Sheeler, and Aaron Siskind.
In the Tower: Kerry James Marshall
June 28 – December 7, 2013
East Building Tower
Kerry James Marshall is one of the most celebrated painters known for large-scale paintings. His pieces reflect African American life and history. This exhibition will showcase 10 paintings and 20 works on paper; and it is the sixth in a series of Tower installations showing the developments in art since midcentury.
Yes, No, Maybe: Artists Working at Crown Point Press
September 1, 2013 – January 5, 2014
West Building Ground Floor
Yes, No, Maybe looks at the artist’s creative process by placing side by side fully resolved prints and other working proofs produced at the Crown Point Press from 1972-2010. The exhibition features some 80 prints by a range of artists including the illustrious Richard Diebenkorn, John Cage, and Chuck Close. It will also display prints from the more recently acclaimed artists Mamma Andersson, Julie Mehretu, and Chris Ofili.
Tell It with Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial
September 15, 2013 – January 19, 2014
West Building Main Floor
The National Gallery of Art commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Wagner by opening an exhibit which celebrates the “Shaw Memorial” by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The monument honors Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The exhibit features daguerreotype, tintype, and carte de visite portraits of the soldiers, the people who enlisted them, and the nurses. The are also letters, recruitment poster, and works by 20th-century artists including Lewis Hine, Richard Benson, and Carrie Mae Weems.
Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris
September 29, 2013 – January 05, 2014
West Building Ground Floor
This exhibit presents a scholarly catalogue on the celebrated 19th-century French photographer Charles Marville (1813-1879). It shows Marville’s art and biography, his true identity and background. There will be around 100 photographs covering Marville’s luminous career, from landscapes, architecture, to photographs of Paris.