Host A Studio Visit And Sell Artworks
Is there a better place to show your art than in the place where it came to life? You have conceived and created an object, considered worthy of inclusion in galleries and museums, bought by collectors, and admired by the public. The production site of your art, where the initial idea is turned into a physical work of art, is your studio. When talking to potential buyers, it is worth inviting them for a studio visit, since it will give them a better sense of your process and how you work. Keep it authentic; people will know if you are performing or putting on a show.
Here are three steps to make sure you are hosting a great studio visit. (P.s. Students of my class also get a checklist.)
Before the visit, find out why someone is visiting you: Potential buyers undertake studio visits for different reasons, and you need to know what that reason is in each case. Some may be companies looking to entertain their clients. Others may be gallerists, curators, or journalists who want an insight into your working process. In either case, work out how many people you are capable of accommodating without crowding, and whether you are going to charge them for the visit. This would apply mostly in the case of corporate visitors, and I suggest between $250 and $2,000 for the entire visit. As a side note: your local tailor doesn’t work free of charge, and neither should you.
When a visit is something more than a casual drop-in or a single gallerist visit, make sure that you structure it with the host who is bringing their invited guests. Prepare a game plan (welcome, introduction by you, Q&A, one on oneā€•overall, keep it to forty-five minutes to an hour). Ask the host to have two questions ready to get the Q&A started: you don’t want an awkward silence. Ask the host for a visitor list, including email addresses, and do some research on them beforehand, in the same way that they might research you before the visit.
During the visit, follow the agenda that you set up with the host. Make sure you have time to give your five minute speech, but also give them time to ask questions. If it’s a small group, you can also run them through the studio setup and present two specific works. Encourage people to take photos and upload them to Instagram, tagging you in the process; this is a great way to increase your exposure.
After the visit, most artists forget to do one thing that is essential to get the most out of the studio visit you just hosted. To find out what this is, watch this video interview with artist Julian Schnabel in which he reveals what he is doing after guests have visited his studio:
I am always surprised to see how few artists make use of their studio as a platform to show art. In my online course I teach you how to use it to sell and show your works. You can sign up here.
Best, Magnus
