Getting Art in Santa Fe

I recently returned from Santa Fe, rumored to be the 2nd largest art market next to New York. I'd have a tough time believing that it tops Carmel, CA but I suppose it could. There are galleries EVERYWHERE! It's amazing how much competition there is in such a small, remote town - and I'm not talking $2000-a-piece paintings - there were several galleries offering works well over $35,000 and appear to be doing well enough in that price range.

It is good to know that fine art collection is alive and well - especially the collecting of art from Artists that are "alive and well"! I guess a living can be made at this afterall!

So, the question is, how do I get into a Santa Fe gallery? Resume, resume, resume. I'm also going to submit for their August outdoor art fair to benefit Girls Inc. of Santa Fe. More expense but I'm going to hopefully go with my mentor, E. Moises Diaz and learn the ropes from him. I'll begin producing more work, I guess Edgar can tell me the right number. Once in, I'll personally invite each gallery owner and let the art - and sales - speak for themselves. Wish me luck! (Or if you know a Santa Fe gallery owner, hook a brother up!)

New works for Laredo completed

Working all weekend on my art was great. It was good to close myself into the studio and work on so many canvases. I left the weekend with one 36" x 48", two 36" x 36", one 24" x 24" and three 12" x 12" works. I also completed nine works on paper. It was a maathon! I'm really looking forward to Laredo now and hope as many of my Texas friends will make the trip as possible.

Sicola Martin Install and local gallery visit today

Finally! I finally visited Sicola Martin - with my camera - since the installation. This top photo is the lobby and below is the entry hall from the elevators to the lobby.

Everything looks great there and a special "thank you" to my pal Jeff and new pal Lyndahl for supporting my efforts!

Today, I recieved a call from my friend Edgar who is my unofficial art mentor. He said that one of Austin's most influential gallery owners wanted to meet with me. It was simply a meeting, he said she just wanted to talk and not to expect that I would be asked to exhibit.

I met with her this afternoon and it was very inspiring! It's great to hear from a respected gallery owner who like your work and wants you to succeed as an artist. We talked about marketing, galleries that would work for me at this stage in my career and more.

I highly recommend networking with Gallery owners and other artists. In fact, while I was there, another artist came in to see if the owner had looked over her slides. The gallery owners get so many submissions, I got the impression that she likely doesn't even see all the submissions she gets. You truly are just throwing your slides over a wall if you don't take the time to network with the art world and get to know these people. Granted, I didn't get in today with this gallery but she knows my work, likes my work and will see to it that I get into a gallery in Austin now and possibly hers in the future.

Planning Laredo

I made a visit to my friend E. Moise Diaz's gallery today, Urban Roots Gallery, to talk shop. Edgar is a fantastic artist and making a splash in the local and national art scene. He's always got good tips and ideas and has been a good mentor.

I keep trying to get photos of the current display but haven't had any luck. I got down to Sicola-Martin with the camera Monday but it didn't have the memory card inside. Maybe next post you'll see the works.

Paint Ordered

The most painful part of painting is purchasing paint and canvas. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and I tend to buy only the best. (Yes, the best wine, best cars, best clothes too.) I spent $600 on paint and am not sure it will be enough to do the job for Laredo. I've got 150' of linear wall space to work with, so I've got to do several works.

The biggest will be 4' x 3' and will go beside "From Footbridge at 1mi." (above) which was inspired by the beautiful waters flowing under the Townlake Footbridge in Austin from Barton Springs into Town Lake. If you are a runner or walker, you'll see on the West side of the Bridge a stone marker that simply has "1mi." carved in it.

I've never figured out where the "0mi." actually is and I don't think I've seen many others marking the trail either!