The second in the series has Lisa Woolfe running a session
on how to create artist websites and how to use Facebook. I must admit I skipped this because I had
attended her seminar previously – hence the website I have now created (www.mengwoo.com).
A good website is essential but where I’m not clear is how
to utilise Facebook as an artist? Lisa’s
opinion is that a personal Facebook account can double up for family and
friends as well as art contacts. You
just need to know how to organise it accordingly.
The third in the series featured Sara Leonardi McGrath,
Glenn McGrath’s second wife. Sara opened
a contemporary gallery in Chippendale (www.mclemoi.com)
last year and came to tell us what gallerists do and how to approach a
gallery. Sara is refreshingly honest and
open. What I gathered is that a good
gallery is a publicity machine for their artists. They’re constantly on the phone, ringing up
potential buyers and answering emails.
They are basically the people who chase the sale. And if they do everything that Sara does,
they more than deserve their 50% commission!
As to how to approach a gallery, her advice is to scout
around and get to know the galleries and what they specialise in. There is, for instance, no point at all for
me to approach her gallery as I’m not a contemporary artist. But if the gallery was as approachable as she
was, I’d be very lucky!
