Expert: DJ Murphy - 4/16/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi DJ Murphy,
Can you please tell me what size the photos in a standard artists portfolio tend to be - not sure if they are 8" by 12" or less?

Also, if you said that you fire up an electric kiln would that be contradiction, as it's electric and can't be fired up??

Thanks!
Davina, United Kingdom.

ANSWER: Welcome back Davina,

Use whatever size best illustrates your work.....but having said that, using 8 x 10 fits nicely into a three ring binder portfolio.

Yes one can "fire up" an electric kiln........it is a colloquialism.

dj murphy
www.galleryonemain.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again DJ Murphy,

Ok I see now about the kiln - thanks for that.

Re the portfolio - how many pages do they tend to have?

(I'm writing a book about an artist so I'm trying to make it authentic. :o)

Thanks again,
Davina

ANSWER: Hello....I have seen portfolio's with as little as eight pages and as many as thirty.  There is no standard....but I would say somewhere between 12 and 15 would be the norm.  The portfolio is just to give a sample of the type of works created by the artist.....not their entire inventory!!

dj murphy
www.galleryonemain.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi DJ Murphy,

Could you please tell me what the process is for a new artist when they sign up with an art agency?  Especially if the art agent runs their own agency?
For instance, the process of pricing the artwork, putting the portfolio/catalogue together, adn then meeting with prospetive clients - eg museums or galleries?

Many thanks and much appreciated!

Davina,
United Kingdom

Answer
Hello.....since you are the one who creates the art...you should begin the negotiation with the price that you think the art should retail for....most agents take 10%....galleries take between 40 and 60% of sales.  You don't need an agent to contact galleries...and museums mostly will only buy work from artists who have had a track record in selling works...and/or works that have sold at auctions.  

I would begin by contact galleries directly.  Put together your own portfolio...and if you can digitize the works...put them on CD...so you can send to galleries.  You can always move to the agent process later.

dj murphy
www.carpediemartgallery.com