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Careers: Arts/gallery appointment

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Expert: - 2/18/2005


Question
I have been invited to meet a gallery owner because he's interested in my paintings which he saw on my web site. What do you recommend I take to the gallery when I visit him?

I'd appreciate any information from someone with experience. Thanks!

Answer
Dear Jim,

I'm glad to hear you have a gallery interested in your work! That's great news! Now that you're going to meet up with this owner, treat it almost like a job interview. After all, this is a prospective business opportunity for the both of you. Bring a portfolio showing samples of your paintings. Try to also include paintings that may not be viewable on your site yet; this way you are not just repeating what the gallery owner has already seen. In the portfolio, have good quality reproductions of your work at a large enough size to see clearly, but not too large that the portfolio is cumbersome to flip through. Bring business cards, informational postcards, anything with your contact information and perhaps an image associated with you or your work that the owner can keep, remember you by and use to contact you in the future.

Above all, come with a prepared mind. Know what kind of price range you will sell some of your paintings at. Be ready to speak about your work and the technique and thoughts behind your pieces. Come with a mental list of questions that you may need to know. For example, what kind of commission does the gallery take when selling work?

Now, enjoy this meeting, relax and remember that the owner has already shown interest in your paintings and that's a wonderful thing!

Good luck!
Sincerely,
Gianina

Careers: Arts

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Gianina L.

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning most traditional mediums such as acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, collage/cut paper, graphite, charcoal, and pen and ink. I also have strong, advanced knowledge of Photoshop, Powerpoint and Publisher; and beginner to immediate level knowledge in Illustrator, Freehand, After Effects, and Flash. In addition, I can cover miscellaneous subjects such as portfolio preparation, applying to art schools, art school study skills, color theory, basic design and drawing principles, basic animation techniques, working on personal art styles and exploring new artistic techniques. Topics such as the detailed legal aspects of art, web programming and Flash action scripting do not fall under my area of expertise.

Experience

Experience in the Area
I graduated summa cum laude with a double BFA in Illustration and Computer Art (specializing in 2-dimensional animation) from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where as a student, I happily tutored fellow peers in all aspects of art and created numerous illustrations for the school newspaper. For the past several years, I have been illustrating seminar books, designing numerous graphics, and creating short animation sequences for use in video. In addition, I work as a private tutor and am co-director / co-owner of a company that focuses on and promotes the local music industry. I assist with all the day-to-day operations of this company as well as manage all art direction and design.

Education/Credentials
Savannah College of Art and Design
BFA Computer Art, Illustration
Summa Cum Laude
Dean's List, GPA 4.0

Awards and Honors
Induction into Alpha Pi Beta honor society for art and design, 2002
Outstanding Achievement in Computer Art, 2002
Outstanding Student for the academic year 2001-2002
Awarded "Most Dependable" for District, the student newspaper, 2002
Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities, May 2001
Better Business Bureau Honesty in Advertising Essay Competition, Merit Award, November 1998
Mary Renee Whelan Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design

Exhibitions and Festivals:
Embodiement; Myths in Animal Form, www.postpicasso.com, December 10 - January 10, 2005
SCAD Alumni Show, Stardust Café, Orlando, FL; December 2004
Finalist, International Juried Online Symbolist Art Show, www.dracoblu.com, May 2004 - April 2005
Finalist, International Juried Online Symbolist Art Show, www.dracoblu.com, May 2003 - April 2004
Senior Showcase, SCAD Pei Ling Chan Gallery, Savannah, GA; May 2002
2D or not 2D, SCAD Trustees Theatre, Savannah, GA; April 2002
Small Works, SCAD Exhibit A Gallery, Savannah, GA; November 7 - December 31, 2001; art was purchased
Magnanimata Animation Festival, May 1999

Publications
Quoted briefly in Animation World Magazine, "Predicting the Future of Futurama" (April 1999) and "Ed, Edd, n Eddy: A Unique Approach" (June 1999)

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