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If you want to sell your art for a premium price in an art gallery, than look for a gallery that carries artists with famous names. That is not to say that the gallery needs to carry the originals, as high quality original art prints either signed or not are also quite acceptable. If you find such a gallery than try to get your work in there.

The best way to get your art into this sort of gallery is to have a really interesting "story" that can be repeated. Van Gogh's ear is an example of a good poignant selling story. Dalis' melting clocks and the strange story behind them is another. In your case for example, suppose you paint birds in cages, and you were an orphan in an institution for years, now that could be a really interesting story. Just remember the collector wants to have a simple yet moving story to tell to neighbors as he or she shows off the latest acquisition. One other thing, if the gallery looks a little exclusive, it's easier get top prices for simple or even unknown work.

The secret is for your artwork to be associated in some way with the "big boys and girls". Rembrandt, Miro, Cassatt, Picasso etc. The gallery may not sell too many of those artists' works but the advantage to the artist and the gallery is that it enhances the work of the local artist whose work they would really like to sell. Getting the best price is therefore the meshing together of a series of factors that will allow your work to appear to have a premium value. You as the artist are actually in control of those factors. You have to work on this part of your presentation when you approach the galleries.

My recommendation is to sell your work outright to the gallery if they offer to buy it. They'll put the prices up higher than usual because they're taking a big risk. Also they want to put in a lot of flexibility if they need to discount for a "package deal". The advantage is that you have money coming in fairly regularly.

Another advantage for the artist who deals with such a gallery is that he or she can point to the retail prices that the work is going for. Therefore if privately approached they can justify a higher price than they might otherwise be able to ask. Also the price asked in the gallery, will often be higher than what their consigned artwork might be selling for.

The pressure to sell work, purchased outright, will be on the gallery personnel and with a good story to tell and some adequate sales training, the Art Consultants will vie to place your work in their clients homes. Generally, a client progresses from a small initial purchase to a fairly substantial purchase within the first few months of their relationship with the gallery. Not all clients respond to sales calls from their art consultants but those that do really help to drive the market. If your work becomes hot than these consultants will make every effort to sell your latest work to their clients first. Also the consultants usually get a small commission and that makes them work a bit harder.

It really is best to look for the gallery that has a good location and has expensive looking framing. Once your work starts selling and if you eventually do some tertiary works such as prints, drawings, pastels etc., you really will have it made but don't forget it all depends on you and how hard you work at making your images as interesting as your "story".

Since I was in this business for 25 years, I was able to watch the careers of several artists who worked this way. Many of them often found their way to the top following these methods.

Learn more about this author, Leonard Keigher.
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