Rules and Flexibility in Art Show Exhibitions: Choosing Your Painting's Size, Medium, and Style
When preparing for an art show or sale, artists often face numerous decisions that can impact the presentation and reception of their work. Among these decisions, the size, type, and style of your paintings can significantly influence the overall experience for both your viewers and potential buyers. Let's explore the rules and flexibility involved in these choices.
Understanding Size and Space
Artists frequently face restrictions regarding the size of their paintings, mainly due to space limitations and the practicalities of hanging art. For solo exhibitions, it's essential to carefully plan your display and select only your best works. Overcrowding can detract from the quality and impact of your show.
If your exhibition is in an indoor gallery, consider spacing each artwork to ensure viewers can appreciate each piece without feeling overwhelmed. In a more casual setting, such as a booth at an art fair, buyers might take artwork with them after purchase, allowing you to restock with pieces of similar size. Having a range of prices is a smart strategy; large framed works can be the most expensive, while smaller matted prints or drawings can be more affordable.
Personal Choices and Professional Advice
Many artists like to maintain a certain theme in their exhibitions, such as landscapes, Arabic calligraphy, still lifes, and more. The size and medium of your artwork can vary significantly to suit these themes. In my experience, you can commission smaller paintings with a similar color palette to larger ones if someone appreciates the larger work but prefers something more compact. Giclées are also a viable option for creating affordable reproductions.
However, some venues impose strict restrictions on your artwork. In such cases, it's important to find flexible and cooperative spaces. One memorable experience for me involved a gallery owner who emphasized the importance of beautiful backs: the canvas and stretcher combination should look neat, even when flipped over. Their advice was well-intentioned, but I took it more as professional guidance rather than a strict rule.
Ultimately, there is one rule that I adhere to: always provide easy and secure hanging options for your artwork. This doesn't limit your artistic expression but ensures a better viewing experience and reduces accidents during the exhibition.
Conclusion
Art shows and exhibitions offer artists a platform to showcase their best work, but navigating the rules and restrictions can be challenging. By understanding the space limitations and the practical considerations of hanging, you can create a memorable and welcoming display. Whether you follow strict guidelines or embrace flexibility, the key is to present your art in the best possible manner, ensuring that your viewers and collectors can appreciate your work thoroughly.