So now you have categorized, listed, priced and framed your work let's take it up another notch.
On the back of each painting I enclose my Artist Profile and a Certificate of Authenticity which is unique to EVERY painting I create.
My Artist Profile gives a small insight to my clients to who I am as an artist, what inspires me and a little about myself. I print my Artist Profile 4 to an A4 page of 4 self adhesive labels so I can peel and stick to the reverse of the painting

My Certificate of Authenticity contains the following information

• Title "Certificate of Authenticity"
• Statement "This is a one of a kind, authentic, original painting. All copyright and reproduction rights are reserved by the artist Karen King"
• Title of the Artwork
• Price
• Artist Name "Karen King"
• Artwork Dimensions including frame
• Medium used
• Date Painted
• Signed :my signature"
• Artwork Details - This is a story about the painting. Where was it painted, any interesting story or information about the subject. What was my inspiration.
• Contact Details

This is printed 2 per A4 page on self adhesive labels so it can be peeled and stuck to the reverse of the painting.

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Exhibiting in a gallery no matter how small the gallery maybe is very exciting especially when it is your first time.
No matter if you have never hung your work in a gallery before or you are an old hand you need to be organized and present your work in a professional timely manner. Below I have put together my hints and tips that I find useful which I am about to share with you.

• Be prepared well in advance of the event. Gallery bookings are sometimes made months if not a year or more before the actual event. Whilst you can be painting up your collection leading up to the event date plan on having at least a 2 month window where your paintings are all completed before the opening of the exhibition.
• Have some good portrait / head photos taken of yourself for use in promotional material. Most galleries will ask you for this 2-3 months in advance so they can prepare the artwork for flyers and banners and other promotional material. Alternatively you may have to do this yourself depending on the gallery's terms and conditions.
• Make sure you also have 2-3 photos of your "draw-card" artwork to be included in the above promotional material.
• An Artist Statement will also be required. Talk about your collection, inspirations and anything you feel will draw in potential clients and would be of interest to them.
• Plan an "Opening" for the exhibition. This may mean champagne, nibbles or just tea and coffee depending on the venue and numbers you are expecting and of course the theme you are trying to portray.
• I recently found that I had quite a number of paintings, some framed, some partially finished, some needing rescuing and other which were framed. I spent a number of WEEKS sorting thru this jumble, finishing off work, adjusting work, and framing others. Boy oh boy I ended up so far with 154 so far...phew
• To keep track of these I have taken the time to categorize them all in a Excel spreadsheet. Each line contains the following information
  
  
  1. a unique number for that painting
  2. a thumbnail photo of the piece
  3. the link / location of where to find that photo on my computer
  4. the artists name - I include this as I can always use the Excel database to create labels if I need to at any stage
  5. name of the painting.
  6. medium
  7. price (I want to talk more on pricing your work in another blog) For the moment keep the pricing consistent.
  8. width (including the frame)
  9. height (including the frame)
  10. name of the exhibition entered (you may have more than one)
  11. date of the exhibition
  12. genre'
  13. notes

• Each painting has "D" hooks attached at the back of the painting 1/3 the way down, please do check with the gallery's requirements as this requisition may alter.
• I use Venetian blind cord for hanging. This I purchase by the roll from "Bunnings" our local hardware store.
• After tying the cord to the "D" hooks I wrap the ends with white electric tape which I also purchase from the hardware store. The electric tape seems to stretch and stick to itself very well and so far this has been the best option I have found.
  

More to come in my next blog.......