What's an Artist Package and What Goes into an Artist Package?

What's an artist package and what goes into an artist package? I have wondered this often, and thought I understood what to include in an artist package,until I started reading How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul. Caroll Michels makes it so clear in this book that's it is hard to miss, but just in case you do miss it I've provided you with a list of the essentials to include in your artist package.

Your Artist Package

 An Artist Resume

Now most of us have an resume of sorts. It might not be updated, but we have one somewhere. If you want to get down and serious with your artist career, you gotta have an update artist resume. If you are at lost with how to start write an artist resume go to the College Art Association.

An Artist Statement

For me, actually sitting down and writing an artist statement, was just painful. It was hard for me to translate my visual concepts into writing, but I did it and I got help from some really good sources. Empty Easel . Making a Mark, Renee Phillips, and Molly Gordon

A Cover letter

Yes that's right a cover letter.  Michels states in her book that "a cover letter can provide a context to help people view your work".  An artist cover letter should include: an introductory paragraph- stating who you are and your purpose; a short artist statement; a brag paragraph - picking out a few key accomplishments from your resume; a concluding paragraph - reminding them that if they are interested in your work you could send additional materials or they could view your website.

Visuals

Include quality images of your work. With the advancement of technology there really is no need to send slides of your work. You now can include images of your work on a CD and some galleries prefer you send them as attachments in an email.

Michels suggests also to rethink the way you might send your artist package. Her suggestion isto create a brochure.  Brochures- are cheaper than putting together a slide presentation and can assist you in getting a higher response rate from galleries, it resolves the problem of having to wait for matierals to be returned for recirculation, they are easier to handle and quicker to assemble, and they can serve as a sales tool for art dealers and consultants.

Designing My Artist Brochure

I've decided to take this route and create a  3 fold brochure to send out to galleries. I've spent the last few days designing the cover and inside pages. I also had to update my resume and artist statement.  Check here to view few pages of my artist brochure.

Comments

[professorlocs]

You need to suggest this as a training module for teacher/artist. Great concept!

[Alease]

You know the artist at our school think they know everything or they've heard it already. But I will see.
Thanks for the comment.

Alease