*Book your gallery at least a year in advance – my dates were useful, in that Christmas was coming, and it began in half-term week for schools.
*It is easy to think you have plenty of time – you haven’t – so cut back on as many commitments as possible – get the full co-operation of husband/partner (this is quite difficult when you have been married for forty-five years) and family.
*A budget – mine was only in my head from savings, I was not out to make money, but clear the house (and to show off!).
*Keep a notepad and pencil with you at all times, jot down the name of anyone who sounds interested in your project, or who will be useful (ie:- photographer, printer ).
If possible get someone who doesn’t know you well, but whose knowledge of your subject you respect, to sift through your work. Have three piles: 1) mount/frame, 2) keep for memories, 3) dustbin. This I found worked wonders.
*Look carefully at other exhibitions, how they are hung, the size of work, the frames.
*Before framing be sure to take a photograph of every piece, especially if you are selling
*Try to get an overall ‘look’ into your mounting and framing.
*Early on look for copy and publication dates of magazines and press (this is important).
*‘Private view’ flyers and posters – choose something that reproduces well and incorporates aspects you wish to advertise. As I was showing and selling both paintings and embroideries, the picture on my advertising matter showed both aspects.
*Keep typeface simple and format clear and uncluttered. Get it checked by the gallery before printing. I had to have a logo on mine. Clear directions on how to get there, and maybe a map makes it easier for visitors to arrive. Computers are useful.
*Post private view invitations at least six weeks in advance, let local press know what’s happening.
*Have a scale plan of the gallery, then make a hanging plan, visit the gallery at different times of the day to find out how the light falls. Be prepared to alter your plan if needed.
*Use help when it is offered, it is necessary and my students were wonderful (so was the work they exhibited with me).
*Have cards, Craft Creations provide the blanks, Quick Imaging photographs (you can order as few as fifty, so provides variety). Have address labels. If you have time make some of your own – BUT time gets limited!
*Pricing is a difficult one – I had about forty paintings mounted but not framed, these I was able to sell at a very reasonable price, they could be taken on the day of purchase. I came home with five. Cards sell well in packs of five for 5p less per card than when sold singly. Otherwise pricing is up to you.
*In summing up the whole experience, the help and support I received from my students (friends) was incalculable. David was wonderful, once he understood how much I was depending on him with the computer etc. Everyone including David and myself were surprised at the wide variety of work I had produced over the years, and how much there was! Janice Lawrence wrote a very nice review. The role reversal (me first) in the family was the most difficult part, and I wondered at times if I was being selfish – having said that, I couldn’t have done it successfully without putting my whole mind and body into the project.
I exceeded my ‘mind budget’ by £70, and still made enough to pay for the rug being woven to my design in Nepal.
Was all the hard work worthwhile? YES, IT WAS. But don’t ask me to do it again for a few years!