In 2019, I started painting. 5 years later, I had paintings in a gallery. The way it happened is not how you think. I did not go to art school, beg the gallery, or have an artist statement.
I want to share my experience with you.
If I could do it this way.... you can to. Especially if you are a growing artist.
Practice
Galleries want good art that they can sell. The best way to make good art is to practice. I made hundreds of paintings. I went to workshops to learn. I got mentors to give critiques. I practiced with the intention of improvement. Eventually, my art was good enough to catch attention.
Patience
Practice requires significant patience. For me, it was years. But I was committed to the process. And it was fun along that way! My mentors told me submitting to galleries was wasted effort, at my amateur skill level. That effort was better spent on practice, to build professional skills. So this was my required patience.
Personality
The fine art gallery world is about connections. They like personable artists who are easy to work with. I built connections by making art friends in this world. I supported fellow artists on social media and at in-person shows… at galleries. I showed my positive personality and persistence. This led to introductions to gallery owners.
Payoff
Eventually, a gallery owner invited me to show my paintings. It was that combination of practice, patience, and personality that got my paintings into a gallery.
Now, these may be challenging skills. But getting into a gallery is achievable. Especially for self-taught and growing artists. You are already on the path. You already know the patience and practice needed for painting. So keep going.