Vanity galleries make their money from the artist wishing to be represented by them. It seems that these are prolific and popular. I rarely see any sales from them, but artists are lining up to be juried into these vanity galleries.

I hesitate to give money up front to a gallery to sell my work. Most of the time, the promotional materials, etc. are of poor quality, the art is horrifying, and the prices are astronomical. Why would I want my art hanging next to something that brings my quality down. Another sign of a vanity gallery: too many artists displaying their work in a too-large space!

Thanks for answering the question. I continue on my path.

Smiles,
Angeline-Marie of
http://www.angelinemarie.net

I did not see the entire episode, just a scene here and there, but the second lesson I take from this would be: being a restaurant owner and running a restaurant are two different animals. Walking amongst the tables, greeting customers, chatting with friends, picking up tabs might be what a “restaurant owner” does in the movies, on tv or in the mind of the casual observer, however anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows this is far from the truth. It is hard, never ending work.

As artists we have to come to grips with the fact that making a living as an artist has nothing in common with “living the artist’s life” as portrayed in books, movies etc. It is hard never ending work, only since you are doing what you love and using you talent and skills, it is not work at all.

It also reminds me of a story Dianna sent us a while back. She was told early on that a career in the arts was impossible, so went a different more financially secure route. Then a little later decided to “chuck it” and pursue her true passion — art!