In 1997, I began selling my artwork and playing guitar at the outdoor mall near Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks in Pasadena, California. I quickly discovered something interesting. Art seemed to sell much better in person than over the internet. Twenty-nine years later, I find that this is still the case.
But selling art isn't always about making money. It's also about meeting people, exchanging ideas and building friendships.
When someone approaches my artwork, a conversation often begins. Sometimes it's about the painting itself, but other times it leads to discussions about religion, government, philosophy or psychology and personal experiences. These are subjects I frequently explore in my art, music and writing. The artwork becomes an invitation to communicate.
Later, when I began exhibiting in the local art colony, I found something even more valuable than sales. I found my tribe. I became a familiar face in the community and enjoyed the kind of local recognition that a popular neighborhood rock musician might experience. People knew my work, recognized me on the street and sometimes became my friends.
Perhaps the clearest example came when I held an exhibition at the West End Gallery, not far from the local AA club. Somewhere between 50 and 100 people from my AA meetings showed up to support me. It was a wonderful social occasion, and my more expensive paintings sold right off the wall. The experience demonstrated that art and community can support one another.
Art can be a statement, but it can also be an invitation. One of my favorite examples is outsider musician and artist Daniel Johnston, whose early cassette Hi, How Are You has a title that says it all. Three simple words can open the door to an entire relationship.
I believe this is something artists sometimes overlook. We become so concerned with selling our paintings, books or music that we forget about the human connections we make along the way. An exhibition isn't just a commercial opportunity. It's a social gathering, a conversation and sometimes the beginning of a lasting friendship.
Whether you're displaying paintings in a gallery, performing at an open mic, selling books at a convention or simply sketching in a coffee shop, creativity gives people a reason to approach you.
After nearly three decades of exhibiting and selling my work, I've learned that the value of art cannot always be measured in dollars. Sometimes the greatest reward is a new friend, an interesting conversation or the feeling that you belong somewhere.
So the next time you exhibit your work, don't just ask yourself how much you might sell. Ask yourself how many people you might meet.
After all, art is about communication, and communication is the foundation of friendship.
Hi, how are you?
by Dan and Bonkers
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