Guest artist/author: Stacey Cornelius

Recently, I had the opporunity to help a painter put together a new portfolio to take to galleries. She was going on a trip and decided to look for a few new venues while she was away.

This artist is a very good writer, so I made only a few edits to her artist’s statement. She had her CV (curriculum vitae) nicely formatted, a couple of reviews, a business card, and some wonderful reproductions of her work arranged in an attractive folder.
She also had a CD of her paintings, with her name neatly printed on the disc, visible through the clear jewel case.
That case, if used properly, was worth its weight in gold.
I suggested she treat the disc like a music CD, adding an insert with an image on the front, and her own version of liner notes inside. If the CD got separated from the rest of the portfolio, it could easily stand on its own as a mini portfolio.
She thought it over for a moment, which gave me the chance to reinforce the point.
“When you’re promoting your work, do everything with intent.”
Bingo.
She loved the idea and was excited about putting the finishing touches on her portfolio.
Even if the CD remained safely in the folder, paying attention to details makes a difference. That extra bit of professionalism enhances your first impression, and will help establish your reputation as you build your career.
There was one other small thing. One of the reviews was taken from a newspaper. The photocopied piece wasn’t centered on the page, and there was one small ragged edge on the clipping. I pulled it out and began to explain.
I didn’t have to finish the sentence.
She hadn’t noticed, and expressed surprise, because she’s normally more careful. She nodded and grinned, repeating her new mantra.
When you’re anxious to get your work into public view, it’s easy to forget about small details. But everything you put in someone’s hands, or in front of someone’s eyes, makes a statement about you. Not just the slides of your work, or the images you burned onto your CD, but also the way you present it.
Do everything with intent. It shows you at your very best.
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Guest author, Stacey Cornelius is a raving idealist, idea junkie, and creative entrepreneur with a Fine Art degree. Her website, The Studio Source helps you manage the business side of creativity.

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Thank you Stacey for sharing a great article, Lori

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