Art is a very risky business. For a painter the pay-offs are rarely large, especially if he or she is still starting out. The painter would require a whole lot of sacrifices. He would have to give all out his or her heart on the painting and would be disappointed when it doesn’t sell.  For some they just decide to keep their very 1st masterpiece because it has emotional value for them. It would also benefit them because if they do get famous, the value of their 1st masterpiece will surely be expensive.

For an upstart artist the best way to start selling his art work is through galleries. However being able to display his or her art in a gallery exhibition is not that easy as well. Some would be biased beacsue it depends on an impressive CV if they would allow your work to be exhibited. It won’t work like in the movies where you jut go in with a portfolio and immediately get entertained. The gallery owners would require to have set a schedule, a courteous letter of inquiry with a brief list of accomplishments.

The gallery will also limit your art works to only 2 to 3 pieces of your art work. They will only give you 3 chances to sell your painting. If you would like to sell more, you may wan the gallery to represent you. However the representation you wan could not be achieved overnight, it will be a very long process. One stupid move such as breaking the trust of the gallery owner will be very costly.

To turn you into a star, the gallery will obviously want some thing from you as well. You will need to sign an exclusivity contract. When your painting is sold the money you expect will be reduced because of the commission the gallery expects.

Good galleries will definitely help build your image as well. They will try to tell the buyers that in due time the value of your paintings will appreciate. They believe that your success will be their success as well.

Another great way to start is through the local art galleries such as annual college art shows or local painting clubs. These exhibitions may seem like a really slow and hard start for you, but they do serve 2 purposes. You will get to compare your work with other pieces of art work there and might learn from them. The next is that you will develop contacts with other fellow artists. The networks you develop will be important beacsue fellow painters will tell you when there are opportunities to showcase your art works. Some established artist also goes back to those places beacsue of the memories they once had there. You might get lucky and your work might get recommended.

The road is hard and not easy, but if you really have the passion and the heart to achieve this. Nothing can stop your dreams and goals.