Congratulations! After all the hard work of compiling and sending out your portfolios, you’ve finally got people interested in coming to see your work first hand. Studio visits are the best way to introduce people to your artwork and they allow you the opportunity to discuss your concepts, process, materials, and more. Here are some things to keep in mind for a successful studio visit.

One of the most basic rules for having a successful studio visit is to have a clean studio where your works can be viewed easily and without distraction. Make sure your works are well lit and presented in the same manner they would be in an exhibition (or as close as possible). For example, if you make paintings which you intend to hang on a wall, don’t present them flat on a table or on the floor leaning against a wall. Leave ample breathing room between individual works and set up any intricate installations ahead of time. Also, if your studio has very limited wall or floor space for displaying work, you should present only one or two works at a time (taking one work down and putting another work up). Moreover, don't worry about your studio space being too small or somehow not professional enough (especially those artists working at home or in cramped apartments). Just keep in mind that your studio is not there to impress people, but rather for you to make your work.

Present only your most recent completed works. Any unfinished works, experimental works or works that you are not quite sure about should be kept off to the side (they may be useful in describing your process to the visitor). Have on hand the works that you originally sent to the visitor in slide format. You may want to have past works on hand in order to demonstrate your artistic evolution. Lastly, don’t worry if your work is presented unframed. You may, however, want to have an example of a framed work available.

Artists generally feel nervous about conducting studio visits. It is good to know, however, that visitors get nervous about them as well. A good way to diffuse any anxiety on your part is to conduct practice studio visits with other artists or friends. Practice visits will allow you to receive critical feedback from your colleagues ahead of time so you can resolve any problems before receiving visits from people who might improve your career.

Always provide the visitor with simple, clear directions on how to get to your studio. You may want to type something up that will include directions by various means of transportation: car, bus, subway, or otherwise. It is also a good idea to include a map (even if drawn by hand). Try to do everything within reason to make it as easy as possible for the visitor to find your studio. For example, if your studio is in a remote area and your visitor doesn’t have a car, you may want to offer to meet them or to pick them up, and travel together to your studio.

Remove any possible distractions from your studio. Friends, family, other artists, pets or even a ringing telephone might be distracting to you and your visitors. In some cases, though, having a friend or family member around could also be of great help. You may need to recruit one of them to help you unwrap or hang works, particularly if they are too large to handle alone.

The formula for conducting a successful studio visit is always an enigma to artists. The reason being that each visitor to your studio has different interests and expectations about you and your work. First of all, be yourself. Second, try to feel out the personality and interests of each person visiting your studio. For example, sometimes visitors may prefer to see the work first and then discuss it with you afterwards. At other times, a visitor may be more interested in discussing your ideas first and then looking at your work. Some visitors may not want to hear a word from you at all, while others may only be interested in seeing your studio process. Third, give your visitor some space during the visit and always treat them the same way you would like to be treated when visiting someone. Finally, be prepared to answer any feasible questions about your work (including your influences, concept, iconography, choice of medium, exhibition history, pricing, and more). A successful studio visit may not always end up with an exhibition or sale but you may be able to cultivate a long-lasting relationship with the visitor for future endeavors.

Always have supplementary materials on hand that the visitor can take with them. Those materials can include additional slides, resume, statement, reviews and copies of catalogues. You may also want to have other visual materials, books or references on hand which will help you describe the source of your imagery or roots of your thinking.

Studio visits are exhausting, so you should definitely have some refreshments on hand. Have a couple of different beverages available: coffee, tea, soda, and water. (Alcoholic beverages are optional – just keep in mind that you want your visitor’s full attention.) I also recommend having some snack items available like chips or cookies.

Be prepared to address any financial matters concerning your work: prices, sales tax, framing costs, shipping costs, copyright issues, sales in increments, and more. You should also have invoice forms, receipts and consignment agreements available. Additionally, it is standard practice to offer a discounted price on work sold directly from the studio. Average discounts range from 10-15%, but should not exceed 25%. (It is also a good idea to have packing materials like bubble wrap, glassine and cardboard on hand for immediate sales.) Finally, if a gallery currently represents your work, you should establish with them a standard, written procedure regarding sales from your studio.

For additional information about studio visits, please contact NYFA Source at our toll-free number (800) 232-2789, or send an e-mail to source@nyfa.org.

For an updated and expanded version of the preceding and other Ask Dr. Art articles, please click here.

Also, be sure to check out the Hotline’s new homepage on NYFA’s web site: http://www.nyfa.org/vaih. All Hotline information is now available online (Information Factsheets, State Factsheets, past Ask Dr. Art Articles, and other important listings).