About getting your work into galleries...

If you were only rejected once, that's pathetic... you need to be rejected a hundred times before you can say you have truly experienced rejection.  And then, you're probably onto something.  That is to say, your art is probably hitting-on something great which the rest of the world hasn't caught up to yet.  That, I suppose, is flattery.  This sometimes can be a sign of great art and art that is profound, long lasting and transcends fads and art trends.

Nevertheless, if you are hell-bent on getting your work into galleries, you can usually find a gallery that will take your work.  It just may not be the high-end gallery you'd wished for.  We can't all be instant superstars.  To start, your venue may be to show in boutiques, coffee houses, restaurants, lobbies, etc.  They usually don't take a commission in exchange for being able to hang your work and to provide their clientele with original art.  I know artists who do very well selling out of small restaurants and other local establishments.  Also, interior designers love having access to your studio and reselling your art to their clients.  Send them updates of your new work routinely.  You may consider selling originals or prints through online venues such as your own website or blog, ebay or etsy.com.

Word-of-mouth is very powerful.  And, if you haven't already, you should have a mailing list of your clients, followers and interested peeps.  Oh yeah, and I've heard facebook works for people?!  Try creating hype on idiegogo.com or Kickstarter.com.  Try posting videos of your process and studio life on youtube or vimeo.  A video clip of an artist bio can be very powerful.  For example, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU7V4GyEuXA

Anyway, there are many other venues other than galleries.  Anything you can do to create news and hype regarding you and your art is what it's all about.  Just be creative.  Galleries, in some respects, are the old way of thinking for a plethora of reasons (another conversation to be continued).  If you can't tell, I have a particular disdain for galleries and institutions altogether.  They have their place, I suppose, but I really question they're existence and their service to my art and art in the 21st century.

But what the heck do I know?!  I modestly sell out of my studio and rarely have gallery shows.  I do pretty well.  I would say this about my work... I paint for myself and with the idea that I don't care if anyone likes my work or if it's sellable.  I don't care if it's considered good or bad.  I don't mind suffering.  I paint for the sheer act of painting in-and-of itself and all that it has to offer.  Painting is a process of discovery and learning.  The process has much to reveal about the physical medium, the human spirit and the power of observation that may not be realized otherwise.

Don't worry about selling in Galleries.  Paint for yourself and only for yourself.  Paint for the process.  Just paint.  Keep in mind that you cannot hide your intentions when it comes to painting.  The final painting tells all--it reveals your intentions, your desires, your fears, your joys and whatever else.  You cannot hide them without being found out.

You are never as more naked and exposed as when you paint.