Benefit Four: Responsibiltiy and Committment to the Co-Op Gallery Experience by Karrie Ross

August 10, 2010
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

“The more you give the more comes your way.”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross from her point of view. Reprinted with her permission.

Responsibility and Commitment: without these two qualities, where are you? Not to far along in following your dreams I would suspect. Remember, You make it happen. When you are a part of a co-op gallery or group you accept the responsibility to participate, to help it grow and expand. From the moment your name is posted, you supply a bio, images of your art, your email, you start getting notices and you respond … this action grows over time and as you respond more there becomes more to respond to… but without your commitment and feeling of being responsible to respond… nothing happens… you are just a blob. Being a member, a part of a greater community… brings into your life the quality of having and giving from another perspective.

Here are thoughts for being responsible and committed:

  • Stepping up to the challenge: Think positive thoughts. Start slowly if you have to, get a feeling for the general membership and group and figure out where you fit, where the skills you have will make the biggest difference.
  • Supporting the cause: if there is a need, speak up, take the challenge and do it… whether its changing a sitting date or volunteering for some part of a project… start getting your energy moving in the right direction… and by participating with a group your energy is no longer alone… it has support and gets recharged.
  • We’re in this together: the more you join in the more you are joined… the value from what you’ll learn and gain by doing your part will be returned in volume in different ways. Sometimes giving is just a matter of speaking your expertise about how to do something or making a referral.

For me, “it”, life,  doesn’t work without commitment… being responsible for your own success and goodwill.

Have you thought about joining a community in your area or starting one? Be sure to check out your local opportunities… you’ll be glad you did… the benefit will be amazing!

Come visit us at the gallery or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for our mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on her fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her at contact for more information.
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Benefit Three: Gallery Artists need to know how to be Business People too! by Karrie Ross

August 4, 2010

Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

“It’s not just the art that keeps the gallery going.”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross from her point of view. Reprinted with her permission.

Learning how to Run A Business: Being a part of a Co-op Gallery we all get to learn about the back-end of running the business.  This involves organizing the member participation, making sure the gallery is occupied during business hours, scheduling the solo, group, juried and special monthly shows; general business and bookkeeping and artist payments; organizing call-for-entries submissions; advertising, publicity, promotion… and a lot more. After awhile, everyone just seems to find their place and step-up into what needs to be done. Being part of a community, helping it move along, helps create a positive energy that supports its efforts.

Here are some parts that help make it run smoothly:

  • The Galley Book: There is a three-ring binder presented to each new member and includes the members contact list, how to write up a sale, what to do when sitting the gallery, how to secure a solo show, where to send PR notices for each event or solo show …and more.
  • Member Participation: each member is given an orientation of how and what to do to be a part of the gallery. And each member just learns to step-up when needed, this helps form the bond of a community that is successful.
  • Member Roles: we have a president, treasure and secretary as well as committees that help run the gallery events, such as: monthly shows, show hanging, studio tour, public relations, ad placement, website maintenance and any others that are needed.
  • Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups: this is a must have for any group that needs to keep in touch and encourage member participation. This way the group is always on the same page for each event or for sending out call-for-entry notices.

Have you thought about joining a community in your area or starting one? The next benefit I’ll talk about is the Responsibility / Commitment aspect of the co-op gallery.

Come visit us at the gallery or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for our mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on her fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her at contact for more information.

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Benefit Two: The Community by Karrie Ross

June 15, 2010

Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine Artist

“Having someone in the same boat helps get you there faster.”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross. Reprinted with her permission.

Community: a group of people joining together and having the same interests, work etc. in common.  Artists with similar goals and commitment for making something happen and sharing with the group. Where all members put their time and expertise into benefiting the groups success. A co-op has committees assigned for the variety of tasks necessary to run a successful gallery. From member selection, monthly shows, annual tours to organizing all the events for the year… this cannot be done without community participation.

  • Artist Members: benefiting from their knowledge, expertise and experience that you might not have and it’s always great inspiration to talk with other artists about what they are doing, how they do it – their process, where they go – other galleries or groups, who they talk to – reps or journalists. Read More »
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Benefit One: The Gallery Space by Karrie Ross

June 8, 2010

Karrie Ross, Los Angeles Fine artist

“If art is not seen, how will the artist get known?”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross from her point of view. Reprinted with her permission.

The Gallery Space: the public space where an artist can have artwork shown each month and have the opportunity for solo and group shows each year.

This is the most obvious reason for an artist to want to join a co-op artist community gallery. So I’ll talk about it first, but it might not be the most important reason.

  • Exposure on a continuous basis for both the artist and their work.
  • Solo Show: the opportunity to have a solo show as the gallery calendar allows. This adds to the artists exhibitions listing and gives credit to their artwork.
  • Theme shows: Group Shows: usually taking up the whole gallery several times a year offering greater exposure. This adds to the artists exhibitions listing and gives credit to their artwork. Read More »
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Benefits of being a part of a Co-Op Community Gallery by Karrie Ross

May 25, 2010

Karrie Ross, Artist

“If art is not created, how can art change OUR world?”

A series by Artist Karrie Ross. Reprinted with her permission.

Benefits of the Co-Op Gallery: One might not need to look too hard for a co-op gallery… it seems you can find them everywhere there are artists who are excited about the work they do and about sharing it with their community and the world. Sometimes it might not be a gallery but a bi-yearly art show like the LA Brewery ArtWalk or a non-profit event like the yearly Venice ArtWalk and Auction, but the goal of getting art out into the public’s eyes, getting noticed and making a difference, is the same.

Here are the benefits I’ll be discussing in the next posts:

  • Gallery Space: this is the public space where the art is put on display.
  • Community: this is made up of the members of the gallery, the artists.
  • Running a Business: this involves organizing the member participation, the solo, group, juried and special monthly shows, general business, advertising, publicity, promotion.
  • Responsibility/Commitment: of being a member and being a part of a greater community.

How can this change how you look at your art and how you are getting it out in the world? Let us know your thoughts below in the comments section.

In the next benefit I’ll talk about the Gallery Space aspect of the co-op gallery.

Come visit us at the gallery or keep up with what we’re doing. Sign up for our mailing list on the right.
Karrie Ross
Los Angeles Fine Artist

Karrie Ross is a Los Angeles Fine Artist who writes about the fine art business and process. She is available for educational panel discussions on fine art and process. Her artwork is available for solo or group show opportunities. Please contact her at Karrie Ross for more information.

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