Is this “Good” Art?
Every so often, I find myself in a conversation with an artist who has just seen something—at a show, online, or even hanging in my gallery—and can’t quite believe it’s…
Why Slowdowns Are a Gift: The Case for Making More Art During Downturns
In recent articles, I’ve talked about how seasonality shapes sales and how economic uncertainty influences buyer behavior more than actual financial conditions. These patterns matter because they help us understand…
When a Best-Seller Takes a Turn: How Artistic Pivots Shape Sales
Every artist evolves. New interests emerge, techniques develop, and creative impulses shift. That evolution is healthy and often necessary. But in the gallery world, I’ve seen a pattern repeat itself…
The Surprising Power of Low- to Mid-Priced Work: Why Bread-and-Butter Sales Matter
One of the most consistent patterns I’ve seen in gallery sales—across many seasons and market conditions—is the quiet strength of mid-priced work. Artists often imagine that the most important momentum…
Selling Art in Uncertain Times
It’s been a wild few years for headlines. Markets up, markets down. Inflation fears, election cycles, global tension, interest rates, banking scares, booming months followed by surprisingly quiet ones. It’s…
Seasonal Cycles in the Art Market: Reading the Rhythm Instead of the Noise
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned through running a gallery in Scottsdale is that the art market doesn’t move in a straight line. It rises, plateaus, softens, and…
The Hidden Risk of Overpricing: Why Galleries Raising Prices Too High Can Hurt You
I recently received an email from an artist who discovered—much to their surprise—that a gallery had marked up their work to nearly four times the established retail price. The artist…
When Gallery Sales Stall: How to Reopen Communication and Regain Momentum
Not long ago, an artist reached out with a familiar dilemma: their work had been in a gallery for over a year without a single sale. They weren’t sure how…
The Artist’s Guide to Commission Agreements: How to Protect Your Process Without Overcomplicating the Experience
If you’ve followed the earlier articles in this series—Should You Take That Commission? A Clear Guide to Knowing When to Say Yes (and When to Walk Away) and Communication Makes…
Communication Makes or Breaks a Commission: How to Set Expectations and Establish a Realistic Timeline
If you’ve read the first article in this series, Should You Take That Commission? A Clear Guide to Knowing When to Say Yes (and When to Walk Away) (https://reddotblog.com/should-you-take-that-commission-a-clear-guide-to-knowing-when-to-say-yes-and-when-to-walk-away/), you…