One of the greatest things about being an artist is that you are your own marketer. You get to choose how you spread your artistic self around, what media you use to share your work with the world, and yourself!
Having a show means having your work displayed for people to see and admire. It also means more exposure for you as an artist. More attention equals more opportunities for business and growth.
This article will talk you through the process of hosting a gallery exhibition from start to finish, including all the legal paperwork needed to make it happen. So put away those crayons and this article will give you some creative release!
Art galleries have become one of the most popular ways to promote artists and their art. Most artists don’t know anything about putting on a gallery event until they decide to do it themselves. By and large, it’s pretty easy to do, but there are still a few things to consider.
In this article I’ll go into detail about how to host your first solo exhibition at a professional art gallery. At the end, I’ll include links to some free resources where you can read up on how other artists managed their shows.
Van Gogh’s “The Potato Eaters”
In this painting, Vincent van Gogh depicts five individuals in an outdoor setting with what looks to be a potato or vegetable dish. All of them are looking at the same object, which is described as being like a skull with green skin. They seem very focused on it, almost staring into each other’s eyes.
There is one person who has his hand up towards the stomach area where the skin seems to have been peeled away, revealing muscles and bone. The person holding the plate appears to be eating the flesh that was once covered in skin.
Van Gogh painted this picture around the same time he completed another work called “Starry Night”. Both paintings use bright colors and focus on nature, but here there is more detail and emphasis on human characteristics.
Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”
One of the most famous paintings in all of art history is “The Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh. The painting was completed in 1890 and depicts around twenty-seven sunflower heads, each one slightly different in color and shape.
Van Gogh painted this work during his time at an asylum where he lived with mental health issues. He used bright, bold colors to portray energy and life which makes the painting very vibrant.
This painting is considered to be among his best works due to its use of perspective and texture. By using these concepts, it becomes clear that the viewer is looking into the depths of the flowers as well as onto the surface of the canvas. This effect helps show how we sometimes lose sight of what really matters in our lives.
In addition to showing us this, it also reminds us that even though things may seem dark or difficult right now, there are always opportunities for growth.
Van Gogh’s “Irises”
The most famous work of Vincent van Gogh is probably his series of sunflowers or iris paintings. He produced around 30 pieces in this series, all within a two-year period between May to July 1888.
He first painted some twenty-three flowers before moving onto other subjects such as wheat fields and olive trees. However, it was not until he painted his last twelve that he fully focused on producing only irises.
Why did it take him so long to perfect this flower?
It took him almost a year to find one good enough to include in the series. When he finally did, he spent hours painting it — up to 16 hours at a time!
Van Gogh would often start by drawing the lines of the leaf pattern then adding color later. Some of these leaves could take days to paint because they have to be done with great accuracy.
When he wasn’t painting, he’d sketch out ideas for new works or just doodle. He also loved writing letters which may explain the large amount of handwriting he left behind.
Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”
The painting we are going to look at today is one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works, and it is very much like his style. He painted this work in 1888, when he was only twenty-three years old. It is an example of Impressionist art, which means it is completely influenced by nature.
In this case, the setting is night with heavy use of bright colors and vivid contrasts. There is also a strong sense of space, as you can see from how far away the sky extends. All these qualities make the painting feel intimate, just like a conversation between you and the natural world.
If you watch the painting closely, you will notice that there are several figures in the scene. These include a man walking down the beach, two people sitting together, and another person standing next to a boat. Each figure contributes something different to the picture, and all of them play important roles.
Van Gogh’s “The Night Watch”
In this work, we see one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings. The painting is titled The Night Watch and it was completed in 1888. It features five men dressed in military uniforms looking at what appears to be an unfinished canvas or picture.
At first glance, you might assume that they are just talking but upon closer inspection, you can tell that something isn’t right about the picture. There seems to be too much going on in the scene for it to be a simple conversation.
It’s very possible that these people were actually there when the painting was done and therefore know more than us about what happened to cause the picture to reach its current state.
Van Gogh’s “The Allegory of Spring”
The most famous work in this show is probably Vincent van Gogh’s painting, titled “The Allegory of Spring.” It was completed in 1888 by the artist at his home outside Paris. In it, he painted what looks like an olive tree with leaves that are brown and yellow.
But look closer and you will see there’s something strange about it.
Van Gogh’s “The Peasantry”
In this work, we see a beautiful landscape with rolling hills and lush green grass as the setting. The main focus of the painting is a man in his late 20s or early 30s sitting on the ground with his hands folded. He has long hair that almost touches his knees and he looks directly at the viewer.
He seems to be thinking about something very seriously while staring intensely into space with a look of wonder. This is clearly not an ordinary person nor is it an average scene. There are no other people in the picture except for him, making this piece all the more powerful.
Because of his serious expression, you get the sense that he was really contemplating what he had just done before going back home. He painted himself completely out of context and made a bold statement by showing us the beauty inside and outside. His mind was working overtime trying to process everything he experienced during these few hours.
This is one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings because of its profound message. It reminds us that life will always have unexpected detours, but if we keep ourselves focused on living our lives sincerely then we will achieve true happiness.
Van Gogh’s “The Potato Eaters”
In this painting, Vincent van Gogh depicted himself, his friend Paul Gaugin, and two other people eating potatoes with knife and fork in an outdoor setting. The three men are surrounded by green grass and tall plants, making it look as if they were sitting outside next to a garden.
Van Gogh painted this work just one week before he took his own life. This show is particularly powerful because of that connection.
Many artists create art for their personal happiness, but what makes this work special is that it was also intended to help others find inner peace or at least take a break from daily struggles.
Not only does the painting depict a pleasant scene, it also depicts someone who has found contentment through food. As you look closer at the individuals, you can see that each person is focused on their meal while simultaneously looking into space with a relaxed expression.
This shows that even though they may have had a difficult day, they have accepted themselves and let go. It is also very inspiring to see how well loved these people are, especially Paul Gaugin, who lived a mostly reclusive lifestyle up until his death several years later.
