Mary Burzlaff Bostic - Artists & graphic designers market : the most trusted guide to

If youre picking up this book for the first time, you might not know quite how to start using it. Your first impulse might be to flip through and quickly make a mailing list, submitting to everyone with hopes that someone might like your work. Resist that urge. First you have to narrow down the names in this book to those who need your particular art style. Thats what this book is all about. We provide the names and addresses of art buyers along with plenty of marketing tips. You provide the hard work, creativity, and patience necessary to hang in there until work starts coming your way.

The book is divided into market sections, from galleries to art fairs. (See the Table of Contents for a complete list.) Each section begins with an introduction containing information and advice to help you break into that specific market. Listings are the meat of this book. In a nutshell, listings are names, addresses, and contact information for places that buy or commission artwork, along with a description of the type of art they need and their submission preferences.

Throughout this book you will find helpful articles and interviews with working artists and experts from the art world. These articles give you a richer understanding of the marketplace by sharing the featured artists personal experiences and insights. Their stories, and the lessons you can learn from other artists feats and follies, give you an important edge over competition.

Following the instructions in the listings, we suggest you send samples of your work (not originals) to a dozen (or more) targeted markets. The more companies you send to, the greater your chances of a positive response. Establish a system to keep track of who you submit your work to and send follow-up mailings to your target markets at least twice a year.

The first thing youll notice about many of the listings in this book is the group of symbols that appears before the name of each company. (Youll find a quick-reference key to the symbols on the back inside cover of the book.) Heres what each symbol stands for:

Market new to this edition

Canadian market

International market

Market prefers to work with local artists/designers

Each listing contains a description of the artwork and/or services the company prefers. The information often reveals how much freelance artwork is used, whether computer skills are needed, and which software programs are preferred.

In some sections, additional subheads help you identify potential markets. Magazine listings specify needs for cartoons and illustrations. Galleries specify media and style.

Editorial comments, denoted by , give you extra information about markets, such as company awards, mergers and insight into a companys staff or procedures.

It might take a while to get accustomed to the layout and language in the listings. In the beginning, you will encounter some terms and symbols that might be unfamiliar to you. Refer to the Glossary to help you with terms you dont understand.

1. Read the entire listing to decide whether to submit your samples. Do not use this book simply as a mailing list of names and addresses. Reading listings carefully helps you narrow your mailing list and submit appropriate material.

2. Read the description of the company or gallery in the first paragraph of the listing. Then jump to the Needs or Media heading to find out what type of artwork is preferred. Is it the type of artwork you create? This is the first step to narrowing your target market. You should send your samples only to places that need the kind of work you create.

3. Send appropriate submissions. It seems like common sense to research what kind of samples a listing wants before sending off just any artwork you have on hand. But believe it or not, some artists skip this step. Some art directors have pulled their listings from Artists & Graphic Designers Market because theyve received too many inappropriate submissions. Look under the First Contact & Terms heading to find out how to contact the market and what to send. Some companies and publishers are very picky about what kinds of samples they like to see; others are more flexible.

Whats an inappropriate submission? Heres an example: Suppose you want to be a childrens book illustrator. Dont send samples of your cute animal art to Business Law Today magazinethey would rather see law-related subjects. Use the Niche Marketing Index to find listings that accept childrens illustrations. Youd be surprised how many illustrators waste their postage sending the wrong sampleswhich, of course, alienates art directors. Make sure all your mailings are