Why only two at this time?
I'm only working with two galleries, for these two reasons…
I) It's tough for independent retailers
I grew my gallery representation rapidly
When I began making prints, I soon collected representation in six galleries distributed around Yorkshire.
Since then, four have undergone changes of ownership, or activities, or closed. One of them went through all the above.
Each one was a story of a lovely business turning to dust, breaking everyone's hearts.
Most aren't 'just business', they're a real investment of heart and soul for the owners. It's why it's so important to support these independent retailers. They make all our lives a richer experience.
I don't stand with artists who resent paying a commission that helps a galleries keep the lights on all day.
Selling art through a bricks and mortar shop is hard work. With the bills that websites don't have to shoulder, and no 'google' to bring people off the streets to their door, they have to do it all themselves.
Buying art via these galleries is a joy though. You can go and look at the art while asking questions of knowledgable people. It's the way to buy art, imho.
They've of course had covid to deal with and the cost of living driving up bills as we all have.
No wonder I've lost four galleries to the pressures of doing business.
II) a perfect storm
It can take a long time to get back up when you're knocked down
This is not a big deal, nor crying a sob story, it just 'is'. I was struck by lightening. It happened.
Not literally struck by lightening, but by a serious illness that took me out for over a year. I'd successfully built my representation to six galleries, and then boom!
Things got neglected, well, everything got neglected except getting on with it. Once stuff gets neglected, it rapidly becomes a mountain to sort out (Doesn't it).
And that's without the “one thing after another” we've had come over the hill in the last few years!
So what with lightening and the one thing after another on top of it, getting back on my feet turned into a never ending mission. Acquiring galleries couldn't get near the top of my to‑do list.
Since the lightening though, I've been working hard and to a plan – sort of – a long term plan. Once I've got this website sorted out with baskets and whistles, I'll be at a point where I can finally devote time to my gallery representation.