As you get busier with more shows and other events, it becomes increasingly important to keep an accurate, up-to-date inventory of all your art pieces and their locations. Seldom will all your art be in the same place or at the same event at one time. Obviously, the more involved you become, the more locations your artworks will be spread across.
Exhibits run for varying lengths of time, and each spot has its own drop-off and pick-up dates. And, if part of your inventory is in galleries, you need an easy reference to know what’s available to take to art shows and festivals.
This can seem a little overwhelming, especially if you’re prolific and/or frequently participate in exhibits and festivals. But once you get a system down for keeping and maintaining an organized log, it becomes perfectly manageable.
For me, a spreadsheet works best. It has fields for art image, size, format, price, location, and drop-off and pick-up deadlines. I also include fields for whether the item sold, and if so, when and at which event. This spreadsheet helps me manage the business side of being an artist and plan for future events. It also helps ensure I have enough art on hand to meet upcoming commitments and to seek out new opportunities.
