Tripping on your past right now.

Nothing makes you realize how far you have come than tripping over your errors from the past.

A gallery I worked with has sold and the new owners are taking it in a new direction.  I am excited for them but I won’t be staying on.  That is alright, I have been with the space for several years and it is a good time for a fresh start.  When I went in to pick up my work, I was missing a significant piece of work.  It was one I hadn’t seen in a while and was interested in assessing it again.  Turns out it had sold and when the check came, I thought it was a different painting.  The confusion came from my mounting and record keeping process I had when I first consigned with the original gallery owner, or lack of record keeping process.  I also, hadn’t been by in a long while.  Ironic when I think about how I am an advocate of keeping an active relationship with your gallery. The misunderstanding is Completely my fault.  My records were not as accurate as I thought, my relationship had lapsed and I had not physically crossed the threshold for over a year. 

My records are different now, far more accurate with Artwork Archive (an amazing program that charges a nominal monthly fee).  I have better habits recording photos of my inventory because of it.  I visit my other galleries more often now so this won’t happen. My Artwork Archive account keeps track of what is where, when it is supposed to be somewhere else and when it comes home.  Excell was a good starting place but keeping track of over 300 pieces makes it less than ideal.  I have active inventory numbers that give me real time information (size, subject, age, and title), and I can find an image based on the inventory number.

I’m going to tell you now, invest in a good inventory tracker program.  Call your galleries regularly and follow them on social media so you know what is going on with them.  It is so worthwhile to maintain a good relationship, and BE INVOLVED!  I have to get on the phone with the gallery and eat crow, beg forgiveness and thank them for selling the work that they did.  It is, in the end; all my fault and responsibility.