Whether you’re ironing out terms for an exhibit, workshop, commission, or gallery contract, protect your interests by using these four tips to keep you from making the wrong assumptions.

When you submit work for an exhibit or gallery, use the statement that goes along with your selection. When you have work on your Web site, you aren’t bound to having one statement.

There are times when you might need to combine them, but otherwise, don’t allow them to be squishy. One’s about you; the other is about your art. Don’t blow them off. Make them better and use them to help you promote your art.

The premise behind Brilliant Thoughts in a Box is that you aren’t tethered to a specific notebook that you have to have by your side whenever the genius gene decides to come out and play. You can write on anything anywhere, as long as you’re not destroying anyone’s property.

Good stories take time to incubate. They usually don’t roll right off your tongue or flow magically from your fingertips. You have to work at them. Start with the basics of a story, and then allow yourself to elaborate and have fun with it.

How many artist biographies have you read online? How many are memorable? Yep, most will put you straight to sleep. Those artists vying for gallery and museum attention have the most boring bios of all.

Get to the point! Use short sentences, short paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text where necessary. Avoid jargon at all costs. And get rid of extraneous words that hide the good stuff.

No one enjoys being in a situation where they don’t know anyone. Good minglers ask questions and listen, but, as Martinet points out, they also contribute to the conversation.

Think of your bio in terms of a conversation you are initiating with anyone who reads it. It might be their first impression of you. How do you want to come across when you meet someone new?

Many, many people do not go to galleries or museums because they think they don't know enough and they fear feeling stupid. They often think original art is for an elite class and is too expensive for them.

Got a lot of ideas in your head? Or not enough ideas? Need to write a new artist statement? Or come up with more text for your blog and website? Journaling can help you with all of these.

Speaking in public gives you a way to reach out to new audiences and define yourself. It brings your art to life and proves there is a real person behind the work.

What do you want people to say when they look at your art? Notice I didn't ask what are they already saying. I don't really care about that. I asked, what do you want them to say?

A good statement can help you sell your work. Once you develop the language for a statement, the words will make it easier for you to speak to people about your art.

If you don't make it easy for people to enjoy and buy your artwork, they'll move on to another artist.  What do you do when you get to a Web site that is confusing or disorganized?

It's not too late to improve your email. Practice with every message, so that you become known for intelligent, professional email without even having to think about it.