Art for Cash: An Artist's Guide to Selling Work

Being an artist is a tough gig. You must have talent and time to spend on your art, and find a way to pay for materials and bills. Plus, in the art world, you're only famous when you're dead, so it's very hard to break even or make a profit when you choose artist as your profession.

The idea of selling art is always a goal, but most of the time there is a lack of showcase space and demand. Still, Denver is rich with artists and art-lovers. It's just hard to seek them out. Fortunately, we've done the legwork for you.

Since there are far too many to name, we've chosen three diverse favorites: Pablo's Coffee, Kitchen's Ink Tattoo shop and Art Gallery, and City 'O City, all places that offer their walls to local artists to showcase their work to potential buyers. Whether you're in the art buying or selling market, all three places are charming, depending on the type of atmosphere you prefer.

Pablo's Coffee (630 E 6th Ave) is a cozy little shop in the historic Alamo Placita neighborhood and is all about recycling and art. This tiny coffee joint has couches, chairs, and tables crammed into a narrow space. The place itself is a work of art, with a checkerboard pattern on the ceiling, odd glass light fixtures, and the personal touch of doodles drawn directly on the wall. People rave about the delicious coffee and the ever-changing variety of art that is featured each month.

You can't run a successful coffee shop business with drab decorations and fixtures. So like many businesses, Pablo's showcases one local artist a month. The process is simple: Artists see work displayed and then approach the owner or manager on-shift.

All artist inquires are sent to Jeremy Turner, who makes the decisions concerning the art displayed in the store. Jeremy looks over the artist's portfolio and potential pieces. If the artist is selected, her pieces will be displayed for one month on Pablo's walls.

Unlike many upscale galleries in the Denver area, there is no fee to display the chosen artwork, and Pablo's doesn't set the prices for the art, the artist does. So don't try to haggle with the cashier; she can't get you a deal. If you want to buy a piece, you can buy it that day, unlike other places where you have to contact the artist. So if you're tired of the stuck-up attitude of Starbucks and crave a good cup of coffee, Pablo's is the place to brew all your artistic needs.

Several students have gotten a tattoo (or two), and sometimes you just can't convince a friend to tag along while you get inked. Thus, a lot of time is spent staring at the same spot on the wall. But at Kitchen's Ink Tattoo shop and Art gallery (757 Santa Fe Dr), the boring spot on the wall isn't a problem. Unlike most tattoo shops, pages of flash tattoos aren't anywhere to be seen. Sculptures and large extravagant paintings cover the lobby and front desk inside the small shop.

Joe Manly is the owner and operator of Kitchen's Ink and has been working in the industry for over two decades. He also makes all the decisions about the art hung inside his shop. Like most places, each artist gets only one month of showcase time in the shop, but space is limited, so usually only one or two pieces are displayed at a time. There is a waiting period, and currently Kitchen's Ink is booked four months out. When you've gotten lost in a piece, find out the price before you're sucked in for good.

Joe does not set the prices for the art, but most prices are fairly reasonable. The artist can choose how expensive the piece is. So if you're after a detailed tattoo that is decently priced but want to skip that boring white wall, Kitchen's Ink can get you covered. 

Many businesses offer food and a bar at all hours of the day, but not many offer drinks, food, and detailed local art that pulls you into a different world. Your body might be at the bar, you are far away lost in the imagination of the artist. At City 'O City (206 E 13th Ave), you can escape nightly.

Complete with large bouncy booths, private tables and a large hand-carved wooden bar right out of the old west, City 'O City looks artsy. If the tasty food and interesting old west bar wasn't enough, the place also showcases local artists.

City 'O City employee Blair Pascal, an art student, chooses what artists are displayed in the business. Most of the artists are classmates referred to her or people she knows in person. Freelance artists are also welcome to come in and impress Pascal to get their work featured at the hip Capitol Hill joint. Another plus: There isn't a charge to have your art on the walls of City 'O City-only talent is required. City 'O City does it all from great food and drinks to interesting ever-changing art right in the heart of the city.

After enjoying some coffee at Pablo's in the early morning, being impulsive and getting a tattoo at Kitchen's Ink, and then finishing your night out getting smashed at City 'O City, you'll feel like you've been in an art gallery all day. Whether you're looking for a place to show off your latest collection or trying to find a piece of local art to spruce up that dingy apartment, Denver has you covered.