Today I’m going to show you some ways to add real and perceived value to your giclée
prints which will help you command higher prices for them. If you’ve read my article on
pricing and structuring your art prints for more sales then this is an important part of
developing your higher end product offerings.
Take a look at these possibilities and use them to your advantage at your next art fair
or gallery opening:
Number and Limit Your Editions
A simple and effective way to add real long term value to any of your giclée print
editions is to limit the number of them that you produce. Obviously, this creates
scarcity in your collector’s mind and helps you sell pieces faster and for higher prices.
There are a number of important issues and side-benefits here that you need to be
aware of:
1. Select the size of your editions wisely. In general it is recognized that any edition
over 200 has about the same value as an open edition print, and you should certainly
make your editions smaller than this. In fact, if you’re just starting out and making a
name for yourself then I recommend making much smaller editions - no larger than 80
prints. Aim to create an edition size that you can sell out completely, relatively quickly
(within a few years).
2. Limiting your print editions creates a much higher value in the secondary resale
print market (that is, art buyers who purchased your prints and are now selling them).
Although you don’t reap the direct monetary benefits of these sales, it certainly
increases the value of other editions that you produce and builds your name and
reputation.
3. Be scrupulous. You must decide on an edition size, then stick with it - no
exceptions. Keep track of which numbers have sold and once you sell out, don’t make
more. The ease with which you can reprint giclées makes it very tempting to print “just
one more” when an edition has sold out. This will cause you to lose favor with
collectors and can ruin your reputation. Don’t do it.
Create Artist Proofs
What is an artist proof anyway? That’s somewhat up to your own discretion as an
artist. I suggest one of two options:
1. The first few prints of any given giclée edition can be used as artist proofs. As an
artist works with a giclée printmaker there may be some subtle variations in the first
few prints as colors are manipulated little by little with each reprint in order to achieve
prints closer to the original. Hence, each of these artist proofs are unique and
command higher value.
2. Any prints from your edition can be used as artist proofs. The difference in these
prints is that you personally inspect each artist proof prior to signing off on it. This is a
little less cut and dry than option one, and you’ll need to be able to explain clearly why
your artist proofs are more valuable. However, it makes it easier on you from a cost
perspective since you don’t have to print your artist proofs first, before you can print
standard giclées to offer for sale.
Make sure to limit your artist proofs to only 10% of your total edition at most, and
number them separately from the rest of the edition. For example, let’s say you want to
create an edition of 50 giclée prints for one of your paintings. If you make 10% of them
artist proofs then that would be 5 prints. You would sign these with your name followed
by A/P 1/5, A/P 2/5, etc. Then your standard prints would be signed with your name
followed by 1/45, 2/45, etc, up to 45/45. Therefore, the entire edition results in 50 giclée
prints of that given image, and it is clear to collector’s what they are buying.
Increase your price accordingly for artist proofs. If you sell standard limited edition
giclées for $195, then an artist proof could be sold for $245 or $295. You’ll need to
decide on that yourself.
Finish Your Giclée Prints by Hand.
I consider this a step below “embellishing” prints, which I will talk about in a moment.
Hand-finish your giclées by brushing on a varnish coating - this will create brush
marks on the surface of the print giving it a more hand painted look. Experiment with
different coating mediums to give you the look you want and that compliments your
artwork. For painters who use thin layers of acrylic or oil you can simply brush on
varnish with a big brush. For those whose originals are impasto high build acrylics
and oils, you may want to experiment with some of the gel coatings that are available.
These will allow you to create more texture on the print.
Embellish Your Giclées
This has become a very popular way for artists to add a lot of value to giclée prints. It
works best on canvas prints, but can be done on fine art papers too.
Once you have the finished giclée in hand, go back to the easel with it and paint over
portions of it with real paint. Generally match the colors and brush strokes as they are
in the original so that you give it the same look and feel, but don’t get caught up in
being exact. The point here is to create a unique piece from the print. Embellishing
works especially well with prints of impasto oils and acrylics. Feel free to really add a
lot of paint, heavy brush strokes, and originality to the print. You’ll be able to show
potential collector’s who can’t afford your originals, and they will be impressed.
Here’s the catch - make your embellished editions very limited. You must make them
valuable and rare, almost as rare as the original. To begin with try no more than five
per edition. Once you’re selling a lot of work in multiple galleries you can progress to
20 or so, but be wary of making more than that. They will lose uniqueness. Your target
buyer here is people who have already purchased originals, or are one step away from
purchasing originals, so think high-end. Don’t under price these embellished prints -
they have your original paintwork on them.
All of these are simple and fairly work-free ways to increase the selling prices of you
giclée prints anywhere.
Though many people may disagree with me, I also strongly suggest keeping some of
your paintings as unlimited open edition prints (albeit in smaller sizes, no
embellishment etc.). This allows you to continue to market to lower priced markets
and new or young collectors who may not yet (notice the word yet) have the financial
wherewithal to purchase your originals or high priced limited editions. This is a key to
building a larger group of loyal collectors in the future.
prints which will help you command higher prices for them. If you’ve read my article on
pricing and structuring your art prints for more sales then this is an important part of
developing your higher end product offerings.
Take a look at these possibilities and use them to your advantage at your next art fair
or gallery opening:
Number and Limit Your Editions
A simple and effective way to add real long term value to any of your giclée print
editions is to limit the number of them that you produce. Obviously, this creates
scarcity in your collector’s mind and helps you sell pieces faster and for higher prices.
There are a number of important issues and side-benefits here that you need to be
aware of:
1. Select the size of your editions wisely. In general it is recognized that any edition
over 200 has about the same value as an open edition print, and you should certainly
make your editions smaller than this. In fact, if you’re just starting out and making a
name for yourself then I recommend making much smaller editions - no larger than 80
prints. Aim to create an edition size that you can sell out completely, relatively quickly
(within a few years).
2. Limiting your print editions creates a much higher value in the secondary resale
print market (that is, art buyers who purchased your prints and are now selling them).
Although you don’t reap the direct monetary benefits of these sales, it certainly
increases the value of other editions that you produce and builds your name and
reputation.
3. Be scrupulous. You must decide on an edition size, then stick with it - no
exceptions. Keep track of which numbers have sold and once you sell out, don’t make
more. The ease with which you can reprint giclées makes it very tempting to print “just
one more” when an edition has sold out. This will cause you to lose favor with
collectors and can ruin your reputation. Don’t do it.
Create Artist Proofs
What is an artist proof anyway? That’s somewhat up to your own discretion as an
artist. I suggest one of two options:
1. The first few prints of any given giclée edition can be used as artist proofs. As an
artist works with a giclée printmaker there may be some subtle variations in the first
few prints as colors are manipulated little by little with each reprint in order to achieve
prints closer to the original. Hence, each of these artist proofs are unique and
command higher value.
2. Any prints from your edition can be used as artist proofs. The difference in these
prints is that you personally inspect each artist proof prior to signing off on it. This is a
little less cut and dry than option one, and you’ll need to be able to explain clearly why
your artist proofs are more valuable. However, it makes it easier on you from a cost
perspective since you don’t have to print your artist proofs first, before you can print
standard giclées to offer for sale.
Make sure to limit your artist proofs to only 10% of your total edition at most, and
number them separately from the rest of the edition. For example, let’s say you want to
create an edition of 50 giclée prints for one of your paintings. If you make 10% of them
artist proofs then that would be 5 prints. You would sign these with your name followed
by A/P 1/5, A/P 2/5, etc. Then your standard prints would be signed with your name
followed by 1/45, 2/45, etc, up to 45/45. Therefore, the entire edition results in 50 giclée
prints of that given image, and it is clear to collector’s what they are buying.
Increase your price accordingly for artist proofs. If you sell standard limited edition
giclées for $195, then an artist proof could be sold for $245 or $295. You’ll need to
decide on that yourself.
Finish Your Giclée Prints by Hand.
I consider this a step below “embellishing” prints, which I will talk about in a moment.
Hand-finish your giclées by brushing on a varnish coating - this will create brush
marks on the surface of the print giving it a more hand painted look. Experiment with
different coating mediums to give you the look you want and that compliments your
artwork. For painters who use thin layers of acrylic or oil you can simply brush on
varnish with a big brush. For those whose originals are impasto high build acrylics
and oils, you may want to experiment with some of the gel coatings that are available.
These will allow you to create more texture on the print.
Embellish Your Giclées
This has become a very popular way for artists to add a lot of value to giclée prints. It
works best on canvas prints, but can be done on fine art papers too.
Once you have the finished giclée in hand, go back to the easel with it and paint over
portions of it with real paint. Generally match the colors and brush strokes as they are
in the original so that you give it the same look and feel, but don’t get caught up in
being exact. The point here is to create a unique piece from the print. Embellishing
works especially well with prints of impasto oils and acrylics. Feel free to really add a
lot of paint, heavy brush strokes, and originality to the print. You’ll be able to show
potential collector’s who can’t afford your originals, and they will be impressed.
Here’s the catch - make your embellished editions very limited. You must make them
valuable and rare, almost as rare as the original. To begin with try no more than five
per edition. Once you’re selling a lot of work in multiple galleries you can progress to
20 or so, but be wary of making more than that. They will lose uniqueness. Your target
buyer here is people who have already purchased originals, or are one step away from
purchasing originals, so think high-end. Don’t under price these embellished prints -
they have your original paintwork on them.
All of these are simple and fairly work-free ways to increase the selling prices of you
giclée prints anywhere.
Though many people may disagree with me, I also strongly suggest keeping some of
your paintings as unlimited open edition prints (albeit in smaller sizes, no
embellishment etc.). This allows you to continue to market to lower priced markets
and new or young collectors who may not yet (notice the word yet) have the financial
wherewithal to purchase your originals or high priced limited editions. This is a key to
building a larger group of loyal collectors in the future.
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Adding Value to Your Giclees
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| © 2009 Print That Image, All Rights Reserved P.O. Box 222, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302 |
This article is copyright © 2009 Chris Kennedy, www.PrintThatImage.com.
PrintThatImage.com offers giclee printing in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and South
Florida Area. We also provide giclee and fine art printing services online nationwide
to fine artists, photographers, galleries, and frame shops.
PrintThatImage.com offers giclee printing in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and South
Florida Area. We also provide giclee and fine art printing services online nationwide
to fine artists, photographers, galleries, and frame shops.
Decorative Printing Specialists (954) 353-1095