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lartist518 Posts:2
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| 07/11/2007 8:35 PM |
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| I'm new to this forum, but I was wondering if anybody could offer some advise about selling canvas giclees of my art. I have about 45 left of a run of 50, and would like, if possible, to find someone to buy them out. Any ideas? |
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bjdavey
 Posts:37
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| 07/14/2007 1:25 PM |
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Your question begs a question. I'm wondering why you printed 50 giclees of the same image. The primary appeal the POD (print-on-demand) process is avoiding a big initial investment in a long print run. The horse is out of the barn on this and as such it's too late to shut the door, but please consider it for the future. If your giclee printer convinced you this was a good idea, I'd consider other options for future work.
Your question reads as if you are hoping to find someone to purchase the remaining 45 pieces in one transaction. If this is the case, it's wishful thinking on your part, particularly if you expect to keystone (A keystone markup is a markup that is equal to the cost of the merchandise, essentially taking the cost of an item and doubling it to determine the next level, wholesale or retail, price.) the images. Established artists with loyal collectors and a network of galleries would not expect to be able to sell 45 prints to one person or company, unless it was a wholesaler who had a market for a certain look. As it is, most established artists have to work pretty hard to sell 45 prints of any image.
If you are unknown without a following and have a single image, as your question implies, then you need to pull back from trying to think about selling a bunch at one time to selling one at a time. This will require some time, effort and expense from you. Typically, galleries and collectors want to see multiple images from an artist. It allows them to see a range of the artist's creativity and assures them the artist is committed to making more art should their interest be piqued enough to purchase the first image. This is especially true if the work has a decorative quality to it.
To sell them locally one-by-one, you will need them to be framed, or if on canvas, stretched as a gallery wrap or image wrap. The difference is the former has the whole image showing with the sides painted a complemetary color. The latter wraps part of the image around the sides. In other words, they need to be ready to be hung as finished pieces.
I would start selling to family, friends, neighbors and so on. If you can find some locally owned coffee shops and gift shops, or artist consignment shops, those are all good places to get the pieces shown and eventually sold. You might talk with local picture framers to ask if they would hang the piece for you on consignment. If you are already giving them framing/stretching work, all the better. That could be part of your negotiation with them.
With a single image, it would be a waste of time to start a blog, Web site or setup an gallery at one of the many online sites, as would approaching publishers, art reps, galleries and wholesalers. That said if you have more work, even if just originals, you should be working all those angles. If you persistently pursue finding creative ways to sell the image, you will prevail and it will all be great experience for the next time. Best wishes for success! |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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lartist518 Posts:2
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| 07/16/2007 10:51 AM |
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Thanks for your advice, or more appropriately - opinion. To address the first thought, they were printed 4 years ago on the basis that my so-called "representative" would do just that and handle the distribution. Unfortunately, I was left with the responsibility. Being an artist, not an agent, it is my talent to create art, not sell. As for P.O.D., at that time, is was not an option.
My preference would be to find another distributor or something to the liking that can handle things from here. I am not in-experienced in gallery sales, quiet the opposite. I deal 7 days a week with Thomas Kinkade. Though his artwork isn't my taste, it obviously is to others.
I am a self-taught artist, professional now for over 20 years. I don't have the time to go "door-to-door" and find galleries to try to sell them. Thank you for your advice, all the same. |
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bjdavey
 Posts:37
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| 07/17/2007 3:47 PM |
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You are welcome. Sorry if I came off pedantic or brusque; it was not the intention. Your subject title is selling giclees, but you say in your reply P.O.D. was not an option. To my mind, a giclee is just a fancy word for a digitally printed reproduction and is synonymous with P.O.D.(Print on demand.) Regardless, the crux of the question is how can you find someone to buy them out.
Since you work in a gallery, it's likely you have picture frame moulding reps and maybe some art reps who come calling. Often mouding reps do a little art repping on the side since they are already on the road and know the territory. If they don't personally handle art, they might know someone who does. It could be that the easiest path for you would be to use the resource of the gallery to seek a rep for your work. If you don't normally have interaction with such reps in the gallery and feel uncomfortable approaching them on company time, just ask for their card and tell them someone you know would like to contact them. You can follow up when you are not working. It will still be tough slogging to get someone to pick up one image. You should offer to show them any originals you have that are candidates for the giclee market.
Alternatively, you could try an ad on Craigslist.org in your area, or freebies in weekly classifieds and on their online components to seek a rep. Ocassionally, you can find ads in the classifieds of Decor, Art World News and Art Business News from companies looking to buy bulk prints. Or, you could put the whole lot on eBay to see what happens. Other than these suggestions, I think it will take an investment of time and money to find a buyer or rep to help you. Best wishes for success with your decision. |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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dlmtle
 Posts:86
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| 07/21/2007 12:15 PM |
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what is the difference between gyclee and print on demand quality wise do you have someone that you use to do your prints that you would reccommend that is inexpensive, but good qualitly?
Thanks, Dawna |
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Dawna my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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dlmtle
 Posts:86
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| 07/21/2007 5:57 PM |
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| I found some websites that do on demand printing and do not charte any up front fees. they handle all the orders etc and then pay you once you have more than $50.00 oweing to you. how do I find out if they are a reputable company beofore i go signing up and sending them my digital files? |
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Dawna my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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peterworsley
 Posts:5
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| 07/21/2007 6:48 PM |
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I have found Imagekind.com to be good. I link to them from my website, after putting all my digital image up at their site.
Peter Worsley www.peterworsley.com |
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I paint interesting people. |
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bjdavey
 Posts:37
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| 07/21/2007 7:07 PM |
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| Imagekind is a very good site. Check out the boards on www.wetcanvas.com and www.onlinevisualartists.com to see what other artists have to say about it and other sites that promote, sell, print and fulfill images for artists. |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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dlmtle
 Posts:86
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| 07/22/2007 12:45 AM |
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Thank you, that was one of the ones I was looking at. do you make much money doing this/ I was also looking to evenetually get some greeting cards and post cards etc made up to seel at the local farmers market. just have to get up the initial moneys. ( I don't think they do those sizes. but it is an intriguing concept as I have little to know money to get me started in the business end of things.) I just wanted to make sure it wasn't to good to be true LOL.
Also any advice on writing a stetment for my website? my dad-in-law is putting one together for me and I have no idea what to say on it?
Thanks, Dawna |
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Dawna my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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bjdavey
 Posts:37
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| 07/26/2007 2:36 AM |
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Dawna,
It's nice of your in-law to help you. But, the essence of the statement should be yours. The Internet is a wonderful tool to help you learn. Try this phrase "writing an artist's statement" in Google. You will find all the help you need to pull something together with dad's help. |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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