Secondly, a lot of the art fairs I've looked into have requirements for selling prints. One fair wanted 80% originals and another one said no reproductions at all. By the 80% rule, I could have 20 originals and only 5 prints!?! I would prefer to sell only originals but economically that seems like a bad idea for a painter at outdoor festivals.
I have a few more questions, but they will have to wait until later.
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
Replies
The reason not to frame--everyone's taste is different. I frame all my pictures in a room or on a wall with the same color frames. Your brown frame is not going to work with my black-framed pictures. I do not want to absorb the cost of the frame you provided. (i have more art to buy)
Everyone has their own ideas how a piece of art should be displayed. I may love your work but I prefer you not frame it for me.
The backing should be as thin as possible yet still support the work. Some frames don't allow for the space of matting and it is difficult to secure the piece inside the frame. I have cracked glass by tightening a thicker mat.
Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Allisonn said:
I agree with Larry about framing small prints, there is not much profit in small, and small is pretty much equal in labor to large and pretty close in material cost. I mostly display 20X26 frames, that said, I am willing to make a 12X16 frame for a buyer that has a space issue and loves my frames.
About frames: Not everyone will agree, but I use custom wood frames for much of my work and I market this to patrons as custom frames. I sell a lot of custom wood frames. When you go to custom wood frames, cost can be an issue unless you do much the work yourself. I don't chop or joint the moldings but I do everything else. I discovered that if I buy the molding direct from the a molding company and bring the sticks to a framer, I can usually get a very good deal (I get frames chopped and jointed for $10 per frame). That keeps my framing cost down considerable.
My theory is that retail is all about presentation and perceived value. If want to sell to an affluent clientele then I have to provide quality and convenience (and of course good art).
There is also a portion of my clientele base what would prefer quality black metal frames (nielsen). For that, I go to Frame Destination (logo on the right column). They are a first rate company. BTW, you can get the Clearbags from them at a less expensive rate then going directly to the company.
James Sewell said:
I'll add only that you need to determine what you'll use for backing board (foam core vs. matboard) BEFORE you order your ClearBags. The company offers two thicknesses; getting foam core-mounted prints in the thinner bags is almost impossible.
And this: I know that delivering your work to the client can seem like a pain. But you can make in an "event" that your customers will never forget, and they'll become repeat buyers. I bought a piece at Year 2 of Cherry Creek Art Festival. The artist and his wife delivered it the next day, along with a bottle of wine, and we spent half an hour talking about how he created the piece. Over time, I bought two more works from him.
I would never sell smaller prints framed. There's no percentage in it and it will only require extra expense and work on your part to prepare. I only offered my largest size framed and all sizes matted in browse bins. Given a choice and if priced correctly, people would probably prefer to purchase unframed about 90% of the time anyway.
To adhere the print to the back of the window mat, I recommend hinging using acid free framer's tape. Do a search for Framers Tape II.
Besides the hinged matted print, you also need a backing in the clear bag. http://clearbags.com
For a classier presentation, foam core is fine. If you need to put more prints in the bin, mat board as a backing takes up less space and allows you to have 50% more prints in the bin.
Some painters sell reproductions unmatted with just a foam core backing loose (not attached) in the clear bag. It's best to decide what you want to do before making an investment in inventory that you'll later regret.
Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
I'm also at a point where I have to decide my print runs this week. I wanted to do primarily limited edition prints and keep the print run fairly low, however, I also would like one or two paintings to have an unlimited run, a few products that I could matte and frame for an 8x10" size and sell at a fairly reasonable price. My question is in two parts: First, what are some pros and cons relating to the above thoughts? Secondly, given the situation above, is it alright to use cheaper frames that from all appearances look nice, or would this devalue me? (keep in mind cheaper frames for unlimited 8x10print run)
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next