Hello all, I joined this site recently and have been reading a good bit on getting started. I've been toying with selling my illustrations. I do 3D digital aviation work. I've been making these images two years now. I just set up my web site a couple months ago: http://www.wingitaviationart.com Now I am trying to figure out how to get accepted for a show or two before spending money on a tent and additional items needed for a booth. I have my print sizes and pricing figured out, which was a lot of personal trial and error and discussions with the in-laws that used to own a frame shop.
I've learned from this site about taking some group pics of my works and submitting that as my "booth" pic and mentioning that I am a first time show artist and see if I can get accepted, then look into a canopy. That had been my biggest dilemma was not spending the money on the canopy, but still getting the required "booth" photo. I've got old walls from a trade show booth that I can set my work up on to help with that "booth" feel.
I still need to get my illustrations printed and matted or framed. Is there an affordable way to pull this off? I don't want to spend $400+ on custom framing, the cheapest yet still appealing way to show my work is what I am looking for.
My illustrations are created on the computer, so what will constitute a quality print? Would quality paper printed on a personal printer count? Maybe Kinkos or Staples has some good printing? I didn't find anything on the site for this, but I might have just missed it.
My biggest dilemma is will my stuff sell, and as great as this site is, not sure I'll get that answer here. I think that will be a trial by fire scenario. Just gotta get out there and see if it works or not. I've had two commission offers recently that fell through. Not sure if that's a good sign or a bad sign.
Thanks,
Matt
Replies
Some more questions about taxes. Should I continue with this thread, start a new thread, find an old thread that's similar to my question and reply to that one? I didn't see the answer I was looking for in the 40 pages of old threads in the taxes section.
Hi Matt, always start a new thread if you're changing the topic in a major way. There is a forum for business questions:
http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/categories/business-of-art-fai...
Larry Berman
Thank you all for the great advice. I've already started to implement some of it. I'm gonna try and get into the "Old Fourth Ward" festival in Atlanta in June. They have an emerging artist registration and a digital art category that I can submit my work to.
We have in IKEA in town and they have some affordable frames with glass that I think will work at least to get me started on the cheap to see if this venture will take off or not. I'll just print my work to fit the frame size.
I did come up with another question, when submitting art, just simple 8 1/2 x 11 copies of artwork is ok?
Submitting, as in your application to a show? That's done almost entirely digitally. Larry has writing some great posts and given some excellent advice on the AFI podcast about prepping digital images for online submissions.
Maybe it's because it's Emerging artist application, I don't know, but they specifically asked for prints of your work and not to send in digital work. My first application, so not sure what the norm is.
Actually submitting prints could be in your favor. If they don't specify a size limit, send them a set of 8x10 prints when everyone else sends 4x6's. That will impress them when they pass them around the table.
Convert your files to the sRGB color space and size them best fit within 2400x3000 pixels at 300 pixels per inch. Then add black borders to fill the space on paper that's not part of the image. Then you can get excellent prints at any Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco etc.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Great suggestion, a large image with a printed frame to jazz up the prints. I like it.
Larry Berman
I get it now, thanks.
I do all my own framing and get my frames and mats from FrameDestination.com. The biggest problem for me is getting glass. I have found that most of the major suppliers in my area will not give wholesale accounts to artists. After much searching I found one willing to sell to me at wholesale prices that is three hours away from me so once a year I go pick up all the glass I think I will use for the year. Glass cannot be shipped. I've thought of going to plexi several times but I like the look and feel of glass. Try and stick to standard glass sizes unless you want to get into cutting glass. I love printing my own work. I don't have to depend on anyone else getting it right and I don't have to worry about not getting prints in time for the next show. If you are thinking of printing your own look into an Epson 3880 once you get going. Printing on a small printer will cost you much more in ink than with a larger printer with larger cartridges however the 3880 needs to be used pretty regularly or it gets "issues".
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