What benefits will you enjoy if you create prints of your artwork?
On the other hand, why wouldn’t you want to create prints?
As artists and sometimes also entrepreneurs, we can often agonize over our art. Should I explore this theme? How much practice do I need with this medium before I consider myself competent? Should I offer my work as prints? What about limited edition prints? Unlimited editions? Who do I print with? Do I print it myself? What ink and paper is best?
Have I missed a few questions? Oh… yes.
A better question to ask yourself: how do I want to sell my art? (Do I want to sell my art at all?!) What do I want to feel like doing it? And how will these options satisfy those desires?
What benefits does an artist gain by offering prints?
First, you have more work to offer for purchase without pulling crazy hours in the studio. Secondly, if gives you the opportunity to share more work with more people. Without prints 1 painting = 1 collector. Now one painting could potentially have unlimited interactions. Thirdly, not only does it offer you potential financial benefit, you can offer various price points to accommodate various client/collector needs.
Then comes the question: to print or not to print yourself? You need to consider factors like investing in a quality printer and pigment based inks, the time you spend on printing, packaging and shipping your products.
Some art forms are predisposed to printing, like illustration. Some art forms, like painting and drawing and photography, can also offer prints.
Some companies focus on fine art prints while others take a licensing/royalty approach. There are specific, well-written articles out there on the topic so I see no need to reinvent the wheel. I encourage you to read: Ultimate Guide to Print on Demand by The Abundant Artist How to Sell Photographs (applies to Fine Art prints too) by The Working Artist, and this great Wet Canvas Forum thread.
So, why would an artist choose not to create prints of their art?
Some artists would rather focus on more original work coming out of the studio. Others don’t want the time commitment or the work involved: it’s hard enough making time to create!
There is no correct answer. Our entrepreneurial mindset can have us planning, thinking, over thinking so much that we fail to act. We remain in a holding pattern, working to conceive that perfect idea instead of doing the work. Ultimately, they only way you might know if it works for you is to test the idea. Try it out! If it is not what you thought, then you have your answer. You’ll never know unless you commit to a path and walk it.
Prints are a popular option for artists, which can often have us wondering: should I do this too? Don’t jump on any bandwagons. Ask yourself: what do I want from my art? What does creating successful art look like to me? Use those answers to frame your choices. No one can answer this conundrum except for you.
Be Creatively Courageous: Have you considered making prints of your art? Why don’t you? Or what made you decide to move forward? Let’s talk in the comments below.
This is a good topic, Carrie. I just saw a blog from one of my YouTube teachers whose work for sale got pulled from the internet for copyright violations. This wouldn’t apply to original artwork — but artists like me, who use everyone’s stencils and stamps, can sell the original piece, but not make and sell copies of it. So CeeCee reported.
Yes! This is absolutely true. If artists want to sell their work they need to make their own stamps. Lots of the products we can buy at craft stores even note that you cannot sell art you create with those tools. I’m so glad you shared this Barbara thank you for adding such important value to this conversation.
Are you Sure if you use tensils and stamps you don’t have the right for your painting? I invested in a lot of stamps and stencils. Then it doesn’t make sense to buy them
Yes this is true. Several stamp companies have labelling that expressly state you can’t sell your art using their materials.
I’ve done prints and designs on items since I posted my first artwork publicly. I think it’s a great way for people to be able to enjoy the art even after the original has been sold.
Linda yes, exactly!
Some artists do not sell their originals because they want to retain the rights to make and sell prints from that piece. It is my understanding that if you buy a piece of original art, the copyright is transferred to the new owner unless the artist has you sign paperwork which states that they are retaining the reproduction rights.
Lani that is incorrect. Artists maintain copyright on their artwork, even after it sells. You can separately sell the rights to your artwork, but that should involve a specific contract and certainly a much higher price if it’s for the original artwork AND the rights to the image.
A few resources for you: ThoughtCO and here.
Lani, you’ll see that Carrie says the opposite is true. Carrie said yes like she was agreeing with you but when she explained it, it was the opposite of what you had said.
Hi Michele! I’m confused. What do you mean?
I was trying to tell her that the artists that make that choice are misinformed about the legal rights to their images, which they retain UNLESS they sell them (the legal rights to the images). Selling the physical artwork does not sell the image rights of the work unless it’s outlined in the contract.
What if you work in the style of an artist, for instance an illustrator does a street scene in black and white and you do the same scene but use colour and different media and style is this still regarded as plagiarism.
Kim I’m not an IP lawyer and it would be best if you consulted one. From my personal experience as a teacher, I find that when my students are worried they are too close in style to another artist, they probably are and could do more to develop and refine their style.
Where is the best and most affordable place to have prints made? I am interested!
Thanks,
Betty
Hi Betty. In the US I personally like iprintfromhome.com, they are family run and based in NY. I also like moo.com. I haven’t done extensive shopping on price. I’ve picked places where I like the quality, and the cost of my prints include cost of making my prints. Hope this helps!
Thank you for the article. I really enjoyed reading this! 🎉
Thanks Dale