Listed below are various examples on why limited editions are an amazing tool to help artists capitalize on their creativity and connect with more collectors and organizations in a grand way.
1. Maximize your earning potential.
Statistics on collecting art has changed dramatically in recent years to accommodate a wider buyer type. If you have 1x 30x40 original for $15k and 150x 48x64 larger limited editions sold at $1500, that's conceivably $226,500 if you sell out of your entire edition and your original. Not too shabby, eh?
Tip: Start out with 150 limited editions or less.
2. Increase your collector base.
Knowing the magic number most art buyers can afford to spend is so important. On average most people roughly have $1500 and don't necessarily care if it's a reproduction. Whether your selling retail or out team is selling more wholesale volume, installing art into public space is far more important than private spaces.
Tip: Start your CRM system (collector relationship management). Make detailed notes in an an excel spreadsheet and/or your contacts about what they liked, where you met them and so on.
3. Sell on the spot and stay open-minded to what your collectors want.
If a buyer shows great interest, there's plenty of options and customizations to explore, but of course it comes down to four things: budget, time, wall space, and design specifications.
Image capturing originals gives the advantage to digitally customize and modify the original image that can inspire a new commissioned original work or share the excitement of the creative process with a client in real time by doing a digital rendering. Artistic Transfer offers special edition designs at no additional charge.
Tip: Artistic Transfer has a good eye for what sells. Collaborate with us and other creatives to create special edition designs.
4. Create happy mediums.
If the original is either unavailable, out of budget or the client needs the art in a specific size, but wants paint texture added to the giclée, we highly encourage artists to offer embellishing options. There's a number of names for this technique such limited original, artist proof, and so, but we consider this apart of our "special edition" series in limited edition run. Artistic Transfer always has the original artist hand touch their own limited editions to create a rich sense of texture and increase the value for the client.
Tip: Print whatever size of limited edition, add overpaint and don't waste time creating the same piece again!
5. Lost, theft, damaged?
Artist's should catalogue every painting they ever create as the best solution to prevent a complete loss is image capturing every original and add a brief description along with standard specifications just in case. Artistic Transfer backs up all image captures of original images in the event there is a need to replace a limited edition with our standard published printing cost. After many unfortunate weather disasters or bizarre historical incidents like Notre Dame, artists, museums, and so on have started image capturing and logging all works and keeping back ups. Some collectors will buy both the original and display the limited edition. Faded or damaged original? No problem! Older paintings can be restored back to their original look by using the image capture as a reference.
Tip 1: Accidents happen! Offer buyer protection to your collectors for limited editions. If the collector can submit damaged goods, you can charge them the cost of the print plus a small processing fee and shipping. Artistic Transfer will destroy it and print a brand new one in the same edition number.
2. This might be a good opportunity to see if they're interested in embellishing at that time for an additional charge or framing perhaps.
6. Hold on to your history.
Every artist has one or more art pieces they wish they hadn't sold. Many have in fact tried to buy back originals after creating successful marketing campaigns around their limited editions only to find out that the original has sky rocketed in value.
Tip: If you plan on traveling and doing a high level of art shows a year, considering displaying originals to sell limited editions off of until someone makes an offer you couldn't refuse.
7. If you don't, someone else could profit off your art.
Unless you have family or a foundation actively keeping your copyright and reproduction rights exclusive, many artists who have passed on over 200 years ago virtually no control over who make prints of their work. Better start getting that limited edition money now and creating strict print authentication strategies other's can't knock off before someone else has a free for all with your art decades after your long gone or even while your alive.
Tip: The most obvious way to prevent wrongful reproductions or art piracy is to include a Certificate of Authenticity. Include a novelty item that has relevance or an autographed paper print they can give away to a friend.
8. Pick a charity and pay it forward.
Partnering with a charity to tide a small percentage such as 5%-10% of all your art sales can amplify a deeper connection with your collectors and enrich a better local or global community through the arts. Speak to collectors on a deeper level buy researching incredible organizations that are helping many of your day to day paint subjects thrive. Art is and always will be the most powerful tool to give back something beautiful and inspiring in a community. Chances are there is a great charitable cause out there working to better the quality of life and longevity of whatever subject mater you've been painting. Educate viewers on something that millions of other people love and are passionate about hanging on their walls.
Tip: Consider donating an embellished limited edition instead of an original to a charitable cause if you are leery about letting go of one of your best works.
9. Teach your collectors.
Most people have no idea how valuable limited editions can be. Some argue that prints don't have value, which is simply not true. Even if there isn’t a marketing campaign built around a specific limited edition artwork, artist's who take proper steps to keep in compliance with fine art laws and uphold museum quality standards using the best quality print materials can set the tone in their career to gradually appreciate the value of their work over time. We work to incentivize both individual collectors and large commercial buyers to redecorate every so many years and donate their limited editions to local organizations for tax write off purposes. Marketing fine art takes time but more importantly building valuable connections with people and organizations is the heart of every person’s success. Some people buy for decorative reasons while others pay handsomely for the deep bonding experience with the artist or art itself. Behind every significant cultural or historical asset, there is someone behind the masterpiece who sought out to share more information beyond the face value of the art itself.
Tip: Seize every opportunity to educate others how significant your original or limited editions are. Inspire new art buyers to make informed art conscious decisions.