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Underground > Creation >

Selling Prints

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

12:52 / 14.05.02

Righty, I want to start selling prints of my work. Specially like these;

But perhaps looking to get more varied in the future. (These examples - and similar pieces which are in progress - just seem like the most plausible to actually sell to people.)

So, I'm looking for any kind of advice really, because I don't really know where to get started. Anything technical about getting prints done could help as well, like what sizes to go for, what type of paper, what this type of thing could cost so I can work out expenses and whatnot. My sister's getting me a pricing structure thing, which I was completely oblivious to needing, as I was merely going to slap prices on as I thought fit...

And after that's all sorted, how to go about selling these things. Should I approach small stores and the like? I can think of a few shops in leicester which might be willing to sell things like this, and I was thinking of sending out some to publishers as well (I've been doing some pieces recently to send to a Leicester-based publisher who was looking for illustrations for kids books, thought I may as well put myself around as far and wide as possible in that area if the smaller publisher isn't really what I'm looking for). But really, any advice an getting prints sold would be very valuable to me, as it seems a bit daunting to me, and I'm a bit scared of - well - failing in a big way, and ending up with a whole bunch of stuff I can't get rid of.

I can see it working, I know it's attainable, I just have to work out how to go about it...

21:05 / 14.05.02

I just have to tell you, I fi-i-i-inally had time to print the files you sent me, or actually Husb did them for me & came out of the office to show me & asked who drew this picture. Suede, I said. Nice picture, he said thoughtfully & went back into the office to print the other one.

Which is to say, I think this series is *super* saleable. Looking at your abstract I might advise finding out about selling them beforehand, rather than afterward. I'd go to the people who sell the stuff at the shops --not just to ask them to sell your stuff, but to ask them questions. If they can't help you directly, they may know someone else and so on.

My boss is an artist, I will ask him what he knows.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

00:10 / 16.05.02

Yeah, that sounds pretty sensible, I'm looking in to a whole bunch of stuff and trying not to get too confused. I can take along some examples when I speak to people anyway, and I need to look in to printing to send things to publishers so... but I think if you asked your boss that would be most grand! And I must thank you for all your kind words and enthusiasm. And anyone who said they thought my work was good. Keeps me going ya know.

Have a flying sofa!

Less searchable M0rd4nt

08:55 / 16.05.02

You could try hawking them thru Ebay. My auntie does just that.

Oh, and I came across this process called Glicee (sp?) which is a special printing process that is supposed to give a professoinal look.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

12:07 / 16.05.02

Does your auntie sell prints or originals?

And I heard of that printing process as well, I was searching for companies in Leicester and apparently they do that, so I'll look in to that as well, as I search for the print which seems the best for my work. Or just the cheapest.

Anyway, here's some badgers. (Which I'm sending to a publisher looking for illustrators for children's books w/animals)

Less searchable M0rd4nt

16:40 / 16.05.02

Does your auntie sell prints or originals?

Originals. For some reason her work plays better over in the States, so she has an agent out there.

There's a message board that I found which you might approcah for more helpful advice- this thread has tips on how to shift your work via Ebay.

Good luck with this. I just love those badgers.

23:28 / 16.05.02

Those Badgers rock.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

13:20 / 17.05.02

Thanks!

Thanks for the tips MC. Apparently the City Gallery in Leicester might be a good place for me to pimp myself as well (selling prints/putting work up etc), so I'll be giving that a shot sometime soon. Damn, I wish I had an agent, I don't think my mumbling ways are a very good way to sell myself. But still, I'm intent on becoming a whore, and getting myself around as far and wide as possible once I've got everything I want to show/potentially sell people in a little folder.

And the badgers should be going to the publisher today...

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

15:00 / 18.05.02

oh, another thing, what kind of size should I think about selling? I mean, I should probably get out and look around, and ask people, but I can't at the moment, and thus am at a loose end.

Getting a bit frustrated actually, I wish there was a little handbook.

22:25 / 20.05.02

I know just how you feel, Suede... when I first started producing shows, I felt like the fairytale princess who has to sort the huge pile of lentils and peas.

My boss seemed to think that you'd do better either a) selling your original works on your own or through a gallery or b) selling your designs to a commercial outfit for mass reproduction. She says the middle way --producing and selling your own prints in medium numbers-- is the riskiest with the least return, because you are taking on a whole business: you have to outlay your own money, and then you have to handle production and marketing and distribution & that's a lot of work and doesn't leave much time for doing art. But it's fun in a way too, for people who like doing business.

I guess the thing about prints is that people will only pay so much for them, and so you have to produce in huge volumes to get the costs down enough to make your return. Original artwork you sell one piece at a time, but you can charge lots more; your cost per piece is higher, but your total out-of-pocket is much lower. If you can get a contract for your artwork on the other hand, you make money in smaller dribs; but you could get a steady gig & actually make a living as a freelance artist.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

10:33 / 24.05.02

'Ere, Suede- have you thought about getting shops to take your piccies on a sale-or-return basis? Some small arty-crafty shops are still happy to do this. I t wouldn't be much, but it would be a start, and might even lead on to something else.

13:53 / 24.05.02

I have no useful advice, other than Im sure you wont have any troubles getting buyers

08:38 / 27.05.02

Hey Suede... I've been checking this thread every now and then because some of the advice given is pretty useful for me too ('specially Persephone's last post)... just wanted to say that your work has grown on me immensely in that time. I have to admit that i wasn't too into them at first, i found the style a bit too "birthday card", y'know? Dare I say... bordering on "twee"? BUT... now I just find them charming, I love your whole cats and sleeping thing, the whole attitude is cheekier than i'd first realised (I like whinmsy) and the linework is lovely, definite but delicate.

[raises tea to monitor, winks] Good luck to you, Sir!

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

22:41 / 29.05.02

or b) selling your designs to a commercial outfit for mass reproduction.

This sounds like a good idea. Now does anyone know what the best way to go about this would be? I'm thinking of arranging to send little packs of a few prints around, 5 or something in each... not quite sure what the best places to send to are though, but will get round to looking in to it. It all seems so daunting.

And lentil, thanks for the kind words. I know what you mean about the "twee" thing as well, as it sometimes disturbs me a little. I just try to focus - with these pieces anyway - that hopefully it might just make someone smile. Seems awful when typed, but it's true, like a "kid's book for adults" kind of thing. Like the feeling you get after watching Amelie. Just that, really.

Ah, anyway, my head's spinning with all this.
Anyone happen to know what I'd charge for, let's say, four commishioned images to be used as skateboard graphics?

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

22:40 / 30.05.02

Just a little something:

01:04 / 31.05.02

Um...let's see...

If I were to market you, I'd go about it this way:

If you scan these prints @ around 300dpi and print them out on a larger format epson printer @ 720 or 1440dpi, they'd probably look pretty good. Compare them to the original and make adjustments in Photoshop to get the saturations and clarity right. These printers ar great for printing on different types of papers, so look at them on watercolor, matte and glossy papers. This is a cheap process and have seen great results.

Also look at putting together a letterhead or at least a well considered letter to send and sample pages. Also a business card could do. Use the net to your advantage and see about a website for promotion as well. A good way for people to look at your work and check on your progress available work. Also keeps you from having to do all of the footwork as your images get attention.

Make sure you have a good portfolio together...cut boards to mount your work on (dry mount may be messy...studio tack works well just watch for mess) and bring a packet of your "business materials" (see above) with you. It's good to leave potential clients with some sort of work (like postacards)to remind them of your communication.

The hand done quality does give it a similar feel to greeting cards, but it's obviously moreso than that. It may be a good medium to look at if you want to sell more than prints ie. other uses. I have a contact at Hallmark if you're interested..PM me if you're into it.

Lastly...head over to the Graphic Design Guild and look at their info. If you join, there's group benefits available as well as job contacts. They also provide a handbook that is excellent and up-to-date with pricing structures for work. I've been freelancing for over a year now and since I've used the guide, it's helped tremendously.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

12:35 / 11.06.02

Can anyone point me in the direction of publishers which would likely be receptive to receiving some smaple pages? I didn't realise there were so many...

That's my main route for the moment, it seems. And I'm going to go about it in a few different ways I think (ie: card companies, simple single pagers, book companies, illustrator for hire - possible book proposal [this excites me lots], I might even hit up some comic publishers...)

However, at the moment I'm mostly waiting for some money to come through so I can afford materials, printing, postage and all that business...

oh, and on the portfolio front, is this essential? I've got an A4 folder full of prints, but should I mount a load of work (lots of A4 and bigger watercolours mostly. And other random bits. I tend to work small, except for a few exceptions, and a bunch of college work) and put it in a decent A1 (or whatever sized) folder? Personally I always like the compact and neat nature of a folder of prints... but if it's important (and I was thinking of applying for a fine art degree in a year, so I guess it would come in handy...)

And I think a bunch of postcard/business cards would be a good idea to get printed and leave all over the place (and send out with my sample pages)... mmm... now if only the money would come...

Anyway, just an update with added queries