We are learning as we go in our new art business. We are matting and framing an original watercolor. Should my daughter, the artist, sign and title the mat as she does with Limited Edition matted prints. If not, what should we do. Just mat and frame?? Do we need a certificate on the back of it - or do you just do that for the LE prints?
Also someone referred to a difference in reproductions and prints but did not state the difference. Can someone clarify?
Thanks for any input. We really want to do things properly and there is a big learning curve.
Replies
Hi Lisa, I don't have much to add, Barrie's the expert, but I did take a look at Alexandra's Etsy page and her work is really lovely! I'm so impressed and congratulations to her for winning the poster art for the festival as well...she's definitely on her way, continued luck to you both!
Thank you Christina for your comment. We really do appreciate comments to help us move along and make the site better. Starting out I had so much trouble with tags on Etsy. Who knew what tags were? Now I have gotten the hang of it somewhat but we are constantly changing to find what works best. I find that all my time is spent on the websites and loading images and data so that Alexandra can spend her time painting. I never dreamed I would be finding a second career at my age. : )
And I might be fond of those intensely colored landscapes in oil on the website. Keep those up. Are they done en plein air?
I've only looked at Etsy so far. An underwater impressionistic series using DEEP BLUE UNDERWATER as a start could be really nice. I like her perspective pieces that look up. The Peacock and then the Japanese Cherry Blossom are two others. I certainly feel they make nice note cards and probably nice prints. And the presentation on the etsy site is fine. Dirt Road Poppy Field looks pretty good, too. Composition and color. Just keep working and studying art principles. Study art history, too. Keep your own clear vision. Do what YOU DO.
Uh, speaking of Cherry Blossoms...if you like foreign films, you might want to see the movie by Doris Dorrie with that title. It's fantastic.
And congratulations for winning the poster contest. WOOHOO!
That is great you say that about the Deep Blue. We have about 5 in this series but we have not shown it or posted it on Etsy. She has the Sunset Series not posted on Etsy yet but a few on Fine Art. Thanks for the tips, I feel more confidant in preparing for up coming shows.
I will definitely check out the movie - I love foreign films, PBS and Masterpiece. Thanks for the tip.
O.K. It looks like it's just you and me here.
Original print processes... Read about printmaking on wikipedia PRINTMAKING WIKI LINK. All of those are original prints and not considered reproductions. Photography is normally not considered a reproduction either when the print is the actual artwork for sale as a work of art.
Reproductions are facsimiles of original artworks. If you make a digital image of your watercolor and then print it out, it's a reproduction. You could still call it a print, but you should really call it a reproduction. And if you sign and number an edition, you would refer to it as a Limited Edition Reproduction. Some people just call them Limited Edition Prints. It's really a technicality that some people just go on and on about and it gets up their dander. But in the beginning, maybe knowing the difference is important since you might decide to continue to call them what they should be called.
You might decide to establish a market for her work BEFORE making limited edition reproductions. Once there's a demand for the work, then make the reproductions of some of the better works.
Barrie: Thanks for the link. I think I will go with reproductions. I like that better. : ) I will take a look at wikipedia tonight.
If you have a second, check out Alexandra's Etsy Shop - she is also on Fine Art America. We have a lot of work to do on Etsy (text wise) and I think I will need to do a lot of editing tonight to make sure I am referring to items as reproductions. On Etsy we mostly do cards and small "reproductions". We sell the originals at shows/fairs and larger prints. Fine Art America is just a good place to put her art for folks to reference it and see all her art work. Although she has had several sales out of there.
Any comments and critique are appreciated. We only have 2 Limited Edition Reproductions on there.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtByAlexandraNicole
http://alexandranicole.artistwebsites.com
Thanks again.
Usually an original artwork comes with a BILL OF SALE rather than a CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. An artist might put the price, title, size, date completed (or duration of work if done over a period of a few years or something), the substrate type, how the artwork/substrate is mounted onto the backing (as in a T-hinge with Japanese rice paper affixed with wheat starch paste, or whatever), what the overmat and backing materials might be (as in Bainbridge AlphaRag 4-ply, or Crescent, or whatever), type of tape used (as in Lineco gummed linen tape, Scotch acid free ATG tape, or whatever), etc. and maybe a short brief biography. Of course, you can say as much or as little as you want. I also include Provenance on the back, and that's a listing of where it has shown and possible awards it has won. Actually, for really valuable art like Picasso's work, provenance refers to who's owned it previously or maybe what institution's collection had it and owned it. One of the most expensive paintings ever sold is the "Rockefeller Picasso" and the value increased tremendously based upon being owned by Nelson Rockefeller.
This is great information. We will create a something soon or come up with a template and try to follow a format for creating this Bill of Sale. What is the difference between a print and a reproduction. I have seen both referred to on this site. Is a print considered a digital image and reproduction from painting? Thank you Barrie. I love this site.
Sorry. I was thinking your question was awfully elementary. Again, sorry.
We don't sign mat boards for any reason. We sign the actual limited edition prints. Some artists sign the limited edition prints in the white border and number them there as well, whereas others sign and number on the image near the place where the original signature is reproduced on the print.
Again, get out to galleries and museums and look at how original artworks are presented. In the case of original watercolors presented under glass or other glazing, the artist normally only signs the original artwork and not the mat board.
Do you ever do events hosted by Glynn Art Association? There's bound to be some watercolor shows going on there on a regular basis.
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