Hello friends.....I have started a new line and have received an overwhelming positive response from my friends and customers BEFORE I have offered the first piece for sale. I think i am onto a good thing (OK< great thing) here, and am following the suggestion of another artist who recommended I number my work and prepare certificates to go with each piece, in anticipation of my work becoming collectible. I am uncertain how to approach this, and am not finding much on the Internet to guide me. Does anyone have any ideas or experience in this area? Do you just start numbering from "1", or is there a traditional system that I should use? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
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Before you determine the size of the edition, you might want to take a gander at what you're allowed to do under copyright laws if you want that kind of protection. I know that photographs have an edition size limit (150 I think). I typically edition as Larry suggested, but I don't do the certificates.
Betsey Harries > Larry BermanFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:19pm
Sculptures formed from wool felt and needle-felted wool.
I am not having a problem with figuring out how to place a number on the sculptures. I just don't know how the numbering system is supposed to work. Is it as simple as starting with the number 1? Or is there a traditionally-accepted system that has meaning or is more complex?
Larry Berman > Betsey HarriesFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:33pm
If I understand, each is slightly different then. You can number them consecutively or edition them. If you edition them, the traditional way is to do the edition number on the bottom and the actual number of the piece on the top like a fraction. As you've been told, you should include a COA (certificate of authenticity) for each piece that explains how the piece is made and contains the number and edition amount. Some artists hold back the first few numbers because over time, they might become more valuable. Some just increase the selling price as the edition gets closer to ending. Because of your medium, you're not constrained by the ridiculous numbering requirements of art shows directed at photographers or digital artists or even painters selling reproductions.
Betsey Harries > Larry BermanFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:55pm
Thank you, Larry, that helps get me going in the right direction. I think numbering them consecutively makes the most sense right now, since I have so many new ideas to follow and I'm not sure exactly what these sculptures will look like a year from now. If I edition them, my challenge would be to define what characteristics will define "an edition", before I fully develop the idea. I wish I had a crystal ball and could see what the sculptures will look like a year from now! But this is all so fun.....having a new idea to develop, challenging myself, and already getting overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers and other artists. And thank you so much for your help this morning!
Replies
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Sculptures formed from wool felt and needle-felted wool.
I am not having a problem with figuring out how to place a number on the sculptures. I just don't know how the numbering system is supposed to work. Is it as simple as starting with the number 1? Or is there a traditionally-accepted system that has meaning or is more complex?
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100