Forum

Showing/Selling Framed Work

Posted by Nancy Roux on November 26, 2010 at 10:53pm in Marketing & Sales of Your Art and Crafts

Hi All,

I'm a photographer/ digital artist preparing several framed and unframed works for display at my first Arts Festival.  I'm planning to be consistent with all matting, but I'm on the fence about whether to frame with uniformity (same color/style frames, such as a black frame, museum look) or choose frames that best complement the works themselves. Has anyone noticed any advantage in curb appeal/ traffic/ sales using one approach over the other?  I've studied hundreds of booth photos and see pros and cons to both.

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Nancy Roux November 28, 2010 at 8:25pm
    Thanks, everyone, for the great feedback. You're an amazing group! The majority of my inventory will likely be matted works in showpacks, but the larger featured pieces might lend themselves well to gallery wraps. I have some time (the show is scheduled for the end of January), so I think I'll pick out a few of the more popular images and see what they look like on canvas. I'll save the framed pieces for an upcoming private event. Thanks again!
    • Charlie Jordan > Nancy Roux May 3, 2011 at 8:38am
      I think the best way to sell photo prints is to make it as cheap as possible.....it's just that simple....I print my own images.....cut foamcore slightly larger than the print and shrinkwrap....I do some printing on canvas but generally most people will opt for the less expensive paper alternative....further suggest that you have both large and small prints of the same images....
      • Tim Wilson > Charlie Jordan June 25, 2011 at 10:00pm
        I do 2 framed sizes, 8x12 framed to 12x16 & 12x18 framed to 16x20.  Generally black frames with white matts
  • Geoff Coe November 27, 2010 at 7:58pm
    You might want to consider dodging this entire dilemma entirely by offering large prints as gallery wraps or canvas works. They're glare free (which adds to visibility/curb appeal), and customers don't have to spend money on mats, frames, or hanging hardware. I sell easily 10x the number of gallery wraps as I ever did frames (for all the reasons the other respondents have cited).

    There are lots of vendors out there in cyberspace and probably your home town.
  • Larry Berman November 27, 2010 at 4:42am
    Just starting out you have a chance to keep it even simpler than asking about framed vs. unframed. I only offer my work in two sizes, small and large. That satisfies about 99% of the people who want to purchase because I don't have sizes competing with each other and can invest less in inventory.

    Larry Berman
    Digital Jury Services
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
    • Donna Johnson > Larry Berman June 23, 2011 at 6:19pm

      I was wondering also ...When you say small and large, what size is large and what is small?

      What is usually a good type of price sign to put next to art when it is displayed?

      • Larry Berman > Donna Johnson June 24, 2011 at 6:25am
        Smaller than an 8x10 print is not worth printing because the material cost for a 5x7 is close but you have to sell the picture for substantially less than an 8x10 print.

        My small size is 8x10 matted 11x14 and my large size is 16x20 matted 22x28.

        Larry Berman
      • Jim Parker > Donna Johnson June 23, 2011 at 7:29pm

        Small: 5x7 or 6x9 print in 8x10 or 11x14 mat

        Large: 11x14 or 12x18 in 16x20 or 18x24 mat

        ...As an example.

        You can use the back side of a business card and write the title and price, or you can print something similar in size and laminate it. Use velcro to attach to ProPanels, or slide it in between the frame and glass in the lower corner of the framed piece.

        • Donna Johnson > Jim Parker June 24, 2011 at 2:20am
          Thanks for the feed back Jim, Do you think these sizes would also work for canvas.? 90% of my paintings are on canvas and my prints are matted and shrink wrapped.
          • Jim Parker > Donna Johnson June 24, 2011 at 7:08am
            Canvas originals or reproductions? Even 11x14 seems small for a canvas giclee.
This reply was deleted.