Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Produce Limited Editions

Producing limited editions can launch your art business to new levels, provide you with a nest egg and help you save for a rainy day.

Limited editions are a great form of marketing

A successful edition, priced and marketed properly, will attract attention to your art.  If you feel that producing limited editions may affect your being discovered by a dealer or representation by a commercial gallery, my answer is not likely. If you create fabulous work, it will sell. Dealers want artwork they know they can sell.

Pre-planning the need for “what if” insurance

You may be a prolific creator, but what if you were injured, needed to care for a relative or for some reason could not create new artworks?  It’s a good practice to have your originals scanned at high-res (for the purpose of making limited editions and other reasons). I’m not saying to dwell on the negative, I’m suggesting that by being prepared you can relax and enjoy life as it is today.

Troubled by student loans, waiting to be discovered…don’t give your art away

Why not consider holding your originals until your career blossoms and live off the profit from limited editions? Self-publishing your art requires little upfront capital. Sell your prints direct to customers at art shows, markets or wholesale to retailers.

A diverse and larger inventory of art will bring you more money

Economic downturns, competition, mid-career burnout, loss of your dealer are all reasons you need to be prepared to diversify your artwork inventory. How about just the good reason that more inventory means more to sell, equalling more money. I’m not saying that money is everything, but unless you have a well paid day-job, it is good business to build equity in your art business. Artists do this by creating more to sell.

If your financial and career goals require you to sell more art, producing “quality” limited editions may be a perfect addition to your business plan.

What are your thoughts about making limited editions of your work? Should emerging artists hold their originals in the hope they will be worth more later in their career? Let me know what you think by commenting.

Karen