Why Limited Editions?

My frustration at not being able to find prints I want from certain artists had made me question the whole idea behind Limited Edition prints. Why do we want those? I believe the original idea was to make art buyers feel that they had put their money into some sort of investment that would appreciate in value. But who likes art? Only people who look for financial investments? I think if you're interested in financial gains there are much better ways to invest money.

So who really likes art? Pretty much everyone. Art appeals to all human beings on some level. Have you ever entered a home that didn't have at least one picture on the wall? Unlikely. Sure, most of these people are not art connoisseurs or serious collectors. But should someone have to be in order to enjoy art? I'm not even sure collectors actually enjoy art. I had one buyer tell me that he collected so much art he had to keep much of it stored in boxes, including one of mine. He told me an original of mine he'd bought a while back was being safely kept packaged and stored under his bed. What?! Who's enjoying my art there? The dust mites?!

I've thought a lot about whether or not I want to get my art published as limited edition prints and I am pretty sure the answer is no. Yeah, I know, most artists would love to. Seeing their work as Limited Editions makes them feel like they've reached some level of success. There's some prestige about having your work in limited editions. And many people think that open editions and posters "cheapen" your art and reduce your ranking as a respected artist in the art world.

But that's what the "professional" art critics (and, sadly, many artists) think. But I don't paint for art critics. I want to share my art with everyday people, as many people as want to enjoy my art. The idea of Limited Edition (LE) is a bit snooty and egotistical, in my opinion. LEs are often beyond the affordability of everyday people. Especially when an artist becomes well-known their LE prints can cost more than their originals once did! LEs tell many people of ordinary means that they are not worthy of owning the art. Should I tell the dog groomer down the street that she is not worthy of owning my art because she is not a bank CEO? (And, considering anyone and everyone can get LE giclées made online these days I really don't think there's anything special about LEs anymore, anyway.)

One publisher I was with sold litterally tens of thousands of prints of one of my images. If that image had been a LE of only 1,000 how many people would not have that image now? Obviously more than 1,000 people wanted it. Why should I tell them they can't have it? No, I don't think LE prints are for me. I want to keep my images affordable and available for as long as people want to buy them. And what's wrong with that?

Website updated for print purchasing now

Ok, I updated my Wildlife Art web site last night to link to the new print purchasing pages. You can click on the scrolling thumbnail box in the left frame and an page should pop up that has the purchase options for that image. (You might have to temporarily turn off your pop-up stopper for it to work.) Or you can click on the "Gallery" button to browse all the images. If you click on an image it will take you to the purchase print screen. That method should work even with your pop-up stopper on. They both ultimately go to the same print purchasing page, it's just 2 different ways of getting there depending on if you want to browse all artwork or scroll through the thumbnails.

An Introduction, Part 5

So, there I was sobbing with a gift certificate to an art supply store in my hand. Of course, it made me realize that my "true self" was far, far from the Accounts Payable department. Wildlife and art. What could be better?! That was what I really should be doing with my life! Why hadn't I realized it before?

But, of course, I had to earn a living and I had huge student loan debts to pay back. So what could I do? I had to keep going to work and trying to find a little time to paint on the side. Dreams of painting full-time just weren't realistic at that time. I needed to be practical, responsible, of course. Well, fortunately, that practical side of me only lasted about 6 months. I just couldn't take the boredom of accounting any more and quit my job with the "crazy" idea of painting full-time and somehow making it work. Hey, I'd survived as a starving student, why wouldn't I be able to survive as a starving artist? :)

It's hard to remember know how it started. Somehow a friend of mine told me about a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy .... who ran a local wildlife and western art gallery. I got an appointment to show my paintings and they were impressed enough to give me a shot. I needed to have, however, several more paintings before they'd give me a section of the gallery. Encouraged, I went home and painted like mad. After I had about 6-8 paintings I was in! My art was hanging in a real and reputable gallery!

(more in part 6)

I'm on an art buying binge!

Yikes! I'm on an art buying binge! After buying a Dino Paravano print, then 2 Leon Parson prints (see June 3rd post), I went on to buy a Paul Bosman print:

But I didn't stop there. Just tonight I also bought a Jim Kasper print, and a clock with artwork by Lee Kromschroeder.

I'd better stop soon. I can't afford to frame all these! LOL

Leon Parson prints finally!

I finally managed to acquire some Leon Parson prints. My very first! Not my favorite by him (which I still can't find) but still quite lovely. You can see them here:

Barren Ground Monarchs
On the Move

I can't wait to get them framed and hung!

Who's one of your favorite wildlife artist?