Marketing Your Prints  – Artist Edition 
5/3/06

1. Paint subjects you know and are passionate about.
2. Paint often – hone your talents.
3. Paint subjects which are appropriate in your market area.
4. If in a tourist area, paint the typical tourist attractions
5. Paint what appeals to people in your region (seascapes are not huge sellers in Colorado).
6. Choose the right images to have reproduced.
7. Keep track of which originals are your better sellers and have those images reproduced.
8. Find out which colors reproduce well and choose images that incorporate those colors  (see:  Painting for Reproduction).
9. Choose the reproduction method that best suits your medium and your marketing.
10. If you plan to sell your reproductions at art shows, check with the show promoter to see what kinds of reproductions are accepted.
11. Giclée prints work in instances where it is important that the reproduction have the look and feel of an original.  Available in canvas and watercolor paper.
12. Lumira digital photographic prints work well for dark images as well as images that have strong contrast ranges. Available in matte or glossy finish, they are affordable and beautiful reproductions.
13. If you have questions about which method is right for you, call our Customer Service department.
14. Observe
15. Travel to as many art shows as you can and carefully observe.
16. Study the art of successful artists.
17. Study their display.
18. Study selling techniques.  Compare pricing.
19. Ask questions – you may be surprised how helpful fellow artists can be.
20. Choose the right shows – your time is valuable.
21. Additional Marketing Venues
22. Sportsman’s shows, Air shows, Car shows, Flower shows, Dog shows, etc.
23. Interior Decorators
24. Galleries/Gift shops

Consigning – should get a 60/40 to 50/50 split

1. Opening your own gallery.  Prepare for a lot of work, long hours, little    initial income and be willing to add other artists to your gallery permits and lots of competition.
2. Corporate sales – phone calls, research, visits and heavy competition.
3. Greeting cards and calendars – use as sources of supplemental income.
4. Use the Internet – no secret here; very competitive, but we all have to get our foot  in the door. Sales will be sporadic.  See “www.webartsites.com” for your competition.
5. Agents – don’t count on one helping your sales.
   
6. Marketing Consultants – can be helpful but you have to follow through!

Preparing For Your Art Show

1. Mounting and Framing
2. Use high quality material – mounts, mats and frames
3. Double mat – your competition does.
4. Hanging your Display
5. You can make your own display, but make it high quality – see our Resource List.
6. Choose enough images to show your quality and diversity, but
7. Don’t use too many different styles.
8. Have at least one featured image.
9. Have a lot of mounted, matted and shrink-wrapped or poly-bagged images in your “Browse Bin”.
10. The Tent
11. See our Resource List.
12. Prepare for all weather.
13. How to Sell in Your Booth
14. Be courteous but direct.
15. Be available – don’t hide behind the tent.  Allow visitors to roam without following them, but be available and helpful.
16. Have stories about your images handy, and be ready to explain your technique.
17. Be able to explain the reproduction method that you use – it’s archivalness, care, if it’s a limited edition, if it’s re-marqued, etc.  -  anything to make the print special.
18. Don’t gossip about other artists or the show promoter.  It somehow always seems to get back to them.
19. Develop a network of artist and art show participant friends.
20. Don’t be afraid to travel, but make sure you have an appropriate travel vehicle.
21. See if the show has any artist housing arrangements.  Some have art patrons who house and feed you!!
22. Subscribe to trade journals such as Sunshine Artist Magazine for information about art shows across the nation.
23. Call Fine Print’s knowledgeable staff for help.

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