From: Nick Makris (nick@mcn.org)
Date: 12/12/01-03:03:34 PM Z
The following is a series of three posts received from the Digital-Fine-Art
list, on the subject of print sizes. I seem to recall that we had a similar
discussion not so long ago and thought since this seems like a slightly
different slant, the group might appreciate them.
Nick
From: "Tony Wypkema, Design Write Communications" <info@design-write.com>
To: "digital fine arts" <digital-fineart@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 9:11 AM
Subject: [digital-fineart] Customers prefer small prints
> I wrote:
>
> > I'm negotiating again to buy that used 3000 that I mentioned, because of
all
> > the recommendations for the printer here.
>
> I'm hesitant now to try to buy that used Epson 3000 printer I was thinking
> of getting, after I've been going to some local galleries in the last 10
> days or so, unveiling my new fall collection of art prints, as well as
> marketing my older prints.
>
> In almost every case, the gallery owners (when they wanted to buy my
prints)
> chose the new, small ones that were printed on an Epson 1270 using Matte
> Heavyweight paper, rather than the bigger (i.e. 18-by-24-inch image size)
> giclées I had had printed on watercolor paper using an HP-5000 at a
service
> bureau.
>
> This was usually the case even when I offered the same image at a small
size
> and a large size, with the large images (about 18 by 24 inches) double the
> price of the small images (which are about 12 by 18 inches). The big
prints
> have double the image area, so charging double the price for the big ones
is
> reasonable.
>
> Has anyone else noticed a trend of buyers to prefer small prints?
>
> When I asked the gallery owners why they preferred the small prints, they
> said it was less of a risk because the prices of the smaller prints are
> lower, and that their customers don't all have a lot of wall space, and
that
> the galleries don't have a lot of wall space to hang my framed prints.
>
> Yet many of the galleries have large prints on their walls and in their
> print bins, so I don't understand this.
>
> Also I don't understand it because I've been told by some gallery owners
> that some customers ask for large prints.
>
> Is it partly because I don't have enough of a successful track record with
> the galleries for them to want my big giclées?
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "bemason" <bemason@concentric.net>
To: <digital-fineart@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: [digital-fineart] Customers prefer small prints
>
> Tony,
> I am a printmaker (no computer involved, yet) and I think smaller sells
> better than larger in most medias. The reasons are as stated, the price,
> wall space and there is a certain intimacy with smaller work you lose when
> you make it larger. Small works are like little jewels and you have to
come
> close to see them so you do really pull the viewer into your world.
>
> >From a gallery owner's standpoint they would rather sell a $3000 painting
> than a $300 print, so prints often end up in drawers and bins. I would
> suggest you do different work in different sizes, that way the large ones
> will not be available small. This will help market them, commit, just like
> you do when you put brush to paper.
> Best to you,
> Barbara
>
> Has anyone else noticed a trend of buyers to prefer small prints?
>
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Arthur Davis" <jarthurdavis@earthlink.net>
To: <digital-fineart@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: [digital-fineart] Customers prefer small prints
> At this point it is your track record. A gallery is not going to take a
lot
> of money out of their pocket for inventory. Your art is a commodity to
them,
> not something they want to fall in love with. If people start asking for
> your prints the gallery owner will start putting more and larger images of
> your work on their walls. They will replace those artists who are not now
> selling as well as your work.
> Sad but true gallery owners are business people first and art lovers
second.
>
> Jim Davis
> http://www.visual-artists.com
> davis.jarthur@verizon.net
> Fine art printmaker
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