Today's postings
- [Baren 26807] Re: Rooster Returned (Jan Telfer)
- [Baren 26808] RE: Pricing ("Maria Diener (aka Arango)")
- [Baren 26809] Re: Pricing (pulpfic # sunshinecable.com)
- [Baren 26810] Pricing (Barbara Mason)
- [Baren 26811] Re: Pricing (pulpfic # sunshinecable.com)
- [Baren 26812] RE: Pricing (GWohlken)
- [Baren 26813] printing presses in Canada being sold for scrap ("jimandkatemundie # juno.com")
- [Baren 26814] Re: Baren Digest (old) V30 #2919 ("claudia g coonen")
- [Baren 26815] Re: Pricing ("Maria Diener (aka Arango)")
- [Baren 26816] Re: printing presses in Canada being sold for scrap (Charles Morgan)
- [Baren 26817] Re: Pricing (Bette Norcross Wappner)
- [Baren 26818] Claudia's Hawaii Art/Print Show (Bette Norcross Wappner)
- [Baren 26819] Re: Pricing (Aon97 # aol.com)
- [Baren 26820] framing (Barbara Mason)
Message 1
From: Jan Telfer
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 23:38:43 +0800
Subject: [Baren 26807] Re: Rooster Returned
Send Message: To this poster
Keri,
I sent you a rooster postcard when I sent the other farmyard collection
at Christmas time to Monterey, with the address you posted, but it was
returned. I think he was rather exhausted when he got home again!!
Especially the long flight over the Pacific....direct flying time by
Qantas Jet is approximately 20 hours, with a 2 hour stop over and
customs in LA!!
If you still want me to send you one, will you please send me your
mailing address off line.
If is a good job the 50 odd weren't returned!! The Australia Post
wouldn't have made any money! Cock a doodle do!!!!
Jan in Perth Western Australia!
I sent you a rooster postcard when I sent the other farmyard collection
at Christmas time to Monterey, with the address you posted, but it was
returned. I think he was rather exhausted when he got home again!!
Especially the long flight over the Pacific....direct flying time by
Qantas Jet is approximately 20 hours, with a 2 hour stop over and
customs in LA!!
If you still want me to send you one, will you please send me your
mailing address off line.
If is a good job the 50 odd weren't returned!! The Australia Post
wouldn't have made any money! Cock a doodle do!!!!
Jan in Perth Western Australia!
Message 2
From: "Maria Diener (aka Arango)"
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 08:23:26 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26808] RE: Pricing
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All depends on your audience and current market and a hundred other things.
I think the bottom line really depends on two things: Can you sell at the
price you set? And, Are you happy with what you get?
I can only speak from my experience, so here it goes. As a background, I
make my living solely from selling woodcut prints, this being the beginning
of my fifth year as a full-time artist.
Barbara is selling through galleries in a fairly rich-in-art environment so
her prices are correspondingly higher. I sell public direct and through
galleries (although in a non-art-friendly market). People that travel to
Scottsdale and Las Vegas (my two major markets) from the East Coast laugh at
my prices and snatch my prints, which suits me just fine. If I priced at
East Coast prices in the West Coast I would be very very poor and lonely.
When I started out I searched web sites and got a range and average of what
woodcuts are priced at. I sent queries to the owners of the websites and
asked if they were actually selling at those prices (I'm sure I put it a lot
more tactfully than that). Not one answered. In fine art festivals I saw no
woodcuts and few real prints; in galleries I saw very few real prints and
priced at what I thought to be outrageous prices. I visited again six months
later and the same stuff still hung, unsold. I had no guidelines!
So I priced without guidelines, just off the cuff, and sold some. Then I
listened to my fellow artists and customers and started framing better
(without much cost increase) and charged more and sold more. As I got into
some of the best festivals in the West Coast I saw that I was still under
the market for similar works so I raised my prices again. Every year cost of
living goes up, materials go up, booth fees and gallery commissions go up
and I raise my prices accordingly. I have made a profit since the second
year and a good living since the third year as a full time artist. Seems
like raising my prices does cut out a certain audience, but I have hand-made
printed cards for them and my overall income has gone consistently up.
You can go to my website and see what I sell my prints for unmatted unframed
http://1000woodcuts.com. Having said that, I only sell about 10% of my
yearly income through the web, mostly after festivals or after I send out a
mailing to my customers. They prefer to see the stuff in person and take it
home ready to hang. I have sold quite a few "collections" to collectors, but
I could not depend on real collectors to make a living.
Bottom line, selling to the general public direct you have to sell by size,
usually framed size. Unless you can prove to someone in two seconds or less
(as in 10-block color vs. black and white) that "this" 8x10 print is worth
more than "that" 8x10 print, both should be priced similarly. The public
does understand things like edition size and hand-made paper and color and
detail, but "artistic merit" of images (in my opinion) should not come into
the pricing equation.
Selling to collectors and galleries is a different matter and in that world
prints can be priced according to market value and artistic merit. But
galleries are still going to sell by size and presentation (framing) still
counts. In the gallery world, it is best to consult the gallery owners and
let them guide you because they know what they can and cannot sell.
I sell so little through calls for entries and competitions that it hardly
is worth mentioning, although I do keep entering them (cause you're 'posed
to?).
Numbers...numbers...
All framed sizes, my current prices:
8 x 10 $45-55 (prints are usually 2x3 to 4x5 in large or open editions)
11 x 14 $95-115 (prints 5x6 or thereabouts, engravings in eds of 200)
16 x 20 $185-220 (prints 8x6 to 12x16 or so, usually hand-made paper,
usually color, eds of 50-100)
22 x 28 $245-265 (prints 15x20 or larger, small editions)
32 x 40 $425-575 (prints 22x30 or larger)
I work only in those sizes and have been "upgrading" smaller prints to
larger sizes with the addition of triple matting. Once I started double and
sometimes triple matting or floating prints I doubled my income. Hate to
become a decorator, but if you get into the art of presentation, all the
better your income. And there is a satisfaction in seeing your prints
presented tastefully and best enhanced by good framing.
Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
:-) Maria
I think the bottom line really depends on two things: Can you sell at the
price you set? And, Are you happy with what you get?
I can only speak from my experience, so here it goes. As a background, I
make my living solely from selling woodcut prints, this being the beginning
of my fifth year as a full-time artist.
Barbara is selling through galleries in a fairly rich-in-art environment so
her prices are correspondingly higher. I sell public direct and through
galleries (although in a non-art-friendly market). People that travel to
Scottsdale and Las Vegas (my two major markets) from the East Coast laugh at
my prices and snatch my prints, which suits me just fine. If I priced at
East Coast prices in the West Coast I would be very very poor and lonely.
When I started out I searched web sites and got a range and average of what
woodcuts are priced at. I sent queries to the owners of the websites and
asked if they were actually selling at those prices (I'm sure I put it a lot
more tactfully than that). Not one answered. In fine art festivals I saw no
woodcuts and few real prints; in galleries I saw very few real prints and
priced at what I thought to be outrageous prices. I visited again six months
later and the same stuff still hung, unsold. I had no guidelines!
So I priced without guidelines, just off the cuff, and sold some. Then I
listened to my fellow artists and customers and started framing better
(without much cost increase) and charged more and sold more. As I got into
some of the best festivals in the West Coast I saw that I was still under
the market for similar works so I raised my prices again. Every year cost of
living goes up, materials go up, booth fees and gallery commissions go up
and I raise my prices accordingly. I have made a profit since the second
year and a good living since the third year as a full time artist. Seems
like raising my prices does cut out a certain audience, but I have hand-made
printed cards for them and my overall income has gone consistently up.
You can go to my website and see what I sell my prints for unmatted unframed
http://1000woodcuts.com. Having said that, I only sell about 10% of my
yearly income through the web, mostly after festivals or after I send out a
mailing to my customers. They prefer to see the stuff in person and take it
home ready to hang. I have sold quite a few "collections" to collectors, but
I could not depend on real collectors to make a living.
Bottom line, selling to the general public direct you have to sell by size,
usually framed size. Unless you can prove to someone in two seconds or less
(as in 10-block color vs. black and white) that "this" 8x10 print is worth
more than "that" 8x10 print, both should be priced similarly. The public
does understand things like edition size and hand-made paper and color and
detail, but "artistic merit" of images (in my opinion) should not come into
the pricing equation.
Selling to collectors and galleries is a different matter and in that world
prints can be priced according to market value and artistic merit. But
galleries are still going to sell by size and presentation (framing) still
counts. In the gallery world, it is best to consult the gallery owners and
let them guide you because they know what they can and cannot sell.
I sell so little through calls for entries and competitions that it hardly
is worth mentioning, although I do keep entering them (cause you're 'posed
to?).
Numbers...numbers...
All framed sizes, my current prices:
8 x 10 $45-55 (prints are usually 2x3 to 4x5 in large or open editions)
11 x 14 $95-115 (prints 5x6 or thereabouts, engravings in eds of 200)
16 x 20 $185-220 (prints 8x6 to 12x16 or so, usually hand-made paper,
usually color, eds of 50-100)
22 x 28 $245-265 (prints 15x20 or larger, small editions)
32 x 40 $425-575 (prints 22x30 or larger)
I work only in those sizes and have been "upgrading" smaller prints to
larger sizes with the addition of triple matting. Once I started double and
sometimes triple matting or floating prints I doubled my income. Hate to
become a decorator, but if you get into the art of presentation, all the
better your income. And there is a satisfaction in seeing your prints
presented tastefully and best enhanced by good framing.
Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
:-) Maria
Message 3
From: pulpfic # sunshinecable.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:08:42 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26809] Re: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
Hi all,
I started with the smallest amount I'd accept for my smallest print. When I
did the math, it turned out to be $1 per square inch (of image area), so I
use the $1 per square inch of image area for all my prints, then add the
actual cost (time and materials; I do my own) of matting and framing to that.
Some prints sell directly to the public; others are in the gift shop of my
local public (non-profit?) gallery, which takes a 35% commission. I don't
add anything to cover the commission, so the prints sell for the same
amount to the buyer no matter where they are purchased.
The $1 per square inch formula is very simple to explain when someone wants
to know why one is more expensive than another. The price is the same no
matter how many blocks, colours, etc.
Take care,
Randi
--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ms Randi DeLisle
papermaker, bookbinder, publisher, printmaker & gourd artist
pulp fictions & pulp fictions press
Grand Forks BC Canada pulpfic@sunshinecable.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I started with the smallest amount I'd accept for my smallest print. When I
did the math, it turned out to be $1 per square inch (of image area), so I
use the $1 per square inch of image area for all my prints, then add the
actual cost (time and materials; I do my own) of matting and framing to that.
Some prints sell directly to the public; others are in the gift shop of my
local public (non-profit?) gallery, which takes a 35% commission. I don't
add anything to cover the commission, so the prints sell for the same
amount to the buyer no matter where they are purchased.
The $1 per square inch formula is very simple to explain when someone wants
to know why one is more expensive than another. The price is the same no
matter how many blocks, colours, etc.
Take care,
Randi
--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ms Randi DeLisle
papermaker, bookbinder, publisher, printmaker & gourd artist
pulp fictions & pulp fictions press
Grand Forks BC Canada pulpfic@sunshinecable.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Message 4
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:57:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 26810] Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
Randi,
$1 an inch, does this mean that a 4x5 Image area print would sell for $20 no matter what the paper size? That is a pretty good price..Maybe you should make it the paper size! But if you are selling work, that is good. You can raise prices as your work becomes more in demand. I can see that 8x10 at $80 is not bad...but if the frame was $50 that would be $130, so if a gallery took half you would end up with only $20 for all your work. If you start selling in galleries you will need to make the jump or you will start to resent working so hard for no money. I did that a few years ago and sell about the same amount...so if someone likes the work the price is not the main factor. Hard for us to believe our work is worth so much...but it is! If they could do it themselves, they would be doing so, and amazingly some of my biggest sales have been to artists who don't make prints.
Maria had a good method, but do not let her kid you, she works like a trojan. She either prints, carves or ships all day long every day when she is not packing or unpacking or selling at a festival. The fabulous thing is she loves every minute....maybe not the drives to those far away places all alone when tired from standing and smiling all day through rain, sleet and whatever.
Being an artist is hard work...I teach a lot and just spent all day yesterday cleaning my "new" studio in time for a class this weekend. I have moved to a much smaller though more convenient space so everything has to have it's place and be put away or you cannot move around. Feels good to have it clean! This is my first class in the new space...so if we do not get ink all over each other I will consider it a success! I charge $80 for a two day class from 10-4 Sat and Sun in case you are wondering at the price. I usually take only 3 or 4 students at a time as otherwise someone will make some horrible stupid mistake while I am helping someone else....sad but true.
I have a great new chest to put all my woodblock stuff in and find it is full, as is my cabinet for wood and paper. Whoever said this stuff packed down small did not have this wierd western mentality of needing 6 of everything. Also I have a bit of stuff left over from the mall....some Bamboo sheaths, couple or murasaki barens and lots of misc. brushes and a few tools. Whenever anyone orders something I have I try to ship it from Oregon to eventually use it up. Maybe one day we will have an Oregon mall leftover sale...ha. Got a great buy at the dollar store, 4 small rice bowl made of glass for $1. Just the thing for students so of course I spent $5 on 20 rice bowls I have no immediate need for...you see how it starts? Soon you cannot close closet doors...
Best to all,
Barbara
>I started with the smallest amount I'd accept for my smallest print. When I
>did the math, it turned out to be $1 per square inch (of image area),
$1 an inch, does this mean that a 4x5 Image area print would sell for $20 no matter what the paper size? That is a pretty good price..Maybe you should make it the paper size! But if you are selling work, that is good. You can raise prices as your work becomes more in demand. I can see that 8x10 at $80 is not bad...but if the frame was $50 that would be $130, so if a gallery took half you would end up with only $20 for all your work. If you start selling in galleries you will need to make the jump or you will start to resent working so hard for no money. I did that a few years ago and sell about the same amount...so if someone likes the work the price is not the main factor. Hard for us to believe our work is worth so much...but it is! If they could do it themselves, they would be doing so, and amazingly some of my biggest sales have been to artists who don't make prints.
Maria had a good method, but do not let her kid you, she works like a trojan. She either prints, carves or ships all day long every day when she is not packing or unpacking or selling at a festival. The fabulous thing is she loves every minute....maybe not the drives to those far away places all alone when tired from standing and smiling all day through rain, sleet and whatever.
Being an artist is hard work...I teach a lot and just spent all day yesterday cleaning my "new" studio in time for a class this weekend. I have moved to a much smaller though more convenient space so everything has to have it's place and be put away or you cannot move around. Feels good to have it clean! This is my first class in the new space...so if we do not get ink all over each other I will consider it a success! I charge $80 for a two day class from 10-4 Sat and Sun in case you are wondering at the price. I usually take only 3 or 4 students at a time as otherwise someone will make some horrible stupid mistake while I am helping someone else....sad but true.
I have a great new chest to put all my woodblock stuff in and find it is full, as is my cabinet for wood and paper. Whoever said this stuff packed down small did not have this wierd western mentality of needing 6 of everything. Also I have a bit of stuff left over from the mall....some Bamboo sheaths, couple or murasaki barens and lots of misc. brushes and a few tools. Whenever anyone orders something I have I try to ship it from Oregon to eventually use it up. Maybe one day we will have an Oregon mall leftover sale...ha. Got a great buy at the dollar store, 4 small rice bowl made of glass for $1. Just the thing for students so of course I spent $5 on 20 rice bowls I have no immediate need for...you see how it starts? Soon you cannot close closet doors...
Best to all,
Barbara
>I started with the smallest amount I'd accept for my smallest print. When I
>did the math, it turned out to be $1 per square inch (of image area),
Message 5
From: pulpfic # sunshinecable.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 12:32:01 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26811] Re: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
Barbara wrote:
>Randi,
>$1 an inch, does this mean that a 4x5 Image area print would sell for $20
>no matter what the paper size? That is a pretty good price..Maybe you
>should make it the paper size! But if you are selling work, that is good.
>You can raise prices as your work becomes more in demand. I can see that
>8x10 at $80 is not bad...but if the frame was $50 that would be $130, so
>if a gallery took half you would end up with only $20 for all your work.
>If you start selling in galleries you will need to make the jump or you
>will start to resent working so hard for no money. I did that a few years
>ago and sell about the same amount...so if someone likes the work the
>price is not the main factor.
Hi Barbara,
I don't think I'd want to be charging by the square inch for the blank part
of the paper. I guess I'm sort of a socialist printmaker - I'd rather
charge less, keep my work affordable, and make some (few) sales. The market
here is very, very limited, and since there are no galleries which take
50%, I'm okay for now.
I frame inexpensively - plain metal exhibition frame and no more than a
double mat - and buy the matboard and frames in (smallish) volume for a
discount from the supplier.
My editions are usually anywhere from 20 - 35, although the most popular
print is only an edition of 15. Fortunately, I have more ideas which will
be in a similar style, and I'll make sure to do larger editions of the next
ones, now that I see what people have liked best.
That popular print, matted and framed, is priced at $132.50, of which $25
is the framing cost. Selling in the 35% gallery, I end up with $92.75 minus
the $25 = $67.75; still worth the while by my low standards, although I'd
_always_ rather sell directly to the buyer and keep all the money myself.
Since I rarely am able to do that here, it's worth the commission to have
any sales at all.
I have my handbound blank books and decorated gourds in a newish craft
consignment gallery in town, which takes only 25% commission. A couple of
my books sold there before Christmas. I was quite pleased with that, as the
books rarely sell at all, and I didn't even have to be there to make the
sale. I saved bigtime on unused gratuitous over-smiling, too.
It's a start and it'll have to do for now. People have started using
festivals and fairs as a cheap day's outing, and don't buy anything, so
there's no use throwing away the booth fee for those around here. Good
thing I enjoy making my art; this is the stealthiest stealth marketing plan
I've ever not made a living from ;^D
Take care,
Randi
--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ms Randi DeLisle
papermaker, bookbinder, publisher, printmaker & gourd artist
pulp fictions & pulp fictions press
Grand Forks BC Canada pulpfic@sunshinecable.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>Randi,
>$1 an inch, does this mean that a 4x5 Image area print would sell for $20
>no matter what the paper size? That is a pretty good price..Maybe you
>should make it the paper size! But if you are selling work, that is good.
>You can raise prices as your work becomes more in demand. I can see that
>8x10 at $80 is not bad...but if the frame was $50 that would be $130, so
>if a gallery took half you would end up with only $20 for all your work.
>If you start selling in galleries you will need to make the jump or you
>will start to resent working so hard for no money. I did that a few years
>ago and sell about the same amount...so if someone likes the work the
>price is not the main factor.
Hi Barbara,
I don't think I'd want to be charging by the square inch for the blank part
of the paper. I guess I'm sort of a socialist printmaker - I'd rather
charge less, keep my work affordable, and make some (few) sales. The market
here is very, very limited, and since there are no galleries which take
50%, I'm okay for now.
I frame inexpensively - plain metal exhibition frame and no more than a
double mat - and buy the matboard and frames in (smallish) volume for a
discount from the supplier.
My editions are usually anywhere from 20 - 35, although the most popular
print is only an edition of 15. Fortunately, I have more ideas which will
be in a similar style, and I'll make sure to do larger editions of the next
ones, now that I see what people have liked best.
That popular print, matted and framed, is priced at $132.50, of which $25
is the framing cost. Selling in the 35% gallery, I end up with $92.75 minus
the $25 = $67.75; still worth the while by my low standards, although I'd
_always_ rather sell directly to the buyer and keep all the money myself.
Since I rarely am able to do that here, it's worth the commission to have
any sales at all.
I have my handbound blank books and decorated gourds in a newish craft
consignment gallery in town, which takes only 25% commission. A couple of
my books sold there before Christmas. I was quite pleased with that, as the
books rarely sell at all, and I didn't even have to be there to make the
sale. I saved bigtime on unused gratuitous over-smiling, too.
It's a start and it'll have to do for now. People have started using
festivals and fairs as a cheap day's outing, and don't buy anything, so
there's no use throwing away the booth fee for those around here. Good
thing I enjoy making my art; this is the stealthiest stealth marketing plan
I've ever not made a living from ;^D
Take care,
Randi
--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ms Randi DeLisle
papermaker, bookbinder, publisher, printmaker & gourd artist
pulp fictions & pulp fictions press
Grand Forks BC Canada pulpfic@sunshinecable.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Message 6
From: GWohlken
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 16:18:44 -0500
Subject: [Baren 26812] RE: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
Maria, your pricing seems low for framed pieces. I spend anywhere from
$55 to $70 on plain black wooden frames with a single mat for the size
of prints I make, the largest usually 8 1/2 x 11 inches. I do not
frame (which I'm assuming you do) as that is a skill I have not
developed. I find it is the kind of work I don't enjoy, and my
frustration level when I do it wrong is overwhelming. I prefer to let
the professionals do it, but that does affect the price of my prints.
I don't make big prints like you do, but I do have a formula of adding
$10 per color past the base price of $45 per print. Most of my prints
are black and white so they don't go over the base price very often.
I don't use a press, so it takes longer to print because there are a
number of thin layers of the same color.
Anyway, that's how I price.
~Gayle/Ohio
$55 to $70 on plain black wooden frames with a single mat for the size
of prints I make, the largest usually 8 1/2 x 11 inches. I do not
frame (which I'm assuming you do) as that is a skill I have not
developed. I find it is the kind of work I don't enjoy, and my
frustration level when I do it wrong is overwhelming. I prefer to let
the professionals do it, but that does affect the price of my prints.
I don't make big prints like you do, but I do have a formula of adding
$10 per color past the base price of $45 per print. Most of my prints
are black and white so they don't go over the base price very often.
I don't use a press, so it takes longer to print because there are a
number of thin layers of the same color.
Anyway, that's how I price.
~Gayle/Ohio
Message 7
From: "jimandkatemundie # juno.com"
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 21:40:48 GMT
Subject: [Baren 26813] printing presses in Canada being sold for scrap
Send Message: To this poster
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but if anybody is near Calgary and is looking to pick up some presses wicked cheap, take a look here: http://www.earlmwashington.com/Presses/presses.htm
Jim
________________________________________
James G. Mundie
Philadelphia PA, U.S.A.
http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/images/
Message 8
From: "claudia g coonen"
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 11:52:19 -1000
Subject: [Baren 26814] Re: Baren Digest (old) V30 #2919
Send Message: To this poster
alohas,
for anyone on or visiting Maui (yes I know some may be wishing it at this
point of Jan.) We are having our !st ever dept show at the Hui No'eau
Visual Art Center ...called Proof Positve. Many examples of woodblock, and
other techniques will be on display. opening is tommorrow friday the 14th
6- 8:30... demos going on on saturdays, and up for veiwing until Feb 5.
claudia coonen
maui with 30 mi/hr winds
for anyone on or visiting Maui (yes I know some may be wishing it at this
point of Jan.) We are having our !st ever dept show at the Hui No'eau
Visual Art Center ...called Proof Positve. Many examples of woodblock, and
other techniques will be on display. opening is tommorrow friday the 14th
6- 8:30... demos going on on saturdays, and up for veiwing until Feb 5.
claudia coonen
maui with 30 mi/hr winds
Message 9
From: "Maria Diener (aka Arango)"
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:00:16 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26815] Re: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
I buy frames wholesale twice a year; same for matboard and glass.
Average framing cost is $8, $18, $23, $34, $54 (for the sizes mentioned in
my other email). The cost of framing at a frame shop is laughable compared
to the cost of the materials. In fact, if I ever decide to quit art, I will
open a frame shop...or not.
Once I invested in a good mat cutter and found my wholesale suppliers, my
cost of framing dropped drastically. I could not sell public-direct if I
used a framer and they never do a very good job in terms of archival
materials and mounting. The first time I frame a print I write down the
mat(s) dimensions on a card file; next time it is really a matter of 10-15
minutes.
I didn't enjoy it at first either, but once I get in "framing mode" I'm cool
with it as part of the tasks of being an artist.
Maria, the framer
Average framing cost is $8, $18, $23, $34, $54 (for the sizes mentioned in
my other email). The cost of framing at a frame shop is laughable compared
to the cost of the materials. In fact, if I ever decide to quit art, I will
open a frame shop...or not.
Once I invested in a good mat cutter and found my wholesale suppliers, my
cost of framing dropped drastically. I could not sell public-direct if I
used a framer and they never do a very good job in terms of archival
materials and mounting. The first time I frame a print I write down the
mat(s) dimensions on a card file; next time it is really a matter of 10-15
minutes.
I didn't enjoy it at first either, but once I get in "framing mode" I'm cool
with it as part of the tasks of being an artist.
Maria, the framer
Message 10
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:23:49 -0800
Subject: [Baren 26816] Re: printing presses in Canada being sold for scrap
Send Message: To this poster
How sad ... going for scrap ... makes it almost worth the drive to Calgary.
Cheers ..... Charles
Cheers ..... Charles
Message 11
From: Bette Norcross Wappner
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 19:34:51 -0500
Subject: [Baren 26817] Re: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
Maria, Barbara, Gayle and Everyone!
I have learned soooo much from you on pricing, framing, and selling. I
keep your emails so I can refer to them down the road when I know I will
need them. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.
Bette Wappner
northern Kentucky
I have learned soooo much from you on pricing, framing, and selling. I
keep your emails so I can refer to them down the road when I know I will
need them. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.
Bette Wappner
northern Kentucky
Message 12
From: Bette Norcross Wappner
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 19:38:33 -0500
Subject: [Baren 26818] Claudia's Hawaii Art/Print Show
Send Message: To this poster
Alohas, Claudia -
Wish I could come to Maui (Haiku), Hawaii to see your show :)
If you can, take pictures and share them with us!
Have fun and best wishes to you and your colleagues.
Bette Wappner
northern Kentucky
--------------------------------
> alohas,
> for anyone on or visiting Maui (yes I know some may be wishing it at
> this
> point of Jan.) We are having our !st ever dept show at the Hui No'eau
> Visual Art Center ...called Proof Positve. Many examples of woodblock,
> and
> other techniques will be on display. opening is tommorrow friday the
> 14th
> 6- 8:30... demos going on on saturdays, and up for veiwing until Feb 5.
> claudia coonen
> maui with 30 mi/hr winds
>
>
Wish I could come to Maui (Haiku), Hawaii to see your show :)
If you can, take pictures and share them with us!
Have fun and best wishes to you and your colleagues.
Bette Wappner
northern Kentucky
--------------------------------
> alohas,
> for anyone on or visiting Maui (yes I know some may be wishing it at
> this
> point of Jan.) We are having our !st ever dept show at the Hui No'eau
> Visual Art Center ...called Proof Positve. Many examples of woodblock,
> and
> other techniques will be on display. opening is tommorrow friday the
> 14th
> 6- 8:30... demos going on on saturdays, and up for veiwing until Feb 5.
> claudia coonen
> maui with 30 mi/hr winds
>
>
Message 13
From: Aon97 # aol.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 23:47:20 EST
Subject: [Baren 26819] Re: Pricing
Send Message: To this poster
bettewappner wrote:
>I have learned soooo much from you on pricing, framing, and selling. I
>keep your emails so I can refer to them down the road when I know I will
>need them. Thanks for sharing this valuable information. I echo that statement. You have all been incredibly helpful. Everyone in this
group has been terrific about sharing their wisdom.
Maria: Can you recommend any good books on framing?
Jeff
>I have learned soooo much from you on pricing, framing, and selling. I
>keep your emails so I can refer to them down the road when I know I will
>need them. Thanks for sharing this valuable information. I echo that statement. You have all been incredibly helpful. Everyone in this
group has been terrific about sharing their wisdom.
Maria: Can you recommend any good books on framing?
Jeff
Message 14
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 21:33:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 26820] framing
Send Message: To this poster
Jeff,
If you go to your local frame it yourself shop and ask them to teach you, they will, for a fee. It is not hard, just a
very few little tricks that will make it easy for you. I learned by doing it and looking at other's work, but I should
have just taken a cheap begining class....I mean how hard can it be if there are frame shops on every corner???? It is easy
if you are fussy...just keep things clean, including your hands and buy the tools...there are a couple that will make it a snap.
With metal frames you need a screwdriver and strong hands and with wood you need a corner nailer and some wood glue....look at
framing supplies on the internet. A corner brace that holds stuff square would be nice...I have never had one and wish I did..maybe soon.
You can do it without, it is just a bit harder.
I get all my stuff wholesale at a place in Portland called Framers Inventory. They do not have a catalog, hard to believe; you just have to call
them and say, do you have???? and usually they do.I get the wholesale account because of the retail gallery I am part owner of with 13 other artists.
You need a mat cutter...the logan 750 is the best and not very expensive, about $300...I have a larger logan and a fletcher for sale that I do not like
as well...I paid $600 for the framers edge logan and $1500 for the fletcher....both are available on the internet now, the framers edge is about $500 so
guess I paid too much or it is coming down in price. The fletcher is more so maybe they will even out..ha. Think at this point I will try to find them a good
home at almost any price as I need to move them out of my tiny studio.
Barbara Mason
If you go to your local frame it yourself shop and ask them to teach you, they will, for a fee. It is not hard, just a
very few little tricks that will make it easy for you. I learned by doing it and looking at other's work, but I should
have just taken a cheap begining class....I mean how hard can it be if there are frame shops on every corner???? It is easy
if you are fussy...just keep things clean, including your hands and buy the tools...there are a couple that will make it a snap.
With metal frames you need a screwdriver and strong hands and with wood you need a corner nailer and some wood glue....look at
framing supplies on the internet. A corner brace that holds stuff square would be nice...I have never had one and wish I did..maybe soon.
You can do it without, it is just a bit harder.
I get all my stuff wholesale at a place in Portland called Framers Inventory. They do not have a catalog, hard to believe; you just have to call
them and say, do you have???? and usually they do.I get the wholesale account because of the retail gallery I am part owner of with 13 other artists.
You need a mat cutter...the logan 750 is the best and not very expensive, about $300...I have a larger logan and a fletcher for sale that I do not like
as well...I paid $600 for the framers edge logan and $1500 for the fletcher....both are available on the internet now, the framers edge is about $500 so
guess I paid too much or it is coming down in price. The fletcher is more so maybe they will even out..ha. Think at this point I will try to find them a good
home at almost any price as I need to move them out of my tiny studio.
Barbara Mason