The thing about limited editions

I've always been on the fence about limited edition works. I've seen people have limited editions of 1000, or 2500 and I wonder is that REALLY limited edition? I mean, I suppose if you're a wildly popular artist, perhaps 2500 prints would sell very quickly. But usually limited editions fetch a higher price, so depending on what the price was, perhaps it would take years to sell 2500 prints. 

When I started my business I was making things by hand. Greeting cards and other small gift things, mostly, and here and there I did some photography. When I started doing the collages, I didn't think anything of having them limited. To me, I wanted my artwork to be accessible by as many people as possible, and while not cheap, I wanted it to be fairly affordable. So all my location collages are open edition. Now that I've decided to start pursuing art fairs outside of the state, this is a problem.

A lot of the prestigious art fairs require that most of your booth be originals, and if not originals, limited editions. Now, I've seen people take open edition work and make it limited edition by treating it in a particular manner, like a special type or size of print. This is what I'd like to do with my artwork but I have NO idea what to do.

I was considering having it mounted to acrylic block. This, I found, is not only incredibly expensive, it's only done in the UK, or so it seems by my research. Somewhat silly to spend tons of money just to have displays in a booth because truly, that's all they'd be. I have a feeling people would still purchase the matted prints over any big fancy limited edition piece I had. My next thought was to have them framed in lightboxes. The neon light collages would glow awesomely in a lit-up frame. However, that's also expensive and I'd have to have electricity in my booth. Then there's the other option: ignore the art fair directions. Well, I just don't want to push my luck.

So, I'm still stuck and I'm open to any ideas anyone has. The applications for next year for a few out of state shows will be coming up in a few months and I'd like to have a better idea of what the heck I'm doing if I'm going to be applying!

The realization and the moving on

I haven't blogged since I got to CO. I kept getting the iCal reminders and just put them aside. I didn't want to think about composing my thoughts and I REALLY didn't want to think about what happened in Vail. I've decided to just dump out everything into this one blog so it might get a little long.

I was really excited for Vail. I was nervous as all get out because it was a brand new thing for me. I've never exhibited just my "fine art" collages and it was scary. Will it be accepted? Will it be well received? I had no idea. My boyfriend was very comforting and assured me that the nerves are supposed to be there because I'm growing. It didn't make me less nervous, but it made me feel better.

Once we got there things went really well as far as setup. Got in, got unloaded, but had to wait for the end exhibitors to set up and get their vehicles out before I could set up. So we walked around, had lunch, enjoyed the day. It was great. Booth went up without a hitch and we headed back to the hotel to relax.

The next morning, art went up just fine. Everything looked great, I was very pleased. And then it started to rain. And rain. And rain. And I went my first day in 7 years without a sale and had more comments about how interesting and creative my art was in years. Now, these may have been compliments. However, with my experience in interior design, I quickly learned that when someone says something is "interesting", it usually means it's not to their taste or they don't understand or like it but feel the need to say something. I would rather hear nothing than hear an empty compliment. After day one, I went back to the room and promptly fell apart at the disaster that I knew this show was now going to be and the very expensive learning experience I was about to have.

Day two was better. The rain had stopped and I was back to manning the ship by myself as my boyfriend went back to Denver to go to work. I'm used to occupying myself during the day so it was no big deal, though I really appreciate when I have someone there who can grab me lunch. :) I had a better grasp of things and decided to put out some of my location art as I had brought some 11 x 14 matted prints with me. I hung up Las Vegas, Minnesota and UW-Madison. And I got some reaction and I knew then that people like recognizing places they've been no matter where they're from.

Day three started out ok. Got up and packed up and checked out and moved the van out of the hotel lot. Opened up the booth after grabbing some Starbucks (not bad having a booth about 25 yards from one) and was prepared for a slightly shorter day and the possibility that there was about a 95% chance that I would walk away from this fair having made no sales. I had more custom collage inquiries that day, which was pleasing and decided that I was going to be happy about the possibility of work from that area of my business regardless if I didn't make any artwork sales.

And then....a sale. The UW-Madison collage. Purchased by a woman from Wisconsin. I half wanted to cheer and half wanted to scream. I DROVE 900 MILES FOR A SALE I COULD'VE MADE AT HOME?!?!?! I felt better that I wasn't going to be completely without a sale, but was annoyed and confused. And the realized that that was it. I will do the location collages. I will put in the effort to travel and I will do the research and I will get them done. I won't abandon the work that I've done and my love for doing mixed media collage, I'll just put it on hold. And that'll be okay. I love all my art and am willing to focus on one aspect a little more clearly in order to achieve success.

Later that day a cute younger couple bought one of my retro ad collages and signed my mailing list. That made me a little happier. I know the retro ad collages appeal to a younger crowd and that just isn't Vail demographics. So at the end of the show, 2 sales. Covered about 2 tanks of gas. Not exactly what I had pictured even in all my nervousness. But at the end, I came out with a better focus of the direction my business needs to take, which is something. Not what was I was hoping for, but something.

So, Telluride. I'm supposed to the Telluride Arts Festival in August and have decided to cancel. One expensive learning experience in a year is enough. I haven't made the cancellation yet because it hasn't fully sunk in and I still kind of feel like I'm giving up, but financially it's just not a good idea.

In more positive news, the Maple Grove Art Fair is this weekend and I'm very excited to get back on track and make some sales. If you're in MN, come on out and say hi!