The more exposure the better, right?

Scott Naismithblog, News, prints 22 Comments

 

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As the prices of my original paintings keep rising, it seems important to allow affordable access to the images.

At times when I see art in department stores, I despair at some (not all) of the quality and the idea that my work might be amongst it has put me off in the past. My prints in the US with icanvas offer fantastic affordability and have been extremely successful. Wouldn’t it be great to see my work brighten the shelves of a great store like Next? The more exposure the better, right?

Well there’s a real chance now that department stores in the UK could stock my work, so I thought I would ask your opinion using a Google+ poll…..

Comments 22

  1. Hmm, tricky one.
    I’d try the signed limited edition market to keep your work available to more than just the original market.
    However, much as the open/mass produced printing goes….I’m not a huge fan but, if you feel you must try this out, can i offer you this advice…..do NOT print an image in open edition format THEN offer the same image as a signed limited run!
    How miffed would your clients be if they had spent over £500 for a fab signed limited edition framed print from a trusted gallery,only to find the exact image is hanging in Next/or similar for£20????
    Just saying!
    Good luck & keep me posted.
    Cheers
    Rona

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  2. Your paintings are special and I would love to own one. I feel it would cheapen your work but then there are prints of famous artists’ works all over the world so if it is going to help you, go for it. Look at Tretchikoff …….. everyone knows his work. (Met him in Cape Town when I worked for a financial services company.)

  3. Hi Scott firstly , I love your work but am unlikely to be able to afford an original piece. I think that selling your work in Next would allow more people access to it and maybe aspire to own an original one day. Whatever you decide, good luck.

    1. I agree – I would love to get my mother-in-law one of your Edinburgh prints. She lost her husband last year and I know the images would evoke happy memories, but no way can I afford even £125 for a 40×40 image unmounted… I would love to see your imagery become more accessible… think I’d run out of room on my walls!

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  4. I absolutely agree with Rona, part of me feels like your selling out as well in a way. Keeping your market where it is, is what gives you your edge and makes you exclusive. It’s folks like me who should be going to next because I’m just starting out lol! I don’t think you belong there. I would be a bit annoyed if I saw something I bought of yours for a third of the price in next or John Lewis, either in print or original. Good luck though.

    Tania Lake

  5. You know how much I want a piece of your work especially seen as your father was my family doctor, however I would worry it would cheapen your name and work and I should be saying go for it so I can own a piece but am saying …don’t do it x

  6. Hi Scott, I will never be able to buy one of your originals and I would probably be hard pressed to buy a signed limited edition print but, having said that, I really wouldn’t like to see your work on the mass market. You’re better than that. This is going to sound very snobbish but I don’t think the mass market would fully appreciate what goes in to one of your paintings. Go for limited edition prints if you want to widen your audience.

  7. I agree totally with Rona. It gets your work out there and will drive more buyers to purchase your originals if they are exclusive. I have a Kent Lovelace print that I purchased from Coldwater Creek.com, I’m now trying to decide on what original to purchase. He only put out the one mass marketed one, as far as I can see, so I don’t know if he decided this was not the way he wanted to go. He keeps his work to himself to sell, but it was good for him as his is work is also very expensive and in demand.

    I also know an artist close to me who had a painting’s prints sell to a large chain store, then she found she could not sell the original.

    There are pros and cons, just watch out for the cons.

    Alice

  8. But not everyone who loves your work can just like that effort to spend 500£+ or way more.
    Also, there is still a very big difference between prints and oil paintings. If I could I,’d ofc rather buy the original work, it’s so much more beautiful, but I’d still love to have your painting, even as print, on my walls. And please forgive me for suggesting this, but posters would be great too, when I think abt me moving soon overseas.

  9. Any updates to this?

    I can see nice canvas prints available in the US, but it almost doubles the price to get them sent to the UK.

    Pairing up with a UK supplier (good quality prints, not poorly produced stuff) would make sense.

    Anyway my boring white walls are bare and waiting…. Maybe one day…

  10. Really sorry to say this – but if I saw your work in a department store / commercially mass produced in this way it would really put me off – and would definitely not be an inspiration to collect or buy an original or print. Yes it would reach the masses but could jeopardise your reputation as a sought after artist. it could affect the price of your original work in a good way but could make them plummet down too. It’s a big gamble in my opinion.

  11. Hi Scott

    Firstly, I think it’s great you have opened this up to hear your fans opinions! I do think at the end of the day its about how you want people to view your brand and your artwork.

    Personally I would look elsewhere for a limited edition print if I knew next was selling a cheap version – but that’s personal preference and you can’t please everyone, only yourself!

    Emma

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