On Limited Editions

For some, making more than one is heresy. For others, not making (and selling) as many as they can produce is absurd.  Some would rather sell a few for a high price, and others would rather sell many for a low price.  For some a limited edition may be 10 prints, and for others a thousand.  Some will actually limit the number by size, 10 16x20s, 20 11x14s and 100 8x10s, or something to that effect.

I read, for months, debate after debate trying to decide on how I would handle LE prints of my own.  I've come to the conclusion that there is no one correct way.  To that end, I'm going with two strategies.

There are a few select images that I currently have, which I believe are some of the best images I've ever produced. And frankly, I don't care what anyone else thinks about them.  They're special to me for one reason or another.  The first one is the one above, titled, "Equus Oculus".  This is my first Limited Edition print.  I am only going to produce 25 of these for sale. They are only going to be available in one size, printed on one type of paper - the one I choose that I believe best represents this image.  It's not going to be priced out of this world, only a little higher than the non-LE prints, but with every print I sell, the price will go up a little every time.

As I select other prints to be designated as Limited Edition, they will become part of the collection that I consider my best work.  As many artists do, I will produce a small number of 'Artist's Proofs' for my own use. These are not part of the Limited Edition, but they too will be limited to a maximum of 10 prints for any edition.  

NUMBERED, OPEN EDITION PRINTS

So what about the other prints. Well, my decision for those is what's known as Open Editions. Basically, there's no limit on the number of prints that can be produced and I am able to sell them in a variety of sizes and formats.

However, with these prints, I will number the print so as to indicate how many of them there are 'out there'. This way the buyer knows which one they have, #1 or #20, and thus provide them with some sense of investment.  Prices will vary according to the size and media used for printing and are available in either Fine Art Papers or as canvas Gallery Wraps.

Let's face it, I'm not going to be around forever so there will be a finite number of prints that can be produced.  What that number is will depend on the popularity of the image, but although I'm a legend in my own mind, I don't believe that number will reach massive quantities.

I think, more than anything, it was to put my thoughts down on paper to see if they made any sense.  Now that I've made the decision it makes some sense to me but has also lifted a great weight of indecision and relief that I can move ahead with my commitment.  

The other reason is to put out there, for everyone to see, what purchasing a print from me, either Limited or Open, means to them.  In other words, a Limited Edition isn't worth anything unless there is a clear and defined limit.  Will this philosophy change?  Possibly, but my integrity dictates that I hold true to whatever commitment I make to each individual edition.

Mike Guilbault, MPA