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Message 1
From: ANDY ENGLISH
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:23:34 +0100 (BST)
Subject: [Baren 27872] Re: Editioning
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I feel increasingly constrained by the notion of a numbered edition. One of the reasons that I am a printmaker is that I enjoy making multiples; another is that I like many people to have my work, rather than a few. I tend to use an edition size of 100 to keep the unit cost down but, until recently, I printed up to 20 at a time, mainly because I rejected many as being substandard. Now, with a better press, I try to print at least 50 initially and then the rest as soon as possible.

I am going to introduce a series of "unlimited" prints. These will be small or experimental at first. I may not number them, or I may number them as they are sold so some may end up in the hundred while those that do not catch the public eye may only number 5 or 6.

For me, the idea of a "limited" edition has been done down by editions of 1500 or so that one sometimes sees of reproductions, rather than of artist prints. But then that is a familiar moan these days.

I am very much against the idea of "second" editions. If I decide on an edition size then I honour it. If I was tempted to run further editions then I would definitley rather scrap the numbered editions and just offer the unlimited series as above.

Cut! Print! Number! Sell Out! Print Again! Number Again! And so it goes on?!

Peace.

Andy


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Artist Printmaker

www.andyenglish.co.uk)

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Message 2
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:53:35 -0500
Subject: [Baren 27873] Re: editioning
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James writes:

"Now, if I was working at the behest of a publisher and was guaranteed a
certain amount of cash for the endeavor, I would certainly print the
whole go at once. But working for myself, and selling a print here and
there...."

I think James hit it right on the spot....now... Karen Kunc, Barry Moser
and other prolific printmakers here on Baren could probably
be on such demand as to receive an advance or at the request of their
publisher or gallery print out a whole edition at one time with certain
monetary guarantees. But the Julio's of the world don't need to worry too
much about this type of stuff.... selling a print here or there, giving
freebies away to family and friends and/or participating on Baren
exchanges is enough satisfaction for me and certainly does not require all
the editioning fanfare...

Thanks Mike for the online 'edition' descriptions, interesting reading and
I found out a few new things.

Carol, congratulations on the slide lecture, you are right it gets easier
with practice....thank you for promoting Baren...photos please !

Jeff, some very interesting ideas...like Barbara, I too have a large
collection of prints and the fear that my wife or kids would just
get rid of it after my demise.......they would not know the difference
between a Yoshida, an Eichenberg or a Rodriguez....well, maybe they
would... ;-)


thanks to everyone for the lively discussion......Julio

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Message 3
From: "Maria Diener (aka Arango)"
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:47:44 -0700
Subject: [Baren 27874] Re: editioning
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I think most of us do--scratch that, I will speak for myself only--

I know I do what the market dictates and although I admire folks who go
against the grain and end up succeeding anyway, I just don't have the b-make
that, courage to do that. I truly love selling my prints, it's a great high
to have people respond to your art. Ignorant as we deem the masses, they
know the "number thing" and you can add to that the fact that my better
markets don't allow unnumbered editions at all. So for now, I do what my
market tells me to do, number dutifully, cancel blocks and move on. Oh yeah,
I sell my blocks, I guess that's a little against the grain.
For exchanges I number because everyone else does. In some exchanges I have
no intention of selling that print, that is, the print was created for the
purpose of exchanging with my fellow printmakers only.

If I were to come to the point in my life that I don't want to sell prints
anymore, I really don't know if I would number or not. I don't see myself
ever working for a publisher, the sole thought gives me a rash. I see myself
in the future making about a cool dozen of something, placing the little
stack along with all my other little stacks and then going out for the
second hike of the day in the back-country of my beloved desert.

I certainly agree that none of my motivation for numbering or not numbering
is due to the remote possibility that someday museums will ask me for
records. If it ever comes to that, and I doubt that it will, I will have my
bus full of lawyers take care of appeasing the irate museum directors and
art dealers. Or something. I do keep a good database of my work and it is
always up to date, including how many of each print are on hand and the
owner of every single print that has left my possession. Actually it's kind
of fun to keep records.

This was email 1/1 for the day...believe it or not.

Maria


Maria Arango
www.1000woodcuts.com
Las Vegas Nevada USA

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