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The Daily Insight

Should artists sell prints?

Author

James Olson

Updated on March 06, 2026

Painting. Even though a print might not appreciate in value like an original artwork, only the buyers with the deepest pockets can buy originals, a small market to be sure. Having prints available to buyers allows artists to reach a wider audience, at lower price points.

Accordingly, are artist prints valuable?

Like all artworks, fine art prints are more valuable when they are hand-signed by the artist. (It doesn't matter much if the signature is located on the front of the print, the back of the print, or on its accompanying Certificate of Authenticity.)

Subsequently, question is, how do I sell my art prints? There's four steps to selling your artwork as prints:

  1. Digitise your artwork. Small artworks:
  2. Decide how to price your prints.
  3. Decide on whether to print them yourself or outsource them?
  4. Set up (online) shop.
  5. Your job doesn't stop here.

Furthermore, can you make money selling art prints?

Losing money on prints is a thing in the past, and today's artists can profit significantly by selling prints. If you are ready to start selling your art prints online and make some money, continue reading. You will learn everything you need to know to get your artwork seen around the world.

Should you sign art prints?

Prints must always be signed in pencil. The artist name and date are to be signed on the bottom right side of a print just below the printed image. Never on the image! The title of the print is to be written in the center of the image just below the printed image.

Related Question Answers

How do artists sign prints?

Signing and Numbering the Print

The standard is to sign the print at the bottom right hand corner below the impression, the edition number on the bottom left hand corner and the title, if any, in the center.

Do limited edition art prints increase in value?

Limited edition prints usually retain or increase their value. However, this will depend on the artist and whether their demand and popularity increases over time. When buying a limited edition print, the artist or printer's proof versions are deemed rare and so are likely to hold more value.

How can you tell if a print is an original?

The most definitive method of determining whether a print is an original or a reproduction is by examination of its production process. All reproductions are made by a different process than originals; reproductions are photomechanically produced and originals are not.

Why are giclee prints so expensive?

Because of it's high quality and relative rarity, a limited edition giclee is valuable from it's initial printing. But these giclee prints also become more valuable over time as the artist gains more and more recognition and the edition of the print sells out.

How much should I charge for a print of my artwork?

If your basic cost per painting is $50 for fixed costs plus $20 for materials, then you add the 10 hours that it took you to paint the piece, then that's another $200. How many prints do you want to sell before you make that back? 20 prints? That's $90 per print.

Why are prints expensive?

You aren't paying for the cost to get the print made. You are paying for a limited reproduction of an original piece of art. The price will be related to the value of the original and how much fame (for want of a better word) that the artist has.

How do I find the value of art prints?

There are several websites that list thousands of artists and literally millions of prices fetched at auction, to enable people to research pictures and value.

How can I value my print or picture?

Are giclee prints worth anything?

Giclee prints offer both artists and collectors a number of benefits. Giclees are more expensive to reproduce than the bulk prints made using traditional lithography and they are priced accordingly, but, it goes without saying, that they aren't as valuable as original works.

Should I sell original art or prints?

Painting. Even though a print might not appreciate in value like an original artwork, only the buyers with the deepest pockets can buy originals, a small market to be sure. Having prints available to buyers allows artists to reach a wider audience, at lower price points.

What size prints sell best?

Re: Most popular print size purchased by customers? 13 x 19 seems to sell the best. Although I much prefer 16 x 24 (on 17 x 25" paper) as it frames easily and seems large enough for most homes. Keep in mind that a double mat and frame will increase the size tremendously.

Is selling art on Etsy worth it?

If you're a great artist looking to make money off your work but aren't sure how to sell art online, Etsy is a great option! Whether you want to sell paintings on Etsy or are a photographer looking for a new market for your prints, Etsy might be the perfect answer to your selling woes.

How do artists get rich?

Here are six tips to get the ball rolling so you can start earning money as an artist.
  1. Take internships.
  2. Teach the subject.
  3. Reduce your living expenses.
  4. Network with other artists and creatives.
  5. Create an art budget.
  6. Create profiles on creative selling websites.

How can I make $5000 fast?

Table of Contents
  1. Start Driving: Uber and Lyft.
  2. Take Photos on Your Phone: Snapwire.
  3. Work-From-Home Jobs: Amazon.
  4. Wrap Your Car for Cash: Wrapify.
  5. Perform Odd Jobs: TaskRabbit.
  6. Sell Stuff Online: Craigslist.
  7. Teach Others: Chegg Tutors.

How do I start selling my paintings?

How to Start a Business Selling Your Own Artwork
  1. Putting Your Art Online. If you want people to buy your art, you need to make it available.
  2. Putting Your Art Into the World.
  3. Sell Art Commissions.
  4. Hire a Professional Consultant.
  5. Networking.
  6. Build a Client Base.
  7. Know Your Audience.
  8. Use Social Media.

How do you price your artwork?

Pay yourself a reasonable hourly wage, add the cost of materials and make that your asking price. For example, if materials cost $50, you take 20 hours to make the art, and you pay yourself $20 an hour to make it, then you price the art at $450 ($20 X 20 hours + $50 cost of materials).

Where can I sell my art online 2020?

The 10 Best Sites For Selling Your Art in 2020
  • Artplode.
  • Shopify.
  • Artfinder.
  • Saatchi Art.
  • Artnet.
  • Amazon.
  • Society6.
  • Redbubble.

What paper is best for art prints?

As a rule, art print papers are matte, cotton rag, or canvas. Red River Paper offers you the best quality products available today.

Is my art good enough to sell?

Let them know that you're interested in selling your art, and ask point blank what you need to change to do so. Don't be surprised if they seem hesitant to give you a specific number; but if they do mention a set price, it probably means they believe your art is good enough to sell.

Where can I exhibit my art?

Here I have made a list of 10 venues where art exhibitions may take place:
  • Auction houses.
  • Contemporary Art Museums.
  • Art galleries.
  • Cultural centers.
  • Art fairs/Art festivals.
  • Art and craft markets.
  • Artist Residencies.
  • Art themed cafes.

Is selling fan art legal?

The answer is, if you are creating fan art whether for profit or not, any copyrighted character or use of trademark in a description or title without prior written consent from the copyright owner, then selling fan art is illegal but making fan art is not illegal.

Where can I sell my art for free?

ArtPal is a popular, FREE gallery to sell art and buy art, representing many thousands of artists. No membership fees. No commission. Completely free with unlimited space to sell all of your art!

What type of paintings sell best on Etsy?

With dogs being the most popular.

Additionally, watercolors of whales, orcas, dolphins and birds are also very popular with an average of 3000+ customer reviews as a proxy for sales.

Do artists always sign their work?

Many contemporary artists don't sign their work on the piece itself. The signature may be concealed behind the work, on the back of the canvas, or the back of the mounting for a photograph. For some conceptual work, a signature comes in the form of a certificate of authenticity.

Why do artists not sign their work?

Here are a few of the reasons why artists don't sign their work: They don't feel like it's finished – Some artists just know through a feeling when a work is complete. Other artists don't ever get that sense of their work being finished and may feel that if they sign it, they can't continue to work on it.

Should I date my artwork?

Art buyers, critics and the general public will eventually come to recognize you and your art by just viewing your signature. If you don't want to date your art on the front, date it inconspicuously on the back or even on the edge. Obviously, dating your art minimizes any guesswork as to when something was completed.

What should I sign my paintings with?

A paint pen such as the Montana Acrylic Paint marker is also a good choice. The Pentel Sign Pen is also a good pen to sign your work with. For oil paintings, a lot of artists just use the end of a small brush or a stylus to scratch their signature into the wet paint.

What is the difference between an artist's proof and a print?

It is crucial to note that today's Artist Proof prints are of exactly quality, type, and media as the regular edition. The only real difference between the two is the restricted quantity of prints bearing the AP designation and not the quality of the print.

Should you paint the sides of canvas?

While most of your concern will be about what's on the front of the canvas, for presentation purposes it's usually nice to keep the sides of the canvas neat and tidy. If you are planning to frame your painting, no problem - be as messy as you want, because the frame will cover the sides.

What is an artist proof?

An artist's proof is, at least in theory, an impression of a print taken in the printmaking process to see the current printing state of a plate while the plate (or stone, or woodblock) is being worked on by the artist.

What is a good number for limited edition prints?

Most emerging artists tend to choose a number between 200-500. This way, your limited editions run is not too small to hamper sales and just big enough to interest and satisfy your buyers. Ideally, the number for a large limited edition run should not exceed 850.