Monday, January 14, 2013

Creative outlet - original art cards

 My latest creative diversion is making cards using cut offs from encaustic monotypes I created this summer and fall.   What fun I had experimenting with new encaustic colours I purchased at the  International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown , June 2012.  I  also had a new supply of all sorts of  papers suitable for pulling prints from melted encaustic.  Combine new materials with a beautiful view of the sea and meadows, a gentle breeze through open windows, and hours of free time and your head gets in a very creative space.

 I worked for days and saved everything I created.  While much of it was gallery worthy some of it was not.  Those pieces got sorted into one pile and then I went to work with the paper cutter.  Viola... Lots of cards for personal use and gifts for friends and relatives.

 I had thought about marketing the cards, but pricing is a real issue because the work on them is original.  If I matted one of the smaller ones  3 1/2 x 5 in. and sold it I would want at least $75.00.  Put it on a card and I can't see asking any more than $20 because it is a card.  The work is created in series so there is some coherency to it. 

 Ocean patterns

 Swirl

Dew in the meadow 

And there's so much more to show.....

 Have you ever sold cards with original work?  If so, please let me know how you handled the pricing.



3 comments:

Gina said...

lovely cards .... i have the same dilemma - i am trying to solve it by selling ORIGINAL cards - one of designs (aka the artwork you cut up) and 'printed' cards - i have scanned in the ones i like the most and got them printed locally into cards. These i can sell at the 'normal' card prices whilst selling the one-off original artwork card at a price that is valued for what it is.

Its difficult though because i create one of original art cards specifically as cards ... these are the in between price range. in between original 'art' card and printed card which could have many prints of the same card.

hope some of this helps >>> Gina

M said...

It is a problem Gina and I am still trying to sort through it. Some of the pieces I salvaged from larger prints I now plan to matt because they are beautiful little abstracted landscapes. I'll show those later. By the time I go through again and resort for matting and framing, I may not have much left. More later on where I go with this.

Gexton said...

My latest creative diversion is making cards using cut offs from encaustic monotypes I created this summer and fall. What fun I had experimenting with new encaustic colours I purchased at the International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown , June 2012. I also had a new supply of all sorts of papers suitable for pulling prints from melted encaustic. Combine new materials with a beautiful view of the sea and meadows, a gentle breeze through open windows, and hours of free time and your head gets in a very creative space.
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