A Change of Heart
As a young artist beginning my formal artistic training, I was extremely attached to my work. I had dreamy ideals about only producing original work (no prints) that I look back upon with that slow shaking of the head that older wiser ones offer to impetuous youngsters.
In those days, I turned down sales because I couldn’t bear separating two paintings that I intended to be paired. I was offered $50 for one very odd sculpture – but I couldn’t bring myself to part with the strange creation. (Sadly it gathered dust a long time before I ended up dissecting it to repurpose its parts.) Each work contained such a piece of my heart that I didn't want to share them.
Heart Hand Blender Sculpture
Created Circa 2002
Since then, since slowly entering the real world, since meeting many reputable, true artists who have “succumbed” to selling prints, I’ve had a change of heart. There is more than one way to view and understand most situations. What I initially perceived as a selling-out, a cheapening of one’s craft (due to offering prints), has turned into the realization that selling prints is a smart move. Not everyone has space or funds for originals. Furthermore, why should the joy of an artwork remain limited to one owner?
Consequently, I’ve taken the plunge (no, it’s not that dramatic, but it’s been a process for me to arrive here), and have my first batch of Fine Art prints matted, packaged and ready to be ‘adopted’. I’m proud of these little guys. They are 5”x7” images, matted to fit 8”x10” frames. I haven’t done anything crazy; just ordered handful printed on beautiful Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper (boasting the description “world’s best fine art paper” in some circles). I sold the first print 3 days ago. And I feel happy about it. I’m suffering no inner conflict between naïve ideals and realistic business decisions.
What remains to be seen is what images people gravitate towards. It will be a journey of discovery. Until the near future (when my sales can be processed online), contact me to order a print of your favourite piece! T’is the season for thoughtful Christmas presents… Sometimes a change of heart does some good.
First Batch of Fine Art Prints
