LFoster
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Posted: Aug 26, 2011, 4:18 PM
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Re-making work?
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Do you ever re-make a painting? At an art fair recently I was asked if I could make a painting in a smaller size. I thought she meant a reproduction so I told her that I hadn't reproduced that one. She said no she wanted a painting, just a smaller size. She wasn't sure it would fit. I could have talked to her about commissioning it, but I didn't. I wanted to sell the one I had :). Perhaps I missed out on a sale, but it didn't feel right.
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MarkJunge
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Posted: Aug 26, 2011, 10:15 PM
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I think it would be OK to "re-make a painting," but I would make them somewhat different from the first piece. Monet was certainly known for doing that, and I paint specific landscapes many times over simply because the scene inspires me immensely. But they're never identical, although they may be similar.
So, I'd say go for it, but only if you get more requests like the one you got at the art fair, or if (like me) there are images you feel you can't get enough of!
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Mark
http://www.southwestspaces.com
http://www.markjunge.blogspot.com
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LFoster
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Posted: Aug 30, 2011, 10:10 AM
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Re: [MarkJunge] Re-making work?
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Part of my concern is that she would want it to be exactly the same and of course it wouldn't be. I'm currently making some paintings that are similar to ones I've sold. It's not as interesting as doing something completely different, but sometimes you need to make what sells. I have one landscape I've done several times in various media. They're mostly not the kind of thing I would sell but it's interesting to see how they vary over the years.
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sarahfpollock
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Posted: Aug 30, 2011, 12:01 PM
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I've had requests like this. I think your response depends upon your business model.
I sell mostly one-of-a-kind pieces. I also sell limited edition prints of some of my works. But many of the shows where I exhibit do not allow prints (another discussion altogether).
Consequently, the price point that I can get get for an "original" piece is pretty gosh-darned important, because I do not often get a chance to sell reproductions / prints.
With this in mind, I do not do "copies" of earlier works.
Note that for the purpose of my response, my use of "copy" is different from "print" or "reproduction." I'm using the term "copy" to describe an replication of a motif done in my medium of pastel, not a limited edition print.
Regardless, I think that creating "copies" is disrespectful to the patron who bought the original. I have a lot of repeat customers. I do not want to jeopardize their future business by cheapening their purchase and putting "copies" of it out there, thereby diluting the merit of the original.
Finally, if I have to resort to "copies" of ideas to sell my work, then maybe it's time for me to throw in the towel. My works often share very consistent themes, so when someone asks for a "copy" I try to steer them to similar, related works. Sometimes this succeeds, sometimes not. But I'm not going to stray from my ideals to make a sale.
Good luck with your decision,
Sarah
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Sarah Pollock Studio
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LFoster
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Posted: Aug 30, 2011, 1:30 PM
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Re: [sarahfpollock] Re-making work?
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Her request kind of threw me. I'd never been asked to do that before and I couldn't understand why someone would want a copied painting. It is one of an older series and I didn't have any similar paintings with me that were somewhat smaller. I offered to sell it to her on approval but that didn't work. Oh well... :)
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char
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Posted: Aug 30, 2011, 2:31 PM
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I create plein air paintings ranging in size from 9x12 to 18x24. After a plein air painting sells, I will make larger (24x30 and larger) and smaller versions of it to sell. I have a line of 6x8s that are inspired by and based upon the plein air paintings. Right now, those are selling very well and I have trouble keeping them in stock. I do not do any reproductions but create all original, framed, oil paintings.
The plein air paintings are done in a particular area throughout the year in all four seasons under different light and weather conditions. They are very inefficient to produce and I would not be able to earn a living doing just plein air work.
The small, studio paintings are fun to do and inform and influence the plein air work. I can work on them at night or when the weather is too bad to work outside. The small paintings allow me to experiment and for my techniques to morph and grow. They can be sold at a price point that allows people to have an original oil painting that they can afford.
I also do large studio paintings based upon several plein air paintings done in the same location. I sell those both at art fairs and in gallery/juried exhibition settings.
No two paintings are the same. Magic happens both in the studio and in the field. I find creating this way to be interesting, meditative, relaxing, fun, evolving, satisfying, inspiring, engaging, and challenging while continuing to develop my skills as a painter.
This business model has allowed me to offer a nice range of price points and sizes of original, fine art and still pay my bills while working and growing as an artist.
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Char
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SheilaE
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Posted: Aug 31, 2011, 9:40 AM
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I paint in pastel and oil and I tend to make small studies of my images first, and if I feel that the image would work well larger, I will use the small pastel as a study for a larger original oil or pastel. Sometimes I change the image a bit for the second piece, and sometimes not, but there are of course differences inherent to original pieces. I title the smaller piece "____ Study" to indicate that there may be a larger piece out in the world. This is a good way to have more affordable pieces available.
I don't think it would be too awful to make a very similar piece, in a different size, once. Since you still own the original, you have the opportunity to tell whomever buys it that it was used as a study for a similar piece, but that is the only other painting of the image in existence.
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SheilaE
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LFoster
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Posted: Aug 31, 2011, 10:10 AM
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Thanks Sheila and Char for your input. I guess this may be something to consider if I'm ever asked this again. Honestly, I haven't even taken the piece in question with me the last couple of times. It's the biggest thing that will fit in my little hatchback and the stars all have to align properly for it to fit. I may never sell it :). So it may indeed be a study.
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workaholic
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Posted: Aug 31, 2011, 3:52 PM
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If it were me, I’d go ahead and make the smaller one, just not kill myself trying to make it exactly the same, like a reproduction. Musicians can make variations on a theme, why not painters? I think you have to be prepared for the fact, though, that the customer may find she doesn’t like it in the smaller size, as something subtle can change when scaled down. In which case you now have another painting to sell. I'd get a deposit of half the price upfront.
Years back, when just starting out, I was at a slow show. A woman came into my booth and said, “I’d like that earring if it were a little shorter.” I had my tools with me, so okay, I shortened it. She came back, and said, “I don’t like that dangle on it.” So I took it off. She came back, and said, “That isn’t a very interesting earring.” Of course, she had just had me change everything that had made it interesting. Now she had a short boring earring. Or I did, because she didn’t buy it after all. That was the last time I was offered to make such changes. Though I do work in series, and may make variations that include larger and smaller, though with subtle changes.
Char and Sheila, both of you have very good ideas on how to explore a theme. Both types of work, can inform and enrich the others.
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LFoster
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Posted: Sep 1, 2011, 10:20 AM
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Re: [workaholic] Re-making work?
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You're right, that is something to consider. I made it the size I did for a reason. It certainly wouldn't have as much impact in a smaller size. It could be somewhat smaller and still work, but it would be something entirely different at say 1/2 the size.
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ScootermyDaisy
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Posted: Sep 2, 2011, 9:41 AM
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I've been asked to "re-make" a painting...
and I admit, the request threw me, too, at first.
We talked about the fact that every painting is unique...and though I could create a similar piece, it would not be exactly the same. The customer understood and so I re-painted a similar work in a much larger size...
It turned out great - the customer was THRILLED!
I feel it was a Win-Win.
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