The bull and I
So I’m gonna let you in on a secret, just between you and me: The print sale . . . a total bust.
After my experience in May, where my edition of 25 prints sold out in nine hours, and given the number of people who’ve asked me to bring back the print sale, and the number of people who read this blog, I honestly thought that the print would sell out in a few days, a week at most. The idea was, sell a hundred prints every February, May, and August, and earn enough money to produce a yearly zine, as well as fund my photo projects. Other photographers go about it in other ways, but this seemed like an option worth trying.
I’ve been praised in some blogs for taking the bull by the horns, but I have to tell you, I may not have been gored by the bull, but I’m standing at the other end of the ring trying to figure out how to win this one. Many people—complete strangers, as well as people whose work and careers I emulate and respect—suggested that doing these editions of 100 would only hurt me in the long run. That would’ve been bad enough. But the damn thing hasn’t sold worth shit, so I can’t even console myself with having enough money to produce the zine I wanted to do for November.
The one encouraging aspect of all this is that, despite the mild embarrassment at having so misjudged things, my reaction hasn’t been at all what I would’ve thought it would be. If you’d told me that I would go live with a print sale and sell only a handful of prints in over a week, I would’ve guessed I’d be really bothered by it in some kind of deeply personal way. Instead, I’m wondering what the hell’s wrong with everyone. I love this photograph, and I know I’m biased but I don’t love everything that comes out of my camera. The fact that I’ve been rejected and come out with my confidence stronger than ever makes me feel as though I have some hope of actually lasting in this crazy art world. Now I just need to get off the ground.
P.S. Given the counsel I’ve received, I won’t be doing any other $20 sales on my blog or Web site. (If Jen Bekman wants to include me in 20x200, I won’t turn her down.) So if you’re struggling to fund your own projects and don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for art, and you’d like to own one of my prints, now’s your chance.
After my experience in May, where my edition of 25 prints sold out in nine hours, and given the number of people who’ve asked me to bring back the print sale, and the number of people who read this blog, I honestly thought that the print would sell out in a few days, a week at most. The idea was, sell a hundred prints every February, May, and August, and earn enough money to produce a yearly zine, as well as fund my photo projects. Other photographers go about it in other ways, but this seemed like an option worth trying.
I’ve been praised in some blogs for taking the bull by the horns, but I have to tell you, I may not have been gored by the bull, but I’m standing at the other end of the ring trying to figure out how to win this one. Many people—complete strangers, as well as people whose work and careers I emulate and respect—suggested that doing these editions of 100 would only hurt me in the long run. That would’ve been bad enough. But the damn thing hasn’t sold worth shit, so I can’t even console myself with having enough money to produce the zine I wanted to do for November.
The one encouraging aspect of all this is that, despite the mild embarrassment at having so misjudged things, my reaction hasn’t been at all what I would’ve thought it would be. If you’d told me that I would go live with a print sale and sell only a handful of prints in over a week, I would’ve guessed I’d be really bothered by it in some kind of deeply personal way. Instead, I’m wondering what the hell’s wrong with everyone. I love this photograph, and I know I’m biased but I don’t love everything that comes out of my camera. The fact that I’ve been rejected and come out with my confidence stronger than ever makes me feel as though I have some hope of actually lasting in this crazy art world. Now I just need to get off the ground.
P.S. Given the counsel I’ve received, I won’t be doing any other $20 sales on my blog or Web site. (If Jen Bekman wants to include me in 20x200, I won’t turn her down.) So if you’re struggling to fund your own projects and don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for art, and you’d like to own one of my prints, now’s your chance.
Labels: 20x200, for sale, gallerists, Jen Bekman, prints, zines
posted by Liz at 3:49 PM
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