When in Doubt, “Make 20!”

Creating a cohesive series is the goal for many visual artists. In today’s episode we talk about the process of creating a cohesive series, when is the right time to challenge yourself, and the factors you need to consider as you are planning ahead.

Creating a Series of Artwork

What is an art series (vs. a body of work)?

Art Series: A body of work is the sum total of all the artwork that you consider complete. It may span several decades and include a variety of styles, mediums and themes.

An art series is a part of your larger body of work. It’s a cohesive group of artwork that generally shares 3 or more common threads such as: inspiration, color palette, style, medium, technique, subject matter, and/or dimensions. A series can range anywhere from three pieces to unlimited.

When you are starting off you might not know if working in a series is right for you...

Things to consider: Questions to consider before starting a new series:

Are you exploring a new medium, or color palette?
Is there a personal story you are trying to convey?
Do you have a set of parameters you would like to stay in? Ex. All paintings will be done on round wood panels with acrylic paint.
Are you making this series as a way to master a specific subject matter or technique?
Perhaps the challenge is in the volume? Ex. Attempting to work on 20 paintings at the same time.
Is there a financial goal in mind? If so, reverse engineer the amount and sizes of the pieces needed to reach that monetary goal. Ex. Make 12 or more paintings with a total value of $4k or more.

Planning for various sizes & price points

In general terms, most artists we know offer artwork in different price points to accommodate a variety of budgets.
The art business is a long game, and a new collector that may only be able to afford a small painting today can come back years later to get a large statement piece.
Think about if you are making work for a specific event or holiday that you want to make “giftable” pieces for

Breaking down the math - there are several ways to tackle this:

Volume - determine how many pieces you want to complete first, then figure out how many sizes, lastly how many pieces of each size.
- Ex. You want to make 20 pieces, 2 different sizes, 10 each (or 15 and 5, etc.).
Value - first determine the total dollar amount you would like to generate with your paintings, then choose how many sizes, then how many pieces of each size.
- Ex. You want to make a series that is valued at $4,000. 2 different sizes. Large ones are $500 each, smaller ones are $200 each. You make 4 large ones and 10 smaller ones. If you also have a volume goal, you would adjust these numbers accordingly.

In the end, creativity comes to the working hand so keep making work! But if you haven’t tried to before, pick parameters and challenge yourself to “make 20!”

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Podcast Music By Corey Claxton: