With musical works and with written works, there isn’t a core concept of an ‘original version’. When someone writes a book, they are expecting to create thousands of prints of it, selling their story to many readers. Similar, when someone writes a song, they are hoping to have millions of listeners buy and enjoy it.
However, with artwork, sometimes artists get hung up on the idea of an original vs copies. Maybe they paint an oil painting of an apple on canvas. Maybe they watercolor paint an autumn scene onto Arches cold-press paper. The artist creates that one original work. Why, then, would they want to create derivative copies?
The answer is the exact same reason an author doesn’t make one-and-only-one copy of a book. It’s the same reason a musician doesn’t make one-and-only-one LP album of their music.
We generally want to reach far more people than just one audience member.
An author only generally has a few options. They can make a paperback, a hardcover, an audio book, and an ebook (digital) version. That’s about it.
A musician can sell LP albums, CDs, and audio files (digital) versions. I’m not sure many people buy cassette tapes or 8-track tapes any more.
But an artist?
Artists have oodles of options. On the physical end of things, an artist can of course sell their original work. Next, they can churn out prints – or paper copies – in any variety of sizes. They can make prints on canvas. Prints on metal. Prints large and small.
Artists can put their images onto mugs. T-shirts. iPhone cases and Samsung cases. Sweatshirts. Journal covers. Christmas ornaments. Pillowcases. Towels.
And then we get into the digital side of things. Artists can sell digital versions of their artwork. These could be used by the buyers for book covers. Holiday cards. Family newsletters. Buyers can home-print their own prints in the exact size they want for hanging over the living room sofa.
All of these options give the artist the ability to spread their talent with the entire world, not just with the one particular person who is able to purchase the original work. It brings the artist into the realm of the author and musician – and then moves beyond it. The artist can reach not just thousands of people in one realm, the ‘hang on a wall’ realm, but in a countless myriad of realms. Holiday cards. Coffee mugs. Baby onesies. Mouse pads. The sky is pretty much the limit.
I strongly recommend that authors, musicians, and artists look into ALL of the possibilities available to them. You’ve already made your creation. Now get it out there!