Why is it important to create something I can sell multiple times rather than just selling originals?

The traditional licensing model makes tremendous sense for artists: create something once and sell it many times. With prints, you can spend significant time on an original piece, then move on to the next work while that original continues generating income essentially forever through print sales. This creates a sustainable business model rather than being in a constant cycle of needing to quickly sell one piece to pay bills. Build this as a serious silo of your business alongside originals—it’s how you create a robust income stream and truly support yourself with art.

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Asked by an artist transitioning from design to fine art · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2018-02-20