How do I find an out-of-print print or assuage hurt feelings?
December 9, 2013 1:31 PM Subscribe
My husband and I offered to buy a particular Tom Killion print (of Shell Beach, Tomales Bay, California) as a wedding present for his sister. We left it too long to order it and now it's sold out (this is not indicated on the website, we know because my sister-in-law emailed the artist to ask about it). Any ideas of how to find a print somewhere else? She's hurt that we didn't act faster.
Since hearing from my sister-in-law at the weekend that the print has sold-out, we have contacted various dealers and the artist himself. He says that that none of the obvious dealers or galleries would have it in stock since the prints are only on consignment at the galleries. Any ideas of where else we could look? What would be the etiquette of asking an artist to consider doing a one-off print - is that insulting? It's of a location in Northern California that has particular meaning for my sister-in-law and her now-husband, so another Killion print wouldn't be a good substitute. Feelings have been seriously bruised and we'd like to do what we can to rectify the situation.
Since hearing from my sister-in-law at the weekend that the print has sold-out, we have contacted various dealers and the artist himself. He says that that none of the obvious dealers or galleries would have it in stock since the prints are only on consignment at the galleries. Any ideas of where else we could look? What would be the etiquette of asking an artist to consider doing a one-off print - is that insulting? It's of a location in Northern California that has particular meaning for my sister-in-law and her now-husband, so another Killion print wouldn't be a good substitute. Feelings have been seriously bruised and we'd like to do what we can to rectify the situation.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- cortex
Seconding @Admiral Haddock's comment. Failing that, you could commission another artist to create something similar but not identical.
posted by hush at 1:45 PM on December 9, 2013
posted by hush at 1:45 PM on December 9, 2013
I should add that I've done this myself with some open edition works that were sold out. I ended up have a nice email conversation with the artist's wife. They ended up reprinting the work I wanted and I bought direct from them. It was a lovely experience.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:46 PM on December 9, 2013
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:46 PM on December 9, 2013
It looks like the artist makes Giclée reproductions of some of his woodblock prints. He's much more likely to be willing to do a one-off print in that format for you, if that would do as a compromise. I'm sure he would be happy to sign it as well.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:57 PM on December 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:57 PM on December 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
« Older Do I need to re-prime my walls before painting? | .... But I don't want to share by email.... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Just write and describe the story, and ask if there's anything he can do. The site identifies a specific run--175 prints, I think--so there may not be much he can do without harming the people who bought the original series (i.e., they bought 1 of 175, not one of 176). And, indeed, he may have broken the block at the end of the run. But who knows what he'll say. Perhaps he has another view of the same location.
Failing that, eBay, and troll the galleries.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:43 PM on December 9, 2013 [3 favorites]