ACEO FAQs and ANSWERS - PART 2: As an artist and collector of ACEO's, a moderator in the first and largest ACEO group on eBay (ACEO ~ Art Card Editions and Originals) and a member in several other art groups on eBay, I've spent the last few years asking, researching and answering questions for other ACEO artists and collectors. ACEO FAQs - BEST ANSWERS guide will continue to grow, so it will be in several parts (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) to accommodate space limitations for eBay guides. Please view all parts to see if your question has an answer. If not, contact me with your question, and I will do my best to provide you with an answer!
And a special thank you to members of ACEO ~ Art Card Editions and Originals who are helping me hone these guides with their suggestions and additions! We're now planning a BEST ANSWER series with detailed information on many aspects of creating, displaying and selling ACEOs!
Should I sign my ACEO?How and where to sign an ACEO is at the discretion of the artist. My experience has been that most artists initial or put their trademark symbol on the front of the ACEO and save their full signature for the back of the ACEO.
What should I put on the back of an ACEO?
As a collector (as well as an artist), these are the things I recommend including on the back of your ACEOs:
- Full signature of the artist.
- Copyright symbol and date.
- Printed (legible) name of the artist.
- Title of the Art, if titled.
- eBay ID, website, email or some other way a buyer can find the artist again.
- Location (as many collectors love to have this information).
- Here are some extras: mediums used, trademark, doodles or designs, etc.
Should I issue a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) for an ACEO?
Inclusion of a CoA is at the discretion of the artist. It is not necessary with an original work of art, though it is good to include a CoA with a print to prove authenticity.
I have incorporated a CoA as part of the small folio I designed for shipping my ACEO's. (I only sell originals. Not prints.) I do this because I think it's a nice touch and include info that I think the collector might like to have.
If I do send a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA), what information should be included?
The CoA should be signed. It should include the copyright information, date, title of the piece, mediums used and contact information. You may also want to insert an image of the ACEO, a brief bio, any story attached to the piece, etc.
What is a good starting price for an ACEO on eBay?
This is one of those questions that gets asked again and again. There are lots of opinions, but no definite answers.
Ultimately, you should never sell yourself short. Take pride in your work and price it accordingly. Take into consideration the materials and time you put into the piece, as well as the end result. Take into consideration how much you like the piece. And always take into consideration eBay fees (listing and final value) and PayPal fees (if you accept PayPal payments).
What is the lowest price (to cover all the items mentioned above and provide you with a profit) you will accept for the ACEO? Don't ever list it for less than that, or you risk a heartbreak! Always try to make a profit, no matter how small!
My personal feeling is that low starting bids are a red flag to buyer's that you don't value your own work. Never start original art at 99 cents! You KNOW it's worth more than that, and you will LOSE money doing that unless you are an established artist with a good following who always gets a high price for your art!
If I had to offer a starting bid for an ACEO being listed by an artist new to the scene, I would never say less than $4.99. Ever. And don't be afraid to start higher. Or to start raising the starting bid once your work catches on.
A lot of this is personal opinion based on my own experience as a buyer and a seller of art. Others have different ideas, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Please see Part 3 for more FAQs and Answers!
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