Well, I'm closing the gap on finishing my certificates of authenticity. It feels like it will never end! I've printed out about 60 so far. It's recommended to create a CoA if you have original artwork or limited edition prints for sale. It's icing on the cake for art collectors and it sends the message that you're serious about your work. I don't have any limited edition prints right now so I just created CoAs for my original paintings.
In my online research, I came across an especially helpful site that helped guide me in creating my own CoA. You can visit that site here: How to Create a Certificate of Authenticity.
Basic breakdown of my Certificate of Authenticity:
1. Jeffcoat Art header
2. Copyright disclaimer
3. Artist
4. Title
5. Size
6. Date
7. Location
8. Edition
9. Medium
10. Materials
11. Catalog #
12. Artist signature & date
13. Contact info
It's also a good idea to make your CoA stand apart from others. I decided to paint my painter's mark on the certificate in black acrylic paint.
While you're coming up with your own unique CoA, it's helpful to start cataloging your work if you haven't already. One site that made that process a lot less painful was: How to Make a Catalog of Artwork. The artist who wrote the article also provides their own personal templates. I utilized two of these: a Catalog Page that is filled out and printed for EACH piece of artwork and then an Inventory Page listing all titles and catalog #s of your work so you have a quick reference sheet you can check when you need it.
If you're like me and didn't bother cataloging your artwork until years after creating a lot of pieces then what you'll want to do first is make a rough list of everything you've made. Next to the title of each piece write the year it was done in along with an assigned catalog #. I tried to put my work in chronological order and numbered the oldest piece "#1", and so forth and so on. It can be a bit daunting, but you'll quickly pick up a good pace.
After I created this "master list," I worked on one piece of art at a time. For each painting, I printed and filled out a Catalog Page and slipped it into a plastic sheet protector along with an image of the painting. I also keep my reference photos and just tuck them into the sheet protector as well. Then I printed the CoA, signed and dated it then painted my painter's mark at the bottom. If my work was on stretched canvas then I kept the CoA in the sheet protector. If it was on a flat canvas sheet then I would include the CoA with the original (protected by a sealed plastic flap seal bag that can be purchased at www.clearbags.com).
For the paintings that have sold, I plan on mailing or giving them to the person who commissioned the painting. Even though it's after the fact, it reminds clients of the work you've done for them and may even bring back an old customer.
I hope all of this was helpful! Trying to create and sell AND BE ORGANIZED can get overwhelming to the point that it feels impossible. If you are able to use any of this information, I would love to hear how your experience creating your own certificate of authenticity was and I would love even more to see your artwork. Good luck!
