Hand-Embellished Art Prints
Turn Your Reproductions Into Custom Art Pieces
Previously, we explored limited edition prints as a way to maximize your profits as an artist. This month, we’re diving into another way to increase your income: hand embellished prints.
Embellishing is when you take a perfectly good print and make it better, or at least more unique. Whether it's a touch of gold leaf, a few brushstrokes of paint, collaged elements, or a sneaky doodle that only the most observant collectors will notice, embellishing is the perfect way to elevate a print without creating another full-blown original piece. Plus it’s a great excuse to play with materials and try new techniques.
What You Can Use
Paint: Acrylics, gouache, watercolor, and paint markers all work beautifully, especially on painted or mixed media reproductions. Be careful not to drown your print in water as you embellish!
Metallic Leaf: Apply gold, silver, copper, or the Instagram-trendy rose gold for a shiny, sophisticated look.
Pen & Ink: Perfect for fine details, signatures, or including messages.
Texture Additions: Collaged elements, textured mediums, or light sculptural elements can add more dimension to your prints.
How To Embellish
Test: Before altering your entire print run, experiment on a single piece. Order a few test prints from your printer to practice with.
Layer: Work in thin, deliberate layers. It’s easier to build up than to scrape off.
Seal and Let Dry: Some mediums require a finishing spray to keep them intact, which will need plenty of time to dry. Most varnishes, for example, require 24-72 hours to fully cure, so bake that into your production and shipping time.
Package Accordingly: Hand-embellished prints deserve more than a cello sleeve. Get creative with your packaging, using glassine or tissue paper to protect the surface, a rigid board to keep the piece flat, and a beautiful paper to wrap it in. This is where you can add your branding. Some excellent choices I’ve seen are to use an elegant ribbon, wax seal, custom stamp, or colored craft paper with your logo.
The best part? Since each print is now technically unique, you can price them higher than standard editions. Market them as “special edition”, “artist retouched” or “hand embellished.” Collectors love the idea of exclusivity, so lean into that.
Hand-embellishing is an easy way to bridge the gap between prints and originals, making each piece feel just a little more alive.
Ready to start embellishing your prints? At Amazing Art Printing, where we’re obsessed with accurate color and helping you find the best paper to make your art shine. Contact us to get started today!
