We live in the height of the digital age. We are all vitally connected to it. I wouldn’t have a job without it. I create all my images and artworks digitally, with the upside of getting them in front of my client base as soon as they are finished. However, with all the ease of distribution comes the ability to copy and forge. Because of this we as artists need to take steps to authenticate our artworks. It is all too easy for someone to screen grab an image and create a print. A large part of determining the value of an image is based on rarity. If a client owns a print that comes with a certificate of authenticity from the artist themselves, it is instantly more valuable. So today’s blog post is all about Certificates of Authenticity! When you use them and where to get them…
When to use them…
First I would like to point out that COAs are not required. A lot of art collectors will keep the bill of sale from the artist or the art dealer as proof of authenticity. Some COAs are considered worthless (watch out for auctions on Ebay). There are no laws governing who can and cannot create a COA for anything. There are also no laws governing what information a COA must include. From the standpoint of an art collector, don’t ever accept any COA that is not an original document, hand-signed by the artist. People have been known to copy real COAs and doctor them up in order to certify other artworks and close the deal. The following is an AWESOME article about this topic…
Is Your Certificate of Authenticity Worth the Paper It’s Printed On?
With that being said… I recommend providing a COA with every limited edition print you sell. I even provide a COA as part of my private artist commission package.
There are a few different ways you can create COAs. You can purchase them or create them yourself…
Purchase them online…
The best name in the business for pre-made COA’s is Hahnemuhle. B&H Photo sells them for $89.50 and the set comes with 25 COAs and 50 holograms. Each certificate uses two matching, serialized, numbered holograms with one applied to the certificate and the other to the reverse side of the artwork to ensure they match.
Hahnemuhle COAs can be purchased here
Create them yourself…
The next option is to create them yourself. A lot of my artist friends do it this way. They just purchase some card stock and print them off on their home printer. The following COA was created by my buddy, Joe Hendricks of Joe Hendricks Photography. He created this file in PS and had them printed up at Staples. (Pssstt… I linked his name to his social media so you guys can follow his work. His images are amazing!)
The serialized, numbered hologram stickers can be purchased off the internet in sets of 100 for less than 15.00. Here is the link to the set I ordered through Amazon.
100 Round Silver Hologram Sequentially Numbered Security Labels
While there isn’t standard verbiage for them, there is information that is typically included on legitimate COA’s. The following link is a great article on exactly what should be documented.
How to Make a Certificate of Authenticity
Document. Document. Document.
When you sell a limited-edition print you need to keep a detailed record of the sale. I not only keep a detailed record of all my sales: who purchased them, serial numbers etc.. but I also register them online through a free database service offered by Hahnemuhle called myartregistry.com. Once you register for an artist account you are able to upload your artworks and then each artwork will have its own separate digital certificate where you will record serial numbers, title, mediums etc.. You do not have to use Hahnemuhle certificates in order to register. Here’s the link!
Registering online is not a requirement. The bottom line is as long as you document, document, document it will help to ensure your artworks maintain their value.
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Keep learning and keep #SharingItForward!
Lady Caroline
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#SharingItForward 
Very interesting, thanks for sharin it forward as usual! 🙂
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