| Author | Message | ||
  Ahughes798 Junior Member Username: Ahughes798 Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2008 |
The question of pricing for art has always baffled me, not only as someone who likes to paint and sometimes gets commissions, but as someone who would love to BUY some art. I have friends who are artists. For some of them it's how they make their living, for some of them it's a sideline, extra income kind of thing. My watercolour teacher told me, as a rule of thumb, that one should never sell a painting for less than $100. But what if it's 4"X6" and took you 10 minutes to make? Should that be $100? I'd love to buy some of my friend's paintings...but I can't afford them! I guess my great idea is that some paintings should be kept affordable for people like me in the lower income brackets. We'll buy. I think it's better to sell some small small paintings for cheap than to not sell big expensive paintings, though they are worth every cent! | ||
Joanna Senior Member Username: Joanna Post Number: 228 Registered: 10-2006 |
RAISE THE PRICE (not before I have a chance to come up and scoop some up, though!) | ||
Rekha Senior Member Username: Rekha Post Number: 450 Registered: 8-2006 |
In that case Eugene, you should hold auctions which may fetch you more than you dreamt and if some don't sell then you can auction them again. | ||
Eugene Senior Member Username: Eugene Post Number: 515 Registered: 8-2006 |
Rikha, I think you misunderstand. I didn't mean I don't want to make money . I mean that I don't need it as an income to live comfortably. I was thinking of boosting my prices gradually, maybe by $50. or $100. at a time, because many people judge paintings by price rather than quality. I have come to the conclusion that if someone really wants a piece he or she will pay the price | ||
Rekha Senior Member Username: Rekha Post Number: 449 Registered: 8-2006 |
Eugene, your paintings are spectacular and you say you don't paint to make money, but you also add my profit is about 140 which appears to me that you do paint to make money. If you are not out of pocket for painting materials it wouldn't be ethical to look for profit, so sell at the current prices. | ||
Garydoc Advanced Member Username: Garydoc Post Number: 176 Registered: 8-2006 |
Dale,knowing your work, and the consistancy of the quality, if you had an auction sale of $6k, and accounting for the charity aspect and the willingness of the crowd to "overpay" due to the circumstances, I think you should be charging AT LEAST $3k-4k full sheet, $1500 half and 800 quarter. If you don't make the sale, you can reduce 10% after 3 mos. Just my thoughts Gary | ||
Eugene Senior Member Username: Eugene Post Number: 514 Registered: 8-2006 |
Unfortunately many folks judge art by price, not quality, believing the inexpensive art is not good art. Which gives me this old problem. How do I set a price? Im not trying to make a living by selling paintings, but I don’t want to sell too cheap because of those who judge by price. I have been selling 1/4 sheets for $300. but after 40% gallery commission and frame and materials , my profit is about 140. I sell half sheets for 600 to 1,000 and I’ve sold a full sheet for $2,000. and recently at a charity auction for Hospice my full sheet went for a record $6,200. I think I should raise my price a bit, but I don’t want to price myself out of the market. And I’d rather have them hanging where they might be appreciated ,than be stored in a closet. Advice please. |
