I price smaller pieces at a higher per square inch number and very large pieces at a lower per square inch number. But essentially, my goal is sell my work at a profit after all my expertness (including supplies, framing, and commissions) are accounted for. I try to never sell at a loss. If you add up all the money it cost you to create and sell the work, and then add your profit margin onto that you’ll be surprised at how high the price will be. On top of that, I want to be paid for my expertise as an artist. I’ve seen that many new-to-selling artists price their work so low that they don’t actually make any money after expenses and certainly not for the time they put into the artwork itself.
Oh it's so hard for me to understand how one can sell visual art by the square inch.... You certainly don't sell a song or a melody by the number of letters or words... you don't sell a ballet by how many people are in the ballet.. you don't sell a book by the number pages... art has to have content.... In order to be appreciated.... of course there is the market and if you are a beginning artist or haven't sold much then you can't be so naïve think that your work is on a par with someone that's been around for a while and is actually selling... so you have to understand where you are with your work, how attractive and appreciable it is and stick to your guns... if you think one of your pieces is better than another piece of yours, whether large or small... Price it accordingly.... 'Square inch' selling takes the art out of art and trivializes the work
Darryl, you make a great point but one has to separate making art from selling art. Pricing paintings by the square inch, or less offensive sounding, by size, is only a way to be consistent with prices.
Thanks for your reply David...Just because a piece is bigger and thus more expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's a better piece of art...by the same artist.. too Distorted for my taste.. There is art that garners a lot more attention/appreciation then other art and lo and behold it has nothing to do with size but content... And for the sake of the artist, not the customer, should be priced accordingly
That may be true, Darryl. But who is to say if a work is good or not ... the artist? As I said before, one has to separate creation from marketing or selling. After all is said and done, the painting is the property of the artist so she can make it available or not, and set whatever price she wants.
Again, David - very good point as this is how art pricing is generally done. . You’re absolutely right about keeping creation separate from marketing. Pricing can’t be emotional. Many times, it’s difficult to evaluate the worth of our own work. Buyers generally expect price to follow size. Darryl, you can experiment with pricing anyway you’d like if you’re selling on your own. A gallery will want more consistency. Then when someone asks about size vs price, you can have your answer ready.
I took Jason Horesj’s course a couple of years ago. The homework was to find established artists online who paint similarly to my work and look at their prices. I did that for half a dozen artists. One thing that Jason mentioned is that when he shows an artist in his gallery, his clients don’t ask how famous the artist is - which means that newer artists he takes on don’t have to have lowball prices. In fact the prices just need to be in line with those of the other artists in the gallery. So you’re correct Darryl.
On the other hand, I would argue against pricing one’s work by how well you like it because many times, paintings I love don’t connect and those I don’t care for end jump selling right away. Therefore, I have priced by the square inch in order to keep my prices consistent. My small works cost more per square inch and my large works cost less so that there’s no huge gaps.
Because I’m entering the market again, I’m starting by pricing my medium sized works (IE 16x20) at a price that covers all my expenses and then gives me a profit when the painting is sold. This includes the frame, supplies, and shipping - everything that it costs me to make and sell the work. Sometimes it’s easier to figure out what those numbers are and then add what you want for your time and expertise onto that.
I’ve been told to price my pieces by the square inch, but some pieces require more time per square inch. What are your thoughts on pricing?
I price smaller pieces at a higher per square inch number and very large pieces at a lower per square inch number. But essentially, my goal is sell my work at a profit after all my expertness (including supplies, framing, and commissions) are accounted for. I try to never sell at a loss. If you add up all the money it cost you to create and sell the work, and then add your profit margin onto that you’ll be surprised at how high the price will be. On top of that, I want to be paid for my expertise as an artist. I’ve seen that many new-to-selling artists price their work so low that they don’t actually make any money after expenses and certainly not for the time they put into the artwork itself.
Oh it's so hard for me to understand how one can sell visual art by the square inch.... You certainly don't sell a song or a melody by the number of letters or words... you don't sell a ballet by how many people are in the ballet.. you don't sell a book by the number pages... art has to have content.... In order to be appreciated.... of course there is the market and if you are a beginning artist or haven't sold much then you can't be so naïve think that your work is on a par with someone that's been around for a while and is actually selling... so you have to understand where you are with your work, how attractive and appreciable it is and stick to your guns... if you think one of your pieces is better than another piece of yours, whether large or small... Price it accordingly.... 'Square inch' selling takes the art out of art and trivializes the work
Darryl, you make a great point but one has to separate making art from selling art. Pricing paintings by the square inch, or less offensive sounding, by size, is only a way to be consistent with prices.
It agree David. It’s a great starting place for that.
Thanks for your reply David...Just because a piece is bigger and thus more expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's a better piece of art...by the same artist.. too Distorted for my taste.. There is art that garners a lot more attention/appreciation then other art and lo and behold it has nothing to do with size but content... And for the sake of the artist, not the customer, should be priced accordingly
That may be true, Darryl. But who is to say if a work is good or not ... the artist? As I said before, one has to separate creation from marketing or selling. After all is said and done, the painting is the property of the artist so she can make it available or not, and set whatever price she wants.
Again, David - very good point as this is how art pricing is generally done. . You’re absolutely right about keeping creation separate from marketing. Pricing can’t be emotional. Many times, it’s difficult to evaluate the worth of our own work. Buyers generally expect price to follow size. Darryl, you can experiment with pricing anyway you’d like if you’re selling on your own. A gallery will want more consistency. Then when someone asks about size vs price, you can have your answer ready.
I took Jason Horesj’s course a couple of years ago. The homework was to find established artists online who paint similarly to my work and look at their prices. I did that for half a dozen artists. One thing that Jason mentioned is that when he shows an artist in his gallery, his clients don’t ask how famous the artist is - which means that newer artists he takes on don’t have to have lowball prices. In fact the prices just need to be in line with those of the other artists in the gallery. So you’re correct Darryl.
On the other hand, I would argue against pricing one’s work by how well you like it because many times, paintings I love don’t connect and those I don’t care for end jump selling right away. Therefore, I have priced by the square inch in order to keep my prices consistent. My small works cost more per square inch and my large works cost less so that there’s no huge gaps.
Because I’m entering the market again, I’m starting by pricing my medium sized works (IE 16x20) at a price that covers all my expenses and then gives me a profit when the painting is sold. This includes the frame, supplies, and shipping - everything that it costs me to make and sell the work. Sometimes it’s easier to figure out what those numbers are and then add what you want for your time and expertise onto that.