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Selling art Assuming you do not already sell your art, there is no reason why you should not try. After-all you have spent many years developing and learning your skills and it may be time time to get out there. By the square inch Some artists prefer to price by the square inch. For example if a painting is 5x7, that's 35 square inches of art. Multiply 35 by the price per square inch that you need. Be consistent and don't change your prices,but be fair to all clients. As your paintings get larger, reduce your square inch price so as to keep your prices reasonable based on your level of expertise. You can make a chart similar to the one below so that you and your clients will know what they will pay for the work. No hit and miss here and it's fair to all clients. By the hour for commissioned work from photos You know what you need or can charge on an hourly rate. You know how long it should take to do a painting, let's say a portrait. I have taken up to forty hours to paint a portrait, for example. Let's say my hourly rate was $35.00 per hour. That comes to $1400.00. On top of that you have delivery to the client, maybe crating and shipping plus insurance. Don't forget your materials, canvas, paint and supplies you need to do the work. All these things have to be aded to the price. Framing? Extra cost. Framing For commissioned work, framing is always extra and costs are unknown depending on the type of frame chosen. Advise the client before framing the work. Some clients will pass on the framing and buy their own. The frame should however compliment the painting. You and your client will most likely want to arrive at a deal up front to paint, frame and deliver the work. That way both of you know and understand the outcome. Rejections Expect rejections on commissioned work. Very often the client is not quite satisfied and you may have to abandon the project or start over. You can't charge for that. The client is always right. I have painted portraits twice for clients and on at least two occasions at no extra cost to the clients. In one case it was rejected completely and I have the portrait hanging in my home. A portrait painter especially has to have a thick skin and not let rejection get the better of things. Carry on and never give up. This applies to any kind of painting. Making art is not easy. It takes skill, perseverance and passion. Galleries Remember when selling through a gallery, you have to increase the cost of your work to enjoy the same returns. You may not, but then the gallery does the work for you. Galleries charge a percentage of the selling price such as a 60/40 split and you need to come away with a return you can live with. Galleries also like some sales in the range of $400.00 to $500.00 to pay the bills when the more expensive work does not sell. Large expensive paintings cover the walls but can take years to sell. Galleries have to live with that and your less expensive work may make the difference between closing and staying in business. I know of one gallery that closed and could have stayed open if they had work to sell in the lower range. There may have been others. Selling privately Never sell privately if you have work in galleries. Galleries don’t like it. Either go with the galleries or on your own. Can't have it both ways. Donating paintings It's seldom wise to give good artwork away for free. Remember there are artists who have to make a living selling their art. Auctions are good, depending on circumstances. I use professional grade paint on stretched canvas or prepared panel such as one eighth inch hardboard (Masonite) treated with three coats of Gesso both sides and edges. I find these are acceptable painting surfaces. Gesso is applied both sides to maintain balance. The panel may warp otherwise. I do not use student grade paint for finished work. In time the paint can yellow of fade. I find professional grade paint is easier to work with. |
