| Author | Message | ||
  Arnold Lwrey |
Many thanks, Kukana I've registered I'll check it out Itt would be nice o see some of the your work and also that of Janrie, Dee, Robert, etc Arnold lowrey | ||
dee |
Thank You Eric! I will check it out! | ||
Eric |
Dee-The correct site is www.artcafe.net | ||
dee |
Hello, I tried the 'www.artcafe.com' site and I get a seach engine for weather. I would love to get to a chat/posting site with more to it. Could you guys give me some help here? I like the information concerning coherent booths. Hummmmm.....I do several different 'types' of watercolor but all within the same general subject matter. IE: large 'washy' paintings, detailed paintings etc. It is fun to go from a very detailed painting to something that you literally throw paint. Gets to frustrations out. :0) | ||
Kukana |
Arnold, my work doesn I would suggest you go to www.artcafe.com Lots more atists with their websites, galleries, etc listed to the far right of each post as littl icon. I love that chat board. | ||
Arnold Lowrey |
I am quite new to the discussion board and i fid it all very fascinating How do you show your work? Do you hire a booth in a show or do you place them in galleries? I would be interested in showing some of my work in the States but have no contacts. Any suggestions Also only hearing you talk about your work, have any of you got websites for me to see? Or how about E-mailing me a sample I wonder what price mine would sell for in your country In Wales,where i live, they would average a full sheet watercolour would sell for approx $700 and an oil for $1200. InLondon, you could possibly double or treble those prices My website is www.lowrey.co.uk E-mail alowrey.freezone.co.uk Arnold lowrey | ||
jandrle |
I have started quoting higher for commissions because I would rather not do them. I always hope the higher price will disuade folks from going forward! Why don't I say no? When they are finished, the feedback is amazing. I have seen people cry, heard of men having tears come to their eyes... and I have repeat customers who really value my work... so it is hard to say no to that type of reaction to paintings I have done. I do think, however, that they are more demanding, colors have to be exact, the details have to be correct even if they are tedious... so I charge more. Based on the complexity of the project. If it is simple I charge the price of a framed piece that size unframed... like if a framed painting is $150, I charge that for the commission unframed. Sometimes I have to go on site to take pictures, once in awhile I have to go twice. I charge additional for photographing. I always have the drawing approved before starting to paint by scanning it and sending a small jpg via e-mail. I always have the painting approved using the same method, or taking a digital of it if it is large... before framing or delivery... And I never deliver a commission that I don't believe is my best work. I will redo it first. Hope this is helpful. I started doing commissions for $35 for an 8 x 10 unframed. Your business will grow as time passes, you will get better, sell your work for more and feel more rewards for doing it! Paint on, Jane | ||
Kukana |
As for pricing commissions...For me the answer is the same as any. If I accept a commission it is priced at the same square inch price as any of my originals. If i think its going to take too much energy that I do not want to spend for the rewards..I dont do it. | ||
Val N. |
I do commissioned works. I loathe to quote my prices because I live in the midwest where housing prices are not as high as on the coasts, nor food prices or other prices. I do not have a 4 year college degree, and do not support myself as an artist, but I charge 70.00 for a house portrait (11 x 14" colored pencil and ink), 12.00 for a colored pencil 8 x 10" pet portrait (not burnished), and $12-15.00 for a pencil portrait of a person, 8 x 10". I do not profess to be able to render skin tones so I do not do colored portraits of people. That is just one point of view from a person who is not a full professional artist, but I get a lot of satisfaction from garnering commissions from coworkers and occasional art fairs. I just do local art fairs. I work in the medical field, that is how I support myself. Sometimes I am too tired from my "day" career to do much with my "dream" career, but have been blessed in some aspects, for instance, with a very cheap Sume-i class where I gathered a lot of energy and strength to create. I charge $200.00 for a wall mural, did one recently for 100.00 plus 30.00 for supplies, did it in about 12-14 hours, it was about 7 miles away and required about 6 round trips of 2 hour painting sessions. I hope you don't mind that I don't quote watercolor prices, as such, I realize that was probably the original question. For calligraphy (watercolor - gouache) I charge 7.00 for an $11 x 14 on cardstock with a watercolor flower on watercolor paper, and $10.00 for 11 x 14" calligraphy in gouache on Arches (140#). | ||
Val N. |
I do commissioned works. I loathe to quote my prices because I live in the midwest where housing prices are not as high as on the coasts, nor food prices or other prices. I do not have a 4 year college degree, and do not support myself as an artist, but I charge 70.00 for a house portrait (11 x 14" colored pencil and ink), 12.00 for a colored pencil 8 x 10" pet portrait (not burnished), and $12-15.00 for a pencil portrait of a person, 8 x 10". I do not profess to be able to render skin tones so I do not do colored portraits of people. That is just one point of view from a person who is not a full professional artist, but I get a lot of satisfaction from garnering commissions from coworkers and occasional art fairs. I just do local art fairs. I work in the medical field, that is how I support myself. Sometimes I am too tired from my "day" career to do much with my "dream" career, but have been blessed in some aspects, for instance, with a very cheap Sume-i class where I gathered a lot of energy and strength to create. I charge $200.00 for a wall mural, did one recently for 100.00 plus 30.00 for supplies, did it in about 12-14 hours, it was about 7 miles away and required about 6 round trips of 2 hour painting sessions. | ||
jwc |
Thank you for all your suggestions and information. Do any of you do commissioned works? I have a few people that have asked me to paint their pets. Is pricing different if it is a commissioned painting than if you are just selling your work? | ||
jandrle |
I struggle with this too. I always strive for a coherent booth. And hang based on the clientelle, or promoter's restrictions. One thing I have decided is that it helps my work to have a large painting as an anchor. Otherwise it can look like a patchwork quilt. I use only gold frames. I like white ones but have found that the aren't universally appealing. I also have a line of snowmen that I sell in the fall. There aren't enough to fill a booth so I always separate them on a wall space. Though they are whimsy I think they do hang with my porches and doorways. They are good sellers and I keep adding to them. I even have a few collectors, what a strange notion that was to me when I became aware of them! It would be interesting to do a show where I just displayed the whimsy, for reaction if nothing else. I remember when you did that at first Kukana... and look how it paid off! As for pricing, I also use the square inch price. Then I add the cost of the framing. Jane | ||
dee |
Interesting....Do you show any representation of any of your other work at all? For example a portfolio of the florals if you are selling the Wild women at the show? I had a long talk with a guy who told me he may bring 1 of his large oils along with him while the rest of his booth is only his block prints. His large oils look NOTHING like his block prints. He also said that having too much in a booth gets everyone confused. Now I do want you to know I too was showing in the show and we talked after the show. I didn't take up his booth space/time to discuss this with him DURING the show. I am trying to decide if what I am showing is too different. I can understand how the Women series may not flow with the florals....just wouldn't work. But both are still fine art. One has whimsy and the other does not. Talking to myself here. | ||
Kukana |
Yes, That's what I mean. There is nothing worse at a show than to go into a booth and see a booth that looks like that artist couldn't make up their mind what kind of art they do. Also, because the price of original differ in each line...Like I said, I get a whole lot more for my WWW line than my other stuff...I keep the Square in price consistant in the booth. My print prices are all consistant anyway. | ||
dee |
Kukana, please explain what you mean by this statement: "I never mix the originals of different lines in a gallery or booth. EVER". Do you mean that when you art in a show, you bring only 1 type of painting IE: The florals OR Whacky Women OR Tingleheart but never all 3 at a show? | ||
dee |
This is a good discussion. Pricing is diffcult. I do like the fact of pricing with the different "series" instead of just by size. Good thoughts. Thank You all for your expertise. | ||
Garydoc (Garydoc) |
Fascinating stuff this! The last piece of calligraphy I sold, in 1980 (+/-) went for about $300, and I priced by size of work then. I had no idea how to price my w/c work when and if I decide to try to sell some. I do intend to do so when I feel ready. Gary | ||
Robert |
I think "square inch" pricing is the way it's done, usually. Around here at the various shows a 1/4 sheet by a typical unknown painter will be priced at $150 to $200 1 1/2 sheet $300 to $450 and a full sheet over $500. These are asking prices at shows but I don't see that many selling. I fully agree with Kukana that it depends on how attached you are to a painting. But, I've given away lots of stuff to friends and family and take a certain amount of pride in seeing the paitings prominantly displayed in their homes. I think Kukana's story about Frank Webb is amazing--he sells for less than many of the unrecognizable names around here. Still, I firmly believe that the general public tends to buy what they like , or what matches their decor over name recognition (except for collectors). | ||
Kukana |
I actually agree with Robert to some extent. But I do have some things to say in my defense! (That what makes the world go round and this board lively) Like I said...You have to decide what its worth to you to keep or not keep it. If you want to give it away, there is nothing wrong with that. We all do that. How bad do you want to sell and make money or is this just a hobby? I spend hours doing counted cross stitch needlework and I give them all away to family and dear friends etc. If I charged for my artistic time, by the hour, I'd get $100,000 a piece. But Like Robert said, I like to see them grace my famillies walls... Its worth the joy in my heart to give them away. As for selling art...if you are going to sell and not give...I'd still stick to my formula. Price your work by the square inch, then roundup or down a bit to give it a good number but then stay consistant throughout your collection of work.If you do a great painting that deserves more, jump all your work up. It maitains the value of your work consistant. All your half sheets shouod cost the same...all your fulll sheets the same. Just because one painting takes five hours and one is done in three swift strokes, they all represent your talent in finished form. They should all cost the same. I went to get my car fixed the other day and was charged $50 for an adjustment that took him one minute. I jokingly argued the cost and that it took him only a minute to identify and fix. He politley reminded me that it took him 20 years to master his skills to be able to do that. He is right. He sets a minimum price and works up from there. Likewise so should you. Like I said before, my numbers were the average artist on the show circit. And also like I said, even I have different prices for my diferent lines of work. My full sheet florals start at $800 or $200 for a quarter... but my \i[quarter] sheet Wacky Women start at $1800. My quarter sheet Tingleheart line start at $1000. I never mix the originals of differnt lines in a gallery or booth. EVER. All of my original are priced consistantly, unframed, in any given gallery or booth. Framed prices make the work vary. All that said...I still give away art. I just gave away an 11x30 half sheet, Wonderful Wacky Women to a hospital It was value was $3600 but like Robert said, I was honored to have it hang in the cancer ward of a predominate hospital treating womens cancers...primarily breast cancer. I would rather give something away free than sell it cheap. ...I feel that way about my prints as well. I give away a lot at every show to people who are in no position to buy but love my work. The bottom line is what your goals are.You said you are a beginner. (I know some people who have been painting twenty years claim to be beginners becuase they don't sell...only give away...I guess everyones definition of that is different. Only you know how attached you are to your work and what you are willing to part with it and for what price. The only way to find out if anyone agrees with you is to put a price on it , hang it for a sale and see if it sells. JMHO | ||
Robert |
As illuminating as Kukuna's response was, neither she or Frank Webb are beginners--they are as professional as they come, so gauging by what they charge is like gauging how much to charge for sidwalk lemonaid by going to a wine cellar and asking for their 200 year old Lafette Rosthschild to make a comparison. In other words it's fascinating to hear how much Kakuna pulls in for her renowned work, but not very useful in terms of answering your question which specifically asked what should a beginner charge. My suggestion is give them away. Have the pride of having someone hang your paitings on their wall. If you can produce art that others want to hang, let them hang it. It does no good in your attic to anyone. Later on when you are no longer a beginner, then charge--start by charging about $50 bucks over your expenses and then gradually increase. If you are a beginner worry about developing your artistic skills rather than your sales. Placing yourself too soon in the public venues may be something you regret if your work improves over the next couple of years. Best to get your art to a higher level and then enter local member shows and eventually juried shows. At that point you can get an idea by what others are charging what yours might bring. For now, I'm sure you have friends and relatives who might love to have your paintings grace a wall. | ||
Kukana |
Per Square inch. Figure what you want for a full size sheet and break it down or start with a 1/8 sheet and work up. Most people..average.. on the art show circuits I travel asked about$700 to $800 for a full size sheet...unframed. some jump into the $1200 to $1800. In the lower more commom range, that would be $400 for a half, $200 for a quarter sheet and so on. Thats priced to sell. One can charge what eve one wants but you do need to decide how bad you want to sell something and what its worth to you to do so. I just bought a Frank Webb original from him and he charged $400 for a half. Thats cheap but he paints so many painting in a year he likes to move them and have the cash! (He does at least two workshops a month with a painting a day, thats at least ten a month. He figures that gravey over and above the fee he gets for the workshop. I charge consistanly within each of my different lines. I get a whole lot more for my WWW line because of its fame and success than I do for my fine art florals even though they take me ten times as long. Its about what the market will bear, and how bad Im either desparate or willing to let go if it. But I do think it should be consistant. | ||
JWC |
How does a beginning watercolor painter decide on what to charge for her paintings? I have had people tell me it is by the hour...it takes too long for me to do that. Is it by the size of the painting? Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. |
