Let’s Talk Pricing
Let’s talk pricing; are you an artist for fun or profit, your prices should reflect your intention.
I am a member of an artistic organization. That is to say, our common denominator is our joy in art. Some of us are professional, some of us want to learn to sell, some want to learn new techniques and mediums and some of us just want to be around people who do art. You can understand how not all of these people need to worry about covering overhead and making a good profit.
One of the members came up to me and asked me about my pricing structure and I responded with a question, “Do you want to do this for a living or just cover your art supplies?” He admitted that is main goal was paying for his materials. My pricing structure is based on making enough to cover materials, overhead and a basic wage. He had looked at pricing per inch and wanted to know if I thought it was a good way to go.
Fruit Study 6×9
My response was; If you don’t want to worry about business expenses because you don’t have that many of them, pricing based on square inches is perfectly valid. Hobby artists aren’t looking to build a business, aren’t going to work to get into the same kind of shows that I am. I might end up at the same local group show with him but not at big art shows. He doesn’t need to worry about undercutting me, I don’t need to try to compete with him. Art isn’t that much of a competition, save perhaps at art competitions themselves. Selling any art is about finding your market, not proving why you are a better investment. (I can go into my ideas of “art as investment)
He was happy with my response and relieved that he didn’t have to worry about being competitive with me. If he decides to become a professional, he can change his pricing structure then. Our organization is about the joy of creating art, not about being the best at it. If you are in Spokane; or the out lying areas, come check out the River Ridge Association of Fine Art or RRAFA. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of every month, 10 am at Spokane Art Supply. We would love to see you there!
Don’t forget Brush on the Bluff today at Polly Judd Park in Spokane. 50 of us on a hillside, painting our hearts out. We all start by 9am and end at 4 pm. Come see us paint!