Pricing with no gallery in sight
 

Hi Marcus,

I hope you didn't misunderstand me.

I have just started doing commissions and I don't see myself in a gallery for a long long time, if ever. I am lucky (with regards to marketing) to live in a large city with, from what I can see, a strong interest in portraiture. In other words, I feel like I will be able to get enough clients to keep me busy as soon as I start getting my work out there. So . . . . all that was to say that when I commented on trying to figure a reasonable price, by cutting the price I calculated using Richard's $21 per square inch, it made more sense to me if that was possibly what a gallery might charge. I assumed that because it's way more than I'm charging, many times over.

I understand that if I were in a gallery I would need to keep my prices the same as their prices. I do love to paint figuratives, so I suppose it's not outside the realm of possibility to be in a gallery sometime with my figuratives. But I was thinking more near term. I'm about to donate a portrait at our church's annual rally day and I feel like that will give me some exposure. We'll see.

So, when I think of pricing, I'm not even considering a gallery's part in my work since that's waaaaaaaaaaay into the future. Sorry I didn't make this clear.

Joan

Hi Joan, it's clear to me you have that thought of the future possibilities already, and that you do know about pricing your art with galleries. It was that issue that i'm concerned with and hope to share with you.
I see you'll get far in your career with that mind of yours! :thumbsup:

More painting
 

Hi Marcus,

I've learned a lot from this forum and fellow artists here in Houston. I do understand about galleries, I enjoy reading about other artists' experiences here on the forum. Perhaps I should do a bit more painting and a little less reading if I really want to get into a gallery :)

Joan

Joan,
$21 per square inch would be a price for an artist with a well established reputation and following. For a good artist starting out, I would recommend a price in the $13 to $14 per square inch range.

Still seems high to me
 

Hi Richard,

Thank you for explaining your cost analysis. I think perhaps since I live in Houston, somehow the prices here must be lower. At $13 a square inch, a 16"x20" head and shoulders would sell for $4160. That seems high to me, in fact it's just about exactly the price that an established artist here in town charges for her head and shoulders out of her studio. She's a friend of mine.

Richard, I am not trying to be argumentative at all! There are some good artists here (part of a group I paint models with) that will do a lovely head and shoulders for around $1500 or even less. Granted, there are only a couple that are good enough to sell their work, but they are my definition of a 'good artist just starting out'. Perhaps you came across these prices but they were balanced out in your calculations by the higher NY prices? Again, not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand.
thanks,

Joan

As Richard mentioned in his introduction, the prices were based on work he saw in galleries in major art markets, so his definition of a "good artist just starting out" doesn't mean someone who's not yet selling their work on a regular basis, it means someone who already has a good gallery representing them and is just "starting out" doing that.

I think Richard's pricing guide should be viewed as just that , a useful "guide". When I tried to figure out at what rate to sell my work, I spend a lot of time on the Internet finding artists whose skill I felt I matched the closest. Then I compared the sizes head and shoulder, 1/2 figure, etc and looked for the average price that was being charged.

As an artist nothing is more dissatisfying then to sell something you have labored over for a nickel and dime. Whenever I feel doubtful weather or not I am priced too high, I remind myself how expensive mass production prints are. That makes me feel much better and at ease, after all what we produce are one of a kind originals, custom orders!

Thank you
 

Michele,

Thank you for your clarification. I guess I need to reread the post.

Enzie,

You're right, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will keep what you said in mind.

Joan

What is a good artist starting out?
 

For purposes of definition "a good artist starting out" is one that any of our established forum professionals would say is well skilled in his/her craft, has a recognizable style, and has some wow or retinal burn factor in his/her work.

I have just returned from visiting the Laguna (California) galleries where I was hoping to see some fine art work. Crushing disappointment! Most of the work on the walls was hack work (99+%) with deservedly low prices. A few good pieces in one gallery saved the day. However, I won't be revisiting the majority if these galleries anytime soon.

It seems that more and more art in galleries these days is wall art not fine art. That is OK with me...decorators need something to hang on the wall. However, wall art falls in the lower portion of my lowest quartile in price per square inch...which is where it should be.

Richard, you have been in my neighborhood! Yep, totally agree with you, all that is offered fore sale here are sea scapes with very muted colors or the touristy stuff, that makes you wonder: "Who on earth is going to buy that?!" Every now and then you come across a good quality work, but you have to search for it.

I am glad that finally someone who isn't a landscape artist, agrees that the art here leaves a lot to be desired.

I hope that you enjoyed the scenery though!