Understanding the market

I find it difficult sometimes understanding what I need to do next.My prices are very low and I get alot of people who contact me for a piece of work and either don't follow through or sometimes they complain the price is too high. I charge approximately $1.50 a square inch-a 10X12 is $180cdn. I often hear how beautiful my work is but the sales are not reflecting. What am I doing wrong?

Hi, I'm the owner of this Forum and Stroke of Genius web site.

I'd like to suggest that you repost your question with additional information. This will help anyone answer your question more fully.

Also, please identify yourself per my recent post. Those artists who are very experienced would be more likely to answer if they know to whom they are "speaking".

I'd include at least the following:

1. Where are you located? Is it a small town? Prices can vary according to market.

2. Do you have any gallery or agent representation? They can often help get your prices higher by reaching the right market

3. How long have you been painting and how well known are you? Reputation often has much to do with pricing.

4. Are you talking about portraiture?

5. Do you reach any prospects outside your local market?

6. How much have you sold in the past?

Dear Consmel,
Maybe targeting a different market would help. Are the people that are complaining about price not usually buying art?

Another idea... I often market my work through Charity galas and events with a percentage of the price of the commission going to the charity. This makes for a very genteel approach by clients because part of the money is donated to the charity. Annette Ellingwood pt pf 3yrs [email protected]

I have been painting seriously since I was thirteen and have been "in business" for app. 8-1/2 years. I work out of my home and find most of my contacts and clients through word of mouth and art shows. I paint in watercolour and have my own compositions that I take to my shows but work on various portrait commissions from my home.I do not have any representation or any agent.

There are years where I am working on portraits and other commissions on a continuous basis-app.1 or 2 per month. The average size of these are app. 8x10 or 10x12. Because of this size I have at least gotten very good at working on very small detail-which I am most grateful for.

There are other years where I may only get in 2 or 3 portrits for the entire year. I do live in a small town which is largely based economically on the auto industry. As far as how well known I am-I think I am fairly well known to those that attend shows and are interested in the arts.It seems kind of strange to think about that question because I'm not quite sure. People who do contact me are usually those that have seen my work around town (at the doctors office or at the hospital) or have seen it in various auctions or fundraisers. I do get alot of calls from local charities looking for my work.

Just for interest sake for anyone who would be interested I have also had difficulty pricing my work and purposely altered my prices to reflect what I felt that the average person could afford without strain just to see if it would bump up my sales. The response that I got was mostly "what is wrong with it and why is it so cheap?" I have since decided on the pricing system previously mentioned because that appears to be the price range for size that most people are receptive to.

I do admit that I do not actively push my art as I do get extemely nervous in that type of situation.I actually do alot better and handle myself much calmer and proffessionally when someone approaches me.

I do not know the first thing about getting representation and honestly am not in a financial positon to do so. I've asked other artists in this community and they do not know anyone in this area who represents artists either. blah blah blah this was supposed to be a short message -whoops-consmel