How did you get your start as a pro?

[Joseph Brzycki]

Lon, I don't know if you got my private message or not, so I decided to list my question here. I read you charged only $3 per portrait, but is that what you still charge now. How much do you charge for charcoal and how much for pastel?

Thanks

[Lon Haverly]

I charged $3 then - 30 years ago. My prices now are as follows:

Pencil (10 min.) $25
Charcoal (10 min.) $45
Pastel (20 min) $65

I charge per person, even if they are in the same sketch. Sometimes I will discount depending on the customer. I will try not to turn anyone away due to price. SO sometimes I dicker.

I tried to include a photo, but have had trouble uploading. I will try. I used the copper because it is easy to assemble, cheap and durable. The banner cloth comes factory hemmed. I can order it for you through my sign company (my trade during the week) if you like. It is not cheap. I could give you a quote. You cannot get it unless you are in the sign business. I bought the fixtures at Bi-Mart for $5 each, and hammered the clamps off and wired them in. It sets up in 1/2 hour, is lightweight and easy to store. I leave it up all week, and draw on the weekends. The frames are hinged at the corners with copper straps.

Please let me know if I can help you in any way!

I wish you well!
Lon

[Joseph Brzycki]

Lon,

First of all, thanks for the wonderful info. I was wondering what the 15% rate was. Is that where you pay the promotions director 15% of what you make a month?

Also, I didn't know if the $250 base rent was per month or not. I'll come looking for you when I need the banner cloth.

Thanks!!

[Denise Racine]

So I built a business plan to begin developing a portrait practice.

Chris, I would be very interested in hearing more details concerning your plan.
My husband and I own a car dealership and I was in charge of sales and marketing. I always looked happy on the outside, but was always sad inside. I felt that I was not doing what I felt I was born to do. Secretly, I prayed that I would get just sick enough to have a little time-out. They say to be careful what you pray for...In January 2002 I found a lump in my throat and the doctors thought it was cancer. I was operated on in April 2002. It turned out not to be cancer but I came out the experience with a new set of priorities.

Since then I have quit working at the dealership -not always easy because I still hear about everyday problems from my husband. But I am determined to finally have an art career focused on portrait painting. I have been working on a plan for the last month. Any hints or ideas would be more than welcome. I am sure I am not the only one on this site who would benefit from your experience.

Thank you in advance for sharing this information!

[Chris Saper]

Hi Denise,

The business plan I developed was not appreciably different from any general business plan.

The plan really begins with assessing your particular market to find out what place you find or be able to make within it. Look at several features, including detailed asessment of who your competitors are, beginning locally, or in your case perhaps regionally, as I don't know how large Gatineau is...and whether Montreal would be your nearest large city. You need to look at individual portrait painters, those represented by brokers, whether any are represented by galleries, etc. If you see your market as a national one (including the US) most of the comparative info you will need is right here on SOG. Look at pricing, and take a critical look at the quality of your own work in comparison. Bear in mind that not all painters who charge $10,000 will do enough volume to make the annual numbers pencil out. Look at other factors too that make it easier or more difficult to secure clients, such as travel, framing, $ for multiples, whether live sittings are required, etc. Each of these elements presents a particular opportunity to build a fee and process plan that can give you a competitive advantage, again, so long as the economics can work out.

You then need to make some assumptions about how much volume you can really expect to see, and think through how you will market your work. Identify the specific subjects/ buyers to target.

You will need to look at your expenses in detail, fixed and variable, and how you can control or mimimize them (for example, standardized sizing, framing, production, etc.) Expenses need to include not only what is costs to produce a painting, (time, materials, etc.) but your marketing, promotional and general business expenses.

There are a number of other aspects that may or may not attend your business plan, depending upon the composite of your career goals..credentailing, teaching, gallery or other relaationships etc. The point is that each plan is so unique to a given person, there really isn't a "canned" approach available. Hope this is helpful, Chris

[Tammy Nielsen]

Thanks Lon and Everyone for your stories. I go to different horse shows like the July Show in Reno. And I do sketches of people's horses, sell sculptures, and paintings and cards. I've wanted to do a booth or something in Huntington Beach CA because my Mother lives there and I too would like to defray costs. I guess I'll go to one of the malls and try your method.

Thanks,
Tammy