The Cost of Creating - The Business Side of Art
Let's face it - an artist needs to eat! We as artists feel a sense of accomplishment when we sell a piece of work or are chosen for a commissioned piece - I know I am! Art is a way of coping, expression and it can also work for you as a business. So let's take a look into how to price your art (even though it is truly priceless!)
The Cost of Creating
Supplies are costly as well as the time and work you put into a piece of art so let's take that into consideration as you being to think about pricing and selling your art work.
One basic rule for new artists selling work is the method of using a hourly and supply cost.
Cost of Supplies x Hours Method
For example if you spend $20.00 on a canvas plus paint + about $2.00 per color (say 5 colors)= $10.00 X amount of hours say 3 hrs. It would be 30 x 3 = 90. The final cost of your work would be $90.00
Length x Width Method
The next method is the length by width method. This works best for more seasoned or professional artists. In this way they are being paid for every inch of work that they do. In most cases professional artists can spend hours, days or even weeks on a piece of artwork so in using this method they are being paid fairly without breaking the bank!
Lets say that you purchase a canvas that is 18 inches by 24 inches.
18 x 24 = 432 I personally like a rounded number and in art you want to always round up so the final take home would be $440.00
Create Your Own Price
Only you know the worth of your artwork. You know how long it took, what you used and how many hours you spend on your artwork so you will always make the last determination on what your art is worth to you.
Many artists do not sell their art for what it is truly worth. People also very often think of art as just a hobby and will ask an artist to create a tattoo design, a logo etc. at low or no cost. The reality is your time equals money! You are the determining factor on every last sale whether it big or small and you must stick to your guns and get paid for your work (it is work, even though we love doing it!) We would never ask for a free haircut because we know that a stylist loves their job - so why ask an artist for free art?
after all, art is priceless