Have you ever had your artwork displayed? or entered anything you created into an art show?
Moving several times in less than 4 years, I didn't have much time to unleash my creative spirit. But, last year, after we settled in to our new home, with no plans to move anytime soon, I finally put paint to canvas again. I have only done a handful of paintings so far this year, but it feels wonderfully liberating to be creating again.
Recently, I joined the local Art League in hopes of meeting like-minded creative people in our new town. Suddenly I am swept into this whirlwind of their annual summer art show. When I was told that one of the eligibility requirements was that art work submitted must have been completed in the last 2 years, I was actually relieved. It narrowed my choices to a small few.
I have no experience in any of this. It is all new and very exciting to me. I never "showed" my works. I have several dozen drawings and paintings but none of them were ever on display, other than in my home. (I am still a little nervous about what people will think of them, but I am really excited as well.) So, last week, I chose my two best pieces, and I submitted my entry paperwork for those two paintings into the show and into the judging contest.
Yesterday, I received a voice mail from Linda, the person in charge of the entry form paperwork. She said that she needed a selling price for my paintings! I am a graphic designer by day. I get paid by the hour or by the difficulty of the project. Painting (and scrapbooking) are hobbies. I do it because I love it. How do you put a price on that?
I had to give her a number. So, I did some research. I found that there are many ways that artists price their work and it also depends on a number of factors. How popular is that artist, or that style, or medium, or subject matter? The easiest way I found was pricing paintings by square inch. Here is Maria Brophy's formula.
I figured in the cost of the new frames and the size (14 x 18), and they were oil paintings (oil paints and supplies are more expensive than other mediums). The final result for my two paintings were $550 each. I called Linda back and gave her my price. I also confirmed with her that I was in the price range of the other paintings that size. So, there you have it!
I have no experience in any of this. It is all new and very exciting to me. I never "showed" my works. I have several dozen drawings and paintings but none of them were ever on display, other than in my home. (I am still a little nervous about what people will think of them, but I am really excited as well.) So, last week, I chose my two best pieces, and I submitted my entry paperwork for those two paintings into the show and into the judging contest.
Yesterday, I received a voice mail from Linda, the person in charge of the entry form paperwork. She said that she needed a selling price for my paintings! I am a graphic designer by day. I get paid by the hour or by the difficulty of the project. Painting (and scrapbooking) are hobbies. I do it because I love it. How do you put a price on that?
I had to give her a number. So, I did some research. I found that there are many ways that artists price their work and it also depends on a number of factors. How popular is that artist, or that style, or medium, or subject matter? The easiest way I found was pricing paintings by square inch. Here is Maria Brophy's formula.
I figured in the cost of the new frames and the size (14 x 18), and they were oil paintings (oil paints and supplies are more expensive than other mediums). The final result for my two paintings were $550 each. I called Linda back and gave her my price. I also confirmed with her that I was in the price range of the other paintings that size. So, there you have it!
(These images were taken before the frames. I will take a photo of the finished framed paintings once they come back from the frame shop.)