Selling Art – That Awkward Guilt Complex and Random Thoughts
Since the very first painting I ever sold, I’ve had a strange type of guilt complex about selling something that I enjoyed doing. At first it was cool and I just went with it, but then after about a week I was remembering how much fun that particular piece of art was to do and then thought about how much I sold it for. It didn’t seem to add up. Isn’t work supposed to be something you toil over? Something you hate? Something that you do just for the money?
I’ve never tried to sell my work. That may be part of the problem. When I finish a painting and I stand back and look at it, I never think “this will look amazing in the Smith’s front room” or “down at the bank”. While there is an element of art that utilizes the space that the art will finally occupy, I don’t imagine dollar signs with a painting or piece. I guess I’m not that type of artist who gets into the deep philosophical aspects of worth and value either. If you like it you’ll tell me you like it, and if you really like it that much you’ll ask me if it’s for sale. If it happens to be for sale, then name your price. If I like the numbers I hear, then it’s yours. Simple as that.
That’s simple right?
It’s been a few years since that first painting I sold for $75 while I was in high school. I should scan that in sometime. I’ve sold only a few pieces since. I think it’s just part of who I am. I don’t like to sell. Some artists do. They thrive and even live on it. For me, I am content with making it, even if it’s not very good. Even if other people hate it and never want to see it again. I may even enjoy the process of creating more than the finished product. I hope so. ‘Cause that just makes me want to break out a canvas and go at it.
How do you judge your art when you are done with it? How do you price it?
I have three criteria that I use for my own artwork.
- Did I enjoy creating it?
- Does it reflect me as accurately as it could for that time in my life, that moment, that mood?
- Do I like to look at it?
Tags: art, selling, design, craftsmanship, artist, paint, painting, drawing, draw, passion
3 Comments
Interesting and thought-provoking ….
I agree its a complex business selling your work (or not selling it!). All sorts of feelings arise either way!
Unlike you I do try and sell my work by various means, but I’ll admit that I do have the odd pang of guilt if someone parts with some of their hard earned cash for something I’ve created! But this is tempered by a lovely wash of pleased surprise that anyone should want to!
I know it sounds stupid but somehow each painting is a bit of ME … so if its rejected for a show, accepted, ignored or purchased it has significance. By actually showing one’s painting to anyone at all one is putting a part of oneself on the line, so to speak.
How do I judge my work? Hmmmm … well, – ‘Does it bear any relationship to my original idea/goal?’ and ‘Do I like it?’ – these would be the most important considerations for me. I don’t often enjoy the act of creating a painting all that much … the process itself I mean, so that doesn’t come into it.
As to pricing … that is the question! I’ve sort of developed a rather fluid and unscientific method of pricing … loosely based on painting size, time taken and materials. My prices are pretty much the same whether the piece is on canvas unframed or framed under glass, – this to even out some of the costs of the framing process.
But the more I like the piece the more likely I am to add on more dollars!
I have one particular painting that just won’t sell no matter where I show it … so I know I am pricing it too high. But do I care that it hasn’t sold? … actually no! Because I really like it so I’m happy.
Phew, this got to be a long comment, sorry!
LOL, I love long comments… I totally identify with the painting being a part of yourself. You can’t disengage from art in that way. I think it has to be part of you. Lately, I’ve been letting my wife price my art so I think I just care too much to put a value on it sometimes.
I take a simple approach…I charge a flat rate for my paintings based on the size of the painting. I do raise the price a little if I’m attatched to the piece. Also, (we should all probably stop doing this) I charge more if the piece is on canvas as opposed to paper. Collectors seem to think it will last longer on canvas.
Also, the more paintings you sell, the more you should charge. I have not sold very many paintings thus far so I charge sort of what I consider to be the lowest price any artist should charge. Sort of a starting rate.
If you feel guilty charging for your art, try donating a piece to a charity auction. You’ll free up a little room in your studio, satisfy a collector, and use your talent to benifit others. There is not much more rewarding than that!
By the way, I love the Artist Hideout. William cracks me up!