Advice For Artists
Artwork by Sherry Dhanoa
Art Markets for Beginners
Pricing and Framing For New Art on the Street Exhibitors
Written by Harriet Brittaine
We have had loads of artists coming to us in a panic about selling their work at Art on the Street. The two main concerns are pricing and framing, so we have written a little guide to keep our artists' blood pressures down! There are also a few other tips that you might find useful.
Pricing
This isn’t as straight forward as you might think! Different artists price their work in different ways – this guide explains the way I personally price my own work.
Firstly I calculate the hours I have spent on the painting, my ‘wage’ in
other words.I pay myself about £10 an hour, you might want to pay
yourself more or less than that. Then I add the money I spent on materials. You should include everything from paint and solvents to framing.
Now you should have arrived at a basic price – the price which you definitely don’t want to go lower than as you will be losing money.
On top of this price I put an ‘originality fee’ which is a difficult idea to explain. It’s a mixture of how much you like the painting, how much you want/don’t want to sell the painting, how original it is, how easy it would be to reproduce the same painting and so on. This fee could be anything from £5 to £500.
You should also take into account where you are selling your work. A gallery will add a commission fee of anything up to 50% therefore prices of paintings will much higher. Also people go to galleries to specifically buy art so generally are willing to spend more on a painting. Vice versa with places like Art on the Street.
If you add up all the points you should come to some sort of price for your work. Just remember that pricing your own work is very personal – don’t be afraid to price your work high if you think it is worth it. Most artists who are selling for the
first time tend to underprice their work.
Pricing and Framing For New Art on the Street Exhibitors
Written by Harriet Brittaine
We have had loads of artists coming to us in a panic about selling their work at Art on the Street. The two main concerns are pricing and framing, so we have written a little guide to keep our artists' blood pressures down! There are also a few other tips that you might find useful.
Pricing
This isn’t as straight forward as you might think! Different artists price their work in different ways – this guide explains the way I personally price my own work.
Firstly I calculate the hours I have spent on the painting, my ‘wage’ in
other words.I pay myself about £10 an hour, you might want to pay
yourself more or less than that. Then I add the money I spent on materials. You should include everything from paint and solvents to framing.
Now you should have arrived at a basic price – the price which you definitely don’t want to go lower than as you will be losing money.
On top of this price I put an ‘originality fee’ which is a difficult idea to explain. It’s a mixture of how much you like the painting, how much you want/don’t want to sell the painting, how original it is, how easy it would be to reproduce the same painting and so on. This fee could be anything from £5 to £500.
You should also take into account where you are selling your work. A gallery will add a commission fee of anything up to 50% therefore prices of paintings will much higher. Also people go to galleries to specifically buy art so generally are willing to spend more on a painting. Vice versa with places like Art on the Street.
If you add up all the points you should come to some sort of price for your work. Just remember that pricing your own work is very personal – don’t be afraid to price your work high if you think it is worth it. Most artists who are selling for the
first time tend to underprice their work.
Framing
Artwork by Harriet Brittaine
There are two basic types of framing:
1. Framing with a mount, behind glass
- For watercolours, gouache, pastel, charcoal, drawings
- Generally for work on paper
2. Framing with no mount and no glass
- For acrylics and oils
- Generally for work on canvas or board
You can get your work framed professionally which tends to be a little pricier or you can do it yourself with readymade frames. Mounts can be purchased readymade or you can cut your own using a mount cutter and mount board.
It works out cheaper to cut your own mounts but it is a bit fiddly and needs practise!
Obviously work which is framed will be more expensive than unframed. To keep costs down
(for yourself as well as customers) it’s an idea to sell a selection of both framed and unframed work. A good way to protect
unframed work (on paper) is to fix it behind a mount and wrap it with cellophane.This protects the work, gives it a professional feel and means you can stick prices or titles to the front.
1. Framing with a mount, behind glass
- For watercolours, gouache, pastel, charcoal, drawings
- Generally for work on paper
2. Framing with no mount and no glass
- For acrylics and oils
- Generally for work on canvas or board
You can get your work framed professionally which tends to be a little pricier or you can do it yourself with readymade frames. Mounts can be purchased readymade or you can cut your own using a mount cutter and mount board.
It works out cheaper to cut your own mounts but it is a bit fiddly and needs practise!
Obviously work which is framed will be more expensive than unframed. To keep costs down
(for yourself as well as customers) it’s an idea to sell a selection of both framed and unframed work. A good way to protect
unframed work (on paper) is to fix it behind a mount and wrap it with cellophane.This protects the work, gives it a professional feel and means you can stick prices or titles to the front.
Marketing Materials
Artwork by Denise Saiyai
Greetings Cards
Many artists sell greetings cards with their work printed on
them. This can be both a blessing and a curse! Customers are more likely to
purchase a £2.50 card, than a £10 print making it unlikely that you will sell
your more expensive work.
The AOTS team don't want you to shoot yourself in the foot by underpricing yourself or detracting from your main pieces!
For this reason, if you are going to sell greetings cards please keep it to minimum - the main focus of the stall should be originals and prints.
Remember this is a fine art market not a greeting card market!
Business Cards
You should get business cards printed as it allows potential customers to contact you after the event.
It also makes you look more professional and experienced - remember that customers are not only buying a piece of art, they are buying into the idea of the artist.
There are lots of online companies which will print your business cards as well as a number of local companies. If you are
on a budget you could always print your own. Something is better than nothing!
Many artists sell greetings cards with their work printed on
them. This can be both a blessing and a curse! Customers are more likely to
purchase a £2.50 card, than a £10 print making it unlikely that you will sell
your more expensive work.
The AOTS team don't want you to shoot yourself in the foot by underpricing yourself or detracting from your main pieces!
For this reason, if you are going to sell greetings cards please keep it to minimum - the main focus of the stall should be originals and prints.
Remember this is a fine art market not a greeting card market!
Business Cards
You should get business cards printed as it allows potential customers to contact you after the event.
It also makes you look more professional and experienced - remember that customers are not only buying a piece of art, they are buying into the idea of the artist.
There are lots of online companies which will print your business cards as well as a number of local companies. If you are
on a budget you could always print your own. Something is better than nothing!
A Few Other Tips:
- Artists who chat to customers are much more likely to sell. Customers want to know ideas behind the
paintings and about the artist themselves. Saying that, don’t chase them down the street!!
- Price up your work so people don’t have to ask.
- Don’t expect too much. If you don’t sell any work at all it doesn’t mean your work isn’t up to scratch. All artists have both ups and downs.
- Talk to us! If we don't know the anser to your question, then we will definitely know someone who does!
Good luck from me (Harri) and the rest of the Art on the Street team!
paintings and about the artist themselves. Saying that, don’t chase them down the street!!
- Price up your work so people don’t have to ask.
- Don’t expect too much. If you don’t sell any work at all it doesn’t mean your work isn’t up to scratch. All artists have both ups and downs.
- Talk to us! If we don't know the anser to your question, then we will definitely know someone who does!
Good luck from me (Harri) and the rest of the Art on the Street team!
