Pricing my artworks
I have found the pricing of artworks to be probably the most awkward thing about being an artist. Price your works too high, you won’t sell. Price them too low, you’re not taken seriously. And then you have to consider the cost of framing the work if you’re selling framed work. And there’s the gallery’s commission too ….. it’s complicated. And then what has made it even more complicated is galleries located in capital cities - like Dublin, for example - insisting that you raise your price in galleries there too, their justification being that Dubliners are wealthier and therefore will pay more for art. It’s nuts. And it’s one of the reasons I decided to create an e-commerce website to sell directly to buyers. But this meant I had to figure out prices too …. and be able to sell in galleries for the same price if it came down to it.
So I did some looking. Some artists charge by the hour, plus specific percentage of the hourly rate again for materials. This is fine if you’re working on one artwork at a time, and maybe work with a daily rate. This doesn’t suit me because I have as many as 20 different artworks on the go at any given time, and tend to lose track of time when working on pieces. Other artists charge by the square inch, which is fine if you inches are the generally accepted unit of measurement in your country and among your buyers. I think in centimetres and metres, it’s just a matter of moving a decimal point. And one inch is 2.59 cm …. so converting can get so complicated. So that wasn’t a good solution for me.
And finally I found something through the Artwork Archive blog - which is full of really useful information and tips, by the way. I was introduced to the Linear method of pricing artworks, which works way better because I have work in so many different sizes. Basically you use the dimensions to calculate your price like this: if it measures 20 cm by 30 cm, you add 20 and 30 to get 50, and then multiply this by your unit rate, say €2.50, so 50 x 2.5 = 125, so your 20x30 cm artwork costs €125. You could of course do it by inches and other currencies if you wish, but this way is relatively easy for buyers to understand. And it’s great for artworks of different sizes too.
Therefore, here is how I am pricing my artworks:
All acrylics, pastels, Inktense block works and watercolours on strong card paper, pastel pad, velour paper or watercolour paper are priced €2.50 per linear cm, sent via registered post
For acrylics on small to medium-sized canvases, it’s €2.75 per linear cm, sent by registered post
Oil paintings are €3.00 per linear cm - but as most of my oil paintings on canvas are large, I won’t be sending them through the post, they would be better transported by a specialist art courier, in a crate. Please contact me if you are interested in seeing some of my larger works.
Some more things to mention:
Firstly, I will provide free delivery to buyers located on the island of Ireland. Our stories are my inspiration, after all ….
Secondly, I will also enclose a Certificate of Authenticity with the artwork, as well as information for your framer if you’re buying an unframed artwork. If you’re unsure about buying an unframed artwork, please read my blog post on the subject.
So please keep watching the website, as I will be uploading new works on a weekly basis. And if you see something you like, hit that Add To Cart button, and get yourself an original unique artwork directly from the artist.
