My friend and Pilates instructor, Kelli, is buying this painting this week. It's always fun to sell a painting.
It's obvious that I am not painting for the money. I don't ask much for my work (in fact, I sometimes think people see my work as "less" because I don't ask for thousands of dollars). This is my choice. I would rather my work be out there among people who like it than ask thousands and not sell a thing while everything piles up in my little art room.
So...everything I have painted is for sale, including my Honeybee Series paintings. They are reasonably priced (often under $150) because they are unmatted and unframed (matting and framing them always adds to the cost - and putting something in a juried show always adds to the cost because you need to put a good price on those works to get the attention of the judges - yes, it makes a difference.)
This painting is about 10.5 x 14.5 inches on gold gessoed paper. I spray sealed it after the painting dried so it won't smudge. Kelli will be packing it in her suitcase and it will be flying to Singapore! Have fun, little bee, in your new home :) And thanks, Kelli, for loving one of my pieces enough to purchase it.
I know many of my blogger/art buddies sell their work and I wonder: does it still make you feel good to sell a piece even if you don't get "big bucks" for it, or is it more important to how you feel as an artist set a high price on all your work and then sell less frequently? Do you feel like you are not honoring your work if you set a low price on a piece? It's something we all have to work through if we want to put our work out for sale.
I will miss this little honeybee and her trip to the honey dipper, but I can paint another (as the artist, I retain the copyright for the piece even though this one will be far away). In fact, I have something else already begun.
5 comments:
Oh, really lovely, Rhonda!! Congrats and enjoy painting more. ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ·.•*•♫°•♫·.•ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ Best wishes, Sadami
Congratulations on the sale - well deserved.
I am interested to read what other people think on this. I personally like to get out my work out there too. There is always a happy dance at a sale whether it is a big one or a small one - a well thought comment on a blog or email is the same - a sign that someone 'gets it' - that thing that you are trying to communicate that you can't do in any other way.
It is hard to make a living just selling original work these days (it is after all a luxury) if you are not selling in the thousands but as you have pointed out if you don't sell the copyright to the original (sometimes in a commissioned piece depending on the contract you would or at least waiver it for a limited time)then passive income can be made with reproductions and licensing. You have to be practical, we all have bills to pay.
I think most people these days are making their living through multiple ways, as many have probably always done. Those that relied on their income solely from bigger ticket originals were stuck when the crash came. I think it did take a while to claw it's way back and I'm not sure it has totally yet. I am glad I was not in that position.
Anyway sorry to waffle but you got me thinking....best wishes
This got me thinking too. Love this painting by the way.
I have been painting full-time for over 30 years. This is my full-time employment. I have raised 2 children alone, with no help from an ex. I even bought a house in a desirable tourist area. I am not bragging, just proud that I could do this. And I did it by doing shows, licensing some images to companies but mostly because my work is affordable.
It is more important to me, and always has been, to make art available to everyone. I am thrilled with a sale; not because of the amount of money but because someone loved something I created enough to purchase it.
I would rather get my art seen and appreciated than have it all sitting in the studio.
Just my thoughts.
I tend to just price things at the hourly minimum rate unless its an etching since they take way too long to price them that way.
congrats on the sale, any sale is a good one for an artist now no matter the price and all that really matters is that you are happy with what you create, what you got for it and that the person who bought it is happy :)
Thanks, Sadami :)
Thanks so much, Lisa, Elizabeth and Jennifer Rose for taking the time to comment and give your opinions and ideas of pricing and selling. I appreciate it. No idea is wrong and it helps me see what others do. I like the idea of the paintings going out into the world and not waiting for a show or something to show them all.
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