|
Lori Woodward Blog
by Lori Woodward Simons on 10/24/2008 8:38:20 AM
Loved by a collector
Yesterday, I was made aware of the fact that there are still artists out there who feel guilty about making income with their artwork. I know at least a dozen wildly successful artists who make art for the sheer joy of it, and they make a darned good income too. They are not ashamed to get good pay by folks who may someday donate it to a museum or pass it on to their progeny as a cherished heirloom.
While some collectors buy art as an investment, the majority of art sales take place because someone falls in love with the work and has the means to purchase it. That's why we artists who are in the business of making art for sale owe our collectors our best efforts. I am elated when someone buys my work -- knowing that my painting has a good chance of bringing joy for... what... maybe a few hundred years. AND if it pays my bills while I'm alive at the same time, that's the icing on the cake!
For those artists who still feel a twinge of guilt after reading this blog, making income from my work also allows me to buy the best materials and make more artwork without going into debt.
Sincerely,
Lori
Sign up for my free art instruction tutorials on this website.
My artist gallery website: http://loriwoodward.com
Upcoming Art Marketing Seminar at Scottsdale Artist School: http://scottsdaleartschool.org
|
6 Responses to It's OK to make Money With Art
via web
jl
via web
jl
via web
via web
via web
The gist of my comment was:
I'm not in a gallery and I'm not 'known', although my blog has helped be become more visible. I have a yearly Open Studios where most of my sales happen. Otherwise I have many works which would sell if I could lower the prices considerably. I'm not averse to that. They need to go. I've always had trouble pricing and some of my artist friends have told me my prices are too cheap.
My question was:
Do I owe it to the art world to keep my prices at the same level as those who paint at a similar level as I do? I would rather slash the prices to get sales I know would've happened if my potential collectors didn't have to pay the oil bill instead of buying a $400 oil painting.
I really would love to hear other's opinions on this.
via web
If you are working with galleries,you should avoid lowering your prices or offering different prices for your work at different locations. IN other words, your retail price is your retail price... period.
BUT, if you sell on your own and are not working with any dealers or galleries, there's nothing to stop you from offering lower priced works when you feel like it.
This year, I plan to sell on my own -- thereby making my prices reasonable. If my collectors paid more for my works in the past, won't they think that they should buy now while they can have a bargain? This means what they buy today will appreciate much quicker.
One of the reasons why I think galleries can't have sales is because they take a 50% commission, and if the price of the work goes down, nobody makes any money. The price of supplies and framing and rent are not going to diminish. Bills still have to be paid.
When I sell from my studio or from a location that I rent, I can afford to offer lower prices because my overhead is low.
For those artists who sell on their own or through Ebay or their web sites, the retail price is up to them. That's my take, anyway.
Lori