Several days ago a woman was telling me and another person that she'd had a show at a local hangout and sold quite a bit of her art (photography). I was surprised because art doesn't normally sell well in our town - unless it's marked down to $20 or less. This woman suggested that if I had a show there, marked my paintings $20. each, then I'd probably sell between 6 to 10 pieces and come home with $120 - $200 for the show - like that was a good thing! I had to hold my jaw to keep it from dropping to the floor. I put in a good 8 hours or more on each little 8"x10" painting - and even more time depending on subject and details. The cheapest canvas you can get is about $3. You have to prime your canvas - that's about $21. for 2 qts. Each tiny 1.25 fl, oz. tube of paint ranges anywhere from $6. and on up per tube. Then there's brushes and the more you pay for one the better and easier your work goes, but say you got a $6. cheap kids pack. Of course you need either Gamsol or medium if you're working on oils to thin out or layer your paint. That's $7. to $15.per small bottle. Then there's mineral spirits to thin your paint or rinse your brushes ($21.) and brush cleaner ($12.) to get out the tough stuff. If you're putting on a frame you'll pay about $15. at half price at Hobby Lobby and LOTS more at frame places, unless you go for a photo frame and then people look at your work like it's "cute". To make a living at painting you have to factor in marketing, office supplies, the fuel it took to get your materials, the electric for your lights and heat, etc. What about all the education that it takes to get to the point where you can sell your work? Now,minimum wage is $7.25 an hour - that not accounting for the years you've studied art(your promotions), but just straight out of the "box". Looking only at labor: $7.25 x 8 hours = $56. and none of the materials costs have not been factored in yet. Can you see why an original 8"x10" oil (or acrylic or watercolor, etc) painting should never be sold that low? An artist ruins the value of their work by pricing it too low and it's very, very hard to get it up to where it should be when you've underpriced your work. Hence the term "starving artist". I have to say that all last Summer I advertised 8"x10" single portraits of pets or people for only $40. Why did I do that? It was a promotional device to get people to notice and buy. There was a problem with that. The price was so low, that people didn't think they'd be getting quality work. Let's remember to factor in all the expenses and time invested before sticking a price on our work.
