Monday 31 October 2011

Prices for Paintings for Art Show

Today I had to decide which paintings to go on display to sell at the community centre art show and cocktail party on Sat 12th November.  Prices are always difficult to decide on and it was suggested to me to show my lower price paintings as the lower price items are more likely to sell, which meant Ribbon town was out but I will take that with me on Sunday 13th Nov when I do a painting demo at the community centre for the opening of the new kindergarten/school for 3 year olds that the community centre fundraised and built.

Paintings aren't selling at the moment in Perth, I've been to few galleries and shows in the past couple of months and there were very few red dots.  I've also heard this from others who have been to exhibitions/galleries/shows too.

I live in the Perth hills where there are a couple of galleries and a small art community.  People of a variety of incomes live in the same suburb - I guess you could say middle class - what ever that really is.  The wealthy suburbs of Perth such as Subiaco, Nedlands and Dalkieth have quite a few galleries with higher priced paintings in.

So how do I price my paintings???  I have a middle price and depending on the commission of where my painting are to be sold  will affect the mark-up on the painting.  I have a family price and that recovers the cost of materials and a little time.  I also have the lowest price I'll go before selling this painting at that price leaves me feeling icky.  I tell the ladies in my class don't make it so low that if you sell it at that price you are left feeling yucky and regretting it.  Some art awards take 30% but the community centre ask a 10% donation - which is great.

Kelly Rae Robert's Etsy article on pricing is the best one I've read and recommend it if you are having trouble deciding on how to price your paintings.

Spring Blossoms Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 24" 61cm x 61cm
York Art Show $300
Community Centre Art Show $250 (less commission means I get $225)
My lowest price before it leaves me feeling yuck is $200.
Family price is even lower because I'm happy that it's staying the family and I can go visit my painting - no on selling though....


Butterfly Windows Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 24" 61cm x 61cm
 York Art Show $300
Community Centre Art Show $250
My lowest price before it leaves me feeling yuck is $200.
Family price is even lower because I'm happy that it's staying the family and I can go visit my painting - no on selling though....


Butterfly  and  Dragonfly  Acrylic on Canvas 46cm x 46cm (18"x18")

Community Centre Art Show $150 each

The Vase Acrylic on Canvas 25cm x 51cm
 Community Centre Art Show $75
The Tulip Acrylic on Canvas 25cm x 51cm

Community Centre Art Show $75


So what do you think of my prices???  Too high???  Too low???  Shells, you know best???

I guess the real question is How much will someone pay for my painting?  I wonder how much the price will change when I'm still trying to sell them in a year......











8 comments:

  1. It is really difficult to set up the prices for paintings. I have always difficulties with it.

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  2. It is difficult to price paintings. I've seen a number of displays with prices much higher than yours and I wouldn't pay that price for those paintings. However, I think that yours are very reasonably priced, and I would certainly pay what you are asking for these paintings. I just think they are gorgeous.

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  3. I think your prices are very reasonable, and I would not go lower at all. You put a lot of love and time into them. You should not undersell yourself. My husband also has a degree in graphic design, and he usually tells me to go lower, but he thinks as I do, that you should go for the $300 if that leaves you with $200 for yourself. My only question is that different currency than USD, so adjust them accordingly. But here that’s quite fair for the size and, of course, for the quality.

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  4. I would say that you should keep your prices the same no matter where you sell them, so price them with keeping in mind the highest commission you might have to pay out...so if a gallery takes 50% and the lowest you would sell that painting at is 200.00 then you price should be 400.00 and then keep the prices similar for each size so if you do a 24 x 30 for 400.00....most if not all of your 24 x 30 should be that price. Consistency is important so that when a collector finds you online, he or she doesn't feel shafted by the gallery where they purchased your painting for double the price. Hope that makes sense, it's the advice a friend gave me a while ago. :)

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  5. I think you do know best. A lot of love and heart goes into your work for sure, so it's hard to part with some of them as well just because you've invested so much. Your work is beautiful and so worth it.

    Jill

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  6. Hi Jodi, yes that's what Flora Bowley does and it's an alternative way of pricing things. this is the first time I've advertised prices on my paintings and haven't put any prices on my website for that reason. I don't believe my paintings would sell for such a high price - doing a cost comparison with other people's paintings. Thanks.

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  7. Thanks for your comments everyone, it's very interesting to here your opinions and thoughts on this subject.

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  8. I think your paintings are reasonably priced and agree with everyone not to go lower. In fact I think you could go a bit higher for the larger ones. I also agree that you know best and whatever you are happy with is the way to go. Your artwork is gorgeous and worth it, and so are you!!

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