Pricing is a tricky issue for many artists. There are many approaches that can be taken. Some think that the price should be based on how much time the piece has taken you. Others say it should depend on size and style. Some would base the price on how successful they feel the piece is. Some determine their price based on a ’per square inch’ calculation.

I believe that paintings should be priced according to size in a logical and unemotional way. Just because you like a particular painting better than other paintings does not make it more valuable to the buyer. Just because it took you longer than usual and you really laboured over it, also does not make it more valuable, unless it’s a completely different style of painting in which case it would require a different pricing structure.

To price my paintings, I have developed a price list based on a sliding scale and a ’per square inch’ basis. I start my prices at $1.00 per square inch for the small ones 8x10 or smaller, and after that I slowly lower the per square inch price as they get bigger. I made a list so I can compare the prices to each other and make sure they all make sense. It’s really easy to price a painting, I just look up the size and there’s the price. The price is unframed. If the painting is framed, the cost of the frame gets added to the basic price. Any other unusual costs can also be added.

Here’s my price list so you can see what I mean.

Having said all that, I always keep an open mind and there can be exceptions. If I had a painting that won a big award, I might raise the price of that one. Or if I have an older painting that I’d like to get rid of, I might wrap it in cellophane and put it in a discount bin.

I keep my prices consistent and avoid lowering prices as much as possible. When I decide to raise my prices, it will be across the board and a new price list will be developed.

Whatever your pricing strategy is, make sure it’s reasonable and consistent.

Suzette

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day, while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day." (Jim Rohn)