The Art of Pricing Art

"How long did that take you to make?" is a question artists often hear. The answer is a lifetime. What we put on surfaces are products of years of training, practice, soul-searching, and experiences. A piece can often take me over a year from original conception to final output--so how does an artist and or collector value a lifetime of training and experience?

There's no science in pricing art, but there is logic. First an artist considers their experience as a professional and where similar artists are pricing their work. With this as a starting point, pieces are often priced with consideration to their size. Artists should not price the same work differently in different situations, so we account for 50% gallery fees. If one considers the time, materials, shipping and hanging fees, and 50% going to the gallery--our hourly rate can often be below minimum wage. None of us are in this business for the money.

I want my art to be accessible to all, and this is why I make limited edition prints. I basically divide the price of what an original piece might be into the number of limited edition prints I will make, and that makes the pricing more affordable for all. If I hand finish each print, and/or if the total number of prints is smaller, the prices will be higher.

My art practice is 3 fold. I create art in search of human connections and identities in this increasingly disconnected world. I also love instantaneously responding to the people and places around me with my pastels and iPad paintings. And lastly I create commissions with and for my collectors often using techniques and ideas spurned on by the former two. The latter two help fund my art I do with and for NGOs. I remain deeply grateful to all my collectors for their support on so many levels.