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The Red Hatter
Posts:5
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| 08/23/2007 9:01 AM |
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| I am a fifteen year old artist looking to go professional. That sentence alone often puts people off. I want to sell my art, mainly by comissions, of which I have already done a few, but I feel that because of my age, people do not take me seriously. They all agree that I have talent, but seem to think I don't require payment, or that it should be cheep, merely because they are family friends an I am so young. I hesitate to suggest any payment over fifty dollars because I'm afraid they'll balk at the price or think I have misjudged my art. I actually did a pastel that was 1 1/2 feet by 3 feet and the woman forgot to pay me! She was the pastors wife, so I didn't want to make a sceene... But I'm tired of being taken advantage of, or not being taken at all! Any advice would be welcome!
The Red Hatter |
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Larimar Osprey
Posts:60
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| 08/23/2007 10:38 AM |
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I'm a member of deviantART, where a lot of young artists sell their art. Judging from what I see there, most artists start taking commissions at 16-19, with most of the supersuccessful, well-known artists somewhere in their twenties. I'd personally love to take commissions, but I'm tech illiterate and can't enlist the help of parents because I fear that some of my art would upset them. SO I believe that we're both too young, but not for long~
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http://mistywolf.deviantart.com |
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The Red Hatter
Posts:5
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| 08/24/2007 2:42 PM |
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| thanks. I'm actually on Deviant art, but my work doesn't make much of a splash there, since there are soo many people on that. the technology aspect of it is also somewhat of a challenge for me as well. Thank you for your advice. |
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Llarian
Posts:44
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| 10/01/2007 5:09 PM |
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As a 41 year old, I can tell you a couple things that might help:
#1. If you give it away, even to friends, people will balk at paying because they figure they'll hang around until you get in a generous mood again. Free things don't have a perceived value in the eyes of the recipient.
#2. Start out relatively cheap but not free. You can, and should, go up as you become better known and your work matures. In the beginning, the important thing is to get in other people's collections so you can add that to your resume, but it is dishonest to give work to people just so you can say "my work is in the collection of so and so"
#3. As a former minister, I can tell you I have seen the "backside" of the church and church people far too many times to count. Now when someone pulls out the "Christian card" to use with me in any transaction involving money, I RUN - I don't walk, in the other direction as fast as I can. As far as your pastor's wife goes, is it possible she thought it was a donation from you, or a "love offering" ? If so, then she should be happy to provide you with a receipt for the work for your family's tax purposes. This won't be worth much dollar wise, but it should clue her in that your work has value and is not free, but in a nonconfrontational way that does not dishonor her or the pastor. After all, she should expect to pay a plumber or the paper boy for his trouble, right? Did she actually request the work? If so, then you need to find a way to handle the issue in private that maintains your integrity but still honors her as an elder and as a fellow created being. It will not do for you to dishonor her, as it always comes back to bite you. Also, be careful whom you discuss this with, as gossip is no good either.
As far as price goes, if $50.00 is working for you, and no one is balking, next time try $55. or $60. Gradually go up, and never come down, because to do so will "sell out" the collectors who have paid the higher price before. Also when you get in a gallery or some other venue for sales and representation, don't ever sell out the back door of your studio for a lower price than the gallery gets. That's a big no no. People need to know you have principles, a strong work ethic, and integrity. Those things will carry you far. You probably knew all that already, but it bears repeating.
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BecArt
Posts:71
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| 11/17/2007 12:32 PM |
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Hi.I'm 17 and I paint with oils and acrylics. I'm looking at going to art school but I haven't even thought about
selling my paintings yet. I think it is really cool that you are trying to sell yours at 15! |
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River
Posts:360
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| 12/08/2007 8:39 PM |
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Llarain: that was wonderful advice...I'll take some of it too!
I'm always telling
other people that what they do has value...but know I'd have a hard time collecting what I'm worth when I'm ready.
I didn't know the part about being consistant with value in the gallary and
out either...good advice. Unless something is a gift I assume.
I am an older christian too...and the part about honoring is well said.
If someone hurts us...we need to talk to them privately, or forgive, give it to God and go on.
I wondered if Red Hatter needs to decide her prices up front if she hasn't.
That always keeps things simple no matter what transactions we are making in life. Like if you say...this size will cost 50 dollars...they can then agree or not before you start.
"Let noone dispise your youth..." Red Hatter...
your work is worth what people are willing to pay for it because
they have seen what you can do...and agreed to the price you
have asked. |
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bggordon
Posts:220
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| 12/16/2007 8:33 PM |
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| Hi Red Hatter! I started at your age too! Now 46, friends and family still want freebies! Seems hard to get away from. When it comes to non family members, I charge what I think my art is worth, or I do research and see what the market for that paticular medium is paying. I can tell you this from experience, "You can sell your labor cheap, but Never sell your skill cheap! As far as I know, Art has no age limit! Even "The Professionals" don't get to say there is an age limit on paying an artist! |
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jdean
Posts:27
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| 12/26/2007 7:48 PM |
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(Am I an expert?) (Don' thin so.) (Should I be posting here?)
I may be way off-base here - and if anyone thinks so, lemee know...
Up until a couple months ago, (with little to show for sales and therefore no experience upon which to judge "the market" for my own art), I was driving myself crazy over pricing.
Like you Red Hatter, I'd set-up a few barriers in my head… Different than thinking I was too young… I was thinking I'd started too late, (at 55), had just started out on my career as an artist, plus I'm self-taught and had never gone to college to study art… all things that I assumed would keep me down and cheap if I wanted to sell anything.
(I can still nurse that self-doubt about not having formal training under my belt.)
I'd also compared my artwork to a lot of others selling their art for a lot more than I'd priced my own. Candidly? a lot of what I saw was what I'd consider inferior... Yet I wasn't selling… Oh! and least I forget, I'd also been told that if art is priced too low it won't sell just as surely as artwork priced too high. (Probably more than a grain of truth to that one... butta where are the boundaries? see?)
For me, the pricing issue was settled when I heard that a guy had asked, "How much?" for one of my pieces; and when he was told the price for something that'd taken me 16 hours, he said, "Oh, I thought it'd be like 20 bucks or something."
It's true. Most people think real art should sell at the same price as the "wall décor" sold at WalMart or any number of other discount department stores. But there are many, many others, (who aren't artists themselves), but who genuinely appreciate art for what it is, understand what goes into creating it, and value it for more than something that should match the couch. Those are the people I'm after. That's my market.
Part of settling the pricing issue was also coming to understand that, yes, in fact, I DO value what I create ENOUGH…
Today, I'd rather burn my art than sell it at bargain rates, that is, anything less than what I think it should sell for, or the amount of money - my price - that marks the point at which I can be made comfortable enough to let it out of my possession. To put it another way, "I know what it took to do and I deserve to be adequately compensated compared to what others are getting."
Today, I'm still not selling the way I'd like to be; but today I'm concentrating on promotion and making myself and my art known to more and more people rather than trying to make bargain hunters happy.
As always, I wish you the very best in your art.
Cheers!
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iglazier
Posts:82
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| 01/02/2008 1:38 PM |
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| Have you read all the articles about getting into galleries, and promoting your art in the Artist Mag. I assume so--and how about the books North Light publishes to help artists figure out what will work for them?Do they really have good information in them? Did you join your local Art-co-op? Or start one? It may help. |
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Ida M. Glazier |
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Cagg
Posts:0
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| 02/04/2008 4:03 PM |
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If I may answer your question, there is no such thing as too young to sell your work, but you might need someone to look after your interests if you're really young.
Just a few suggestions: Have faith in your ability. Don't give away your work because someone likes it and you're flattered. Never believe you are wonderful because your family tells you that. They love you. Be your own best/worst critic. Don't repeat what's saleable only because its saleable. Keep your prices reasonable until you have a history of sales to guide you. You can always go up but you should never lower your prices.
Speaking from experience, the best way to get out there is to do the art fairs , outdoor, indoor, where you get to meet the public (and sometimes get your ears burned.) Its also a great way to connect.
For that you will need to get a body of work together for probable jurying. Which is a healthy goal.
So there. |
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Jim
Posts:2265
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| 02/09/2008 12:25 AM |
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Seems like your getting a lot of good advice here. I, like jdean above, started painting late
at 53, but what everyone is saying above is what you can do. What you choose to do is the
measuring stick for success. There are a lot of artists out there, many very good ones. What makes
them so successful? Is it talent? In some cases yes, but like someone said above, its all in who your
audience is. Some of my worst paintings are ones that a lot of people love. Go figure. You paint for
yourself or you paint what people like. Sometimes the two will merge.
Good luck to finding the path to success, however you measure it.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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BecArt
Posts:71
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| 02/09/2008 1:39 PM |
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| jdean, I like what you said about wanting to sell your art to people who actually appreciate your art. I haven't actually started selling my paintings yet, but I have gave away to family and a near-family-friend. I gave a painting to my dad and then I kinda wished i hadn't because he doesn't relize that I put so much work into it, he doesn't see what it means to me. He doesn't relize the painting is part of me, who I am, he doesn't appreciate it. I understand why you might not like to sell to such people, it almost hurts to know someone has it who won't appreciate it. You made some good points, thanks. |
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Cindymichaud
Posts:7
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| 03/31/2008 7:32 AM |
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If the pastor's wife "forgot" to pay you, you need to mail her an invoice...business rules apply here IF she understood the price upfront. As a non-professional (i.e. someone who does not fully support myself on art income) I have a few gentle rules: each "friend" or "relative" gets one freebie (assuming they have expressed interest in and love for my work). This freebie is my choice (something small or something i haven't sold or something experimental). I find that this creates a nice karma that causes them to promote me amongst their friends. After that, start low and creep up in price each year. Let people know that the prices will go up (even if it is from $50 to $60 the next year) and they will watch with interest as well as be motivated to buy now. Occassionally i have a "porch sale" (every couple of years) for invited friends and customers to help clear out old work that I need to recapture the framing costs on. They feel priveleged and buy up gifts which helps spread the word again. Be certain all pieces leave your house with contact info on it.
And lastly, while you don't need to make a ton of money as you are learning, people need to know you have supplies tied up in the pieces...and that you need to purchase more materials to continue your studies. Who can resist an investment in your future career....Good luck. And enjoy each sale...iright now it is about the affirmation and not the final price. |
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Maggie429
Posts:319
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| 04/08/2008 2:44 PM |
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| I have given alot of my paintings to friends as 'thank you' gifts but also have sold some to acquaintances. What one person told me, is, if you see yourself as an artist - the buyer will also. Never underestimate yourself. The only time they will take you seriously as an artist, is - if you do. |
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Mgi
www.hoviscreations.com |
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Bright Eyes
Posts:37
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| 05/01/2008 7:54 PM |
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I agree with what Maggie said. Confidence in your art is a big part of the art. Considering that your going pro seems to me your off to a good start. The tricky part is business and its something you will probably just have to sit down and think about. Decide what is comfortable for you. Anyways, I hope the best for you! |
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eat-sleep-breathe-ART
Posts:16
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| 07/21/2008 9:56 AM |
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Hi. I'm 14 years old and I too have the same issue. I want to sell my work but feel like I'm over-pricing it. Although, last year I did have someone offer to buy a colored pencil drawing for $100. However, it wasn't for sale and since I was attached to it sentimentally, I didn't sell it. I'm on DeviantArt also, but i'm not making a very big splash there either. (www.HoudVanKunst.deviantart.com) But I'm not allowed to sell prints online. I would suggest asking friends and neighbors if they would pay you to do pictures of their spouses, children, or pets. That is what I am going to do. You are definitely NOT too young to go pro. It is really hard to be young and look professional. Just continue improving with your art and looking for ways to sell it. I would suggest applying to the Governor's School. It has a great art program where you can study in your home state and work on art. It is during the summer and you must be either done with 10th grade and moving on to 11th or done with 11th grade and moving onto 12th. Tuition is free. I would suggest looking at their website. Once people know that you have attended this school or are thinking of attending, they may take you seriously. Don't underestimate yourself. Aproach people and tell them that you are an artist. Keep a portfolio or a presentation case with your work or color photos of your work. That way people can see that you are serious and wish to continue in the art world when you are older. Keep your chin up and feel free to send me a note on the DA if you get a chance...  |
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Please visit my website at www.HoudVanKunst.deviantart.com |
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