Photo by Thomas Galvez , Artistic EatablesAttribution 2.0

Whether it'due south your first piece of art or your 100th, pricing your work properly tin can be an extremely challenging task.

Set the price too low and you could get out money on the table, gear up the cost too high and your artwork could get-go stacking upwardly in your studio.

How do you notice that middle footing, that sweet spot?  Nosotros've compiled 5 important practise's and don'ts for pricing your fine art to assist ensure your piece of work finds a deserving home—and you go the salary you deserve!

Do: Research the Prices of Comparable Artists

How much do similar artists charge for their work? Thoroughly researching your market will give you a amend idea of how to price your fine art. Consider other artists' work that is comparable in manner, medium, colour, size, etc. Also look at those artists' accomplishments, experience, geographic location, and production rate.

Then search online, or visit galleries and open studios and see their art in person. Learn what those artists accuse and why - as well as what price sells and what doesn't. This information can be an first-class gauge to help ensure your pricing is in the right ballpark.

DON'T: Undersell Your Work or Yourself

Creating art is time consuming and many materials can be expensive. Think nigh a reasonable hourly wage and the cost of materials when pricing your art - that includes framing and shipping, if applicable. The Us Dept. of Labor lists the average hourly wage for a fine creative person as $24.58—use this to help yous judge. Your cost should reverberate the money and fourth dimension you put into creating your art.

Fine art biz whiz, Cory Huff of The Abundant Artist, uses this trick: "if my prices don't brand me experience at least a little uncomfortable that I'm charging too much, I'm probably undercharging!" Charge what you're worth (inside reason).

DO: Continue the Same Price For Your Studio and Galleries

If you lot're thinking of selling work from your studio at lower prices than your gallery, recall again. Galleries put time and free energy into their sales and generally aren't happy to learn you've been selling work for a lot less. Take it from art business coach Alyson Stanfield, they will drop yous like a hot frying pan.

What's more, other galleries could learn about this and be less inclined to work with you. Brand certain you lot take set prices that are generally the same for your studio and your galleries. That manner people can buy your cute piece of work from either place, and you can maintain a positive human relationship with your galleries.

DON'T: Let Emotions Arrive the Style

This is tough, we know. With all the time, creative effort and emotion you invest in your work, it's easy to get attached. Being proud of your work is wonderful, letting emotion impact your pricing is not. Pricing your work needs to be predominantly based on its physical attributes and not on personal value. Subjective qualities like emotional attachment are hard to explain to buyers. If there's a slice or two that are especially meaningful to you, consider keeping that work off the market place and in your private collection.

DO: Take Confidence and Stand By Your Price

Whether you sell a lot of work or are new to the space, accept confidence in yourself and your prices. If y'all don't, buyers will effigy it out quickly. State your price firmly and let the buyer respond—and ignore whatever nagging inner thoughts about lowering it. When you take the fourth dimension to properly and realistically price your work, yous tin can stand backside the price. If the buyer wants to go below that, you'll be fix to justify your toll. Confidence does wonders and volition help you come up habitation with the coin yous deserve.

Want more aid pricing your art? Consider one of these 3 straightforward formulas for pricing your work.