“Hi Kim, I’ve been pouring for a couple months now and have a ton of finished canvases! I’ve decided to sell my paintings online. Should I build my own website or go through a site like Etsy?.........Can you give me any advice on how to charge for my paintings?”
This is a really hard question to answer.
For most of us, it took years of research to not only grow as an artist (meaning a constant improving of my knowledge of, and the quality of my art…my substrates, paints, additives, sealing and curing). All the while researching the online art world. Do you want to go through a hosted website, where you basically upload images of your art, and send it off when someone buys it? Then yes, I would head straight for Etsy. I personally chose to host my own website because, for me, it was a great base to start from (and always point traffic back to). It grows as I do. If I should decide to go through another side site (and I am on a few), I’m always still referring people back to my website as well. Then whether the “side sites” end up working for me, or not, I still have my Online Base of Operations.
As far as determining what you will sell your pieces for, opens up an even bigger box of questions... but my top two are:
What level quality paints and canvases are you using? Was it a bulk pack of four for $3 at the local craft store, or a gallery wrapped artist quality canvas? Are you using low grade, medium, or high grade acrylics?
How did you seal it…Is your piece archival? If you don’t know what that is, here is a great explanation… https://kristenoneillart.com/archival/
These are just a few things that can determine the worth/value of a piece.
I would also suggest researching other artists that are selling works comparable to yours… in style, canvas sizes, finishes, and quality of paints. See, not what they are listing them for… but rather what they are selling for.
In the art world, I have come across different explanations and formulas for pricing paintings. I finally chose square inch pricing for myself, as it seems to work the best for me as a starting place. It also keeps your prices more uniform.
Square inch pricing: width x height = _____ x $ = _____.
In the end, there really aren’t any quick and fast answers, just due diligence. I wish you only the best for your new endeavor! The hard work really does pay off.
Thanks for your questions!! This makes blogging SO MUCH easier!
XOXO
Kim
This is a really hard question to answer.
For most of us, it took years of research to not only grow as an artist (meaning a constant improving of my knowledge of, and the quality of my art…my substrates, paints, additives, sealing and curing). All the while researching the online art world. Do you want to go through a hosted website, where you basically upload images of your art, and send it off when someone buys it? Then yes, I would head straight for Etsy. I personally chose to host my own website because, for me, it was a great base to start from (and always point traffic back to). It grows as I do. If I should decide to go through another side site (and I am on a few), I’m always still referring people back to my website as well. Then whether the “side sites” end up working for me, or not, I still have my Online Base of Operations.
As far as determining what you will sell your pieces for, opens up an even bigger box of questions... but my top two are:
What level quality paints and canvases are you using? Was it a bulk pack of four for $3 at the local craft store, or a gallery wrapped artist quality canvas? Are you using low grade, medium, or high grade acrylics?
How did you seal it…Is your piece archival? If you don’t know what that is, here is a great explanation… https://kristenoneillart.com/archival/
These are just a few things that can determine the worth/value of a piece.
I would also suggest researching other artists that are selling works comparable to yours… in style, canvas sizes, finishes, and quality of paints. See, not what they are listing them for… but rather what they are selling for.
In the art world, I have come across different explanations and formulas for pricing paintings. I finally chose square inch pricing for myself, as it seems to work the best for me as a starting place. It also keeps your prices more uniform.
Square inch pricing: width x height = _____ x $ = _____.
In the end, there really aren’t any quick and fast answers, just due diligence. I wish you only the best for your new endeavor! The hard work really does pay off.
Thanks for your questions!! This makes blogging SO MUCH easier!
XOXO
Kim
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