How to Price Your Artwork
Cedar Lee April 14th, 2010
This video is geared towards my fellow artists (particularly other painters, particularly oil painters) who are just beginning to sell their work professionally and are looking for advice on how to price their work.
If this is you, you’ve probably already figured out that there are no clear-cut rules when it comes to pricing your work. This is what has worked for me. Like any advice you encounter, take what is helpful to you and discard the rest. 
I’ve gotten to the point in my career where right now I’m selling every painting that I make. Some go quicker than others, but they all sell. So while I certainly don’t have all the answers, I know I’ve done something right!
My art is currently priced from $300 to $5,000, which is a pretty big range–but there is a system behind it. So this might be interesting to non-painters as well, just to see some of the thought process that goes behind pricing my work.
Cedar -
That was super helpful, even though I’m not a painter.
It gives me a lot to think about as both an artist and especially as someone who enjoys and at times collects art.
Thanks for making the video – you gots mad skillz.
All the best, always-
Jenny
Thanks Cedar, you rock! How are you and new baby doing? I love your new work!!!
Cedar-
Thanks for the info. You have no idea how that has helped me. I pretty much consider myself a “late-blooming” emerging artist and how to price my work seems to have been the most difficult piece of the puzzle. Thanks a million!
Check out my website sometime. Would love any feedback/advice on the site itself and my work.
Thanks!
-Bob A.
Hi Bob, you’re very welcome! I just visited your website to check out your work and I like it! You seem to have a consistent style despite having several different series going on. The only feedback I can give about your work is that I think you should have more of it! LOL. The website is very nice too.
Cedar,
Great info on pricing! Do you ever consider costs of materials or do they usually work out close to the same? Are there online auction or art sites that you may recommend for selling work? Your site (and art of course!) is great!
Brant
Hi Brant,
I do try to factor in costs of materials, and I try to buy things in large quantities as much as possible for the bulk discounts. You can get really good prices at Dick Blick if you are willing to do things this way. As long as my overhead is less than my income, (and it always is) I am happy…but then again, I’ve only started my business a couple years ago, so I’m not even expected to be making much of a profit yet! If you are able to break even or better in the first 2 years you’re doing great.
I’ve never sold my work in online auctions or art sites so I unfortunately have no advice to offer there. About half my sales are directly from my studio, usually to people who found my website or learned about me on Facebook or through some other social network, and the other half are thanks to being represented by brick and mortar galleries. There is no one correct path for everyone. Some people have had huge success with eBay and Etsy but from what I understand, it takes a lot of strategy and a lot of hours at the computer to make real money that way. Good luck figuring out your own business model! Selling art is hard work but also great fun.