Why does original art cost the price?
I’ve really wanted to write this blog post, as I will be increasing the prices of my original oil paintings this year, and wanted to share with you the reason why.
Valuing a piece of work, goes beyond the surface. It goes beyond the price of the raw materials - the canvas cost, the tube of paint, a replacement paintbrush etc. Being a full-time artist means that everything I do is behind each piece.
So, what does it take to make a piece of art?
The immediate, and most obvious is the price of the materials, some of which I have mentioned. Plus the price of the subject (in my case for a flower painting the price of the bunch of flowers). Then I might paint them against a coloured background, so there’s that too. There are so many layers in the materials of a painting - stand oil, palette knife, solvent, olive oil soap for cleaning the brushes. All the ingredients that go into making a painting. Sometimes, it’s also the cost of getting to the market to buy the flowers, like Paloquemao flower market in Bogota.
Ok, so that’s the actual cost for the ingredients of the artwork. But what else?
Well, I have my studio rent, and wifi costs, plus fees for my website so that I can have a place to sell my work. A fee also for my email marketing platform, so that I can send the emails to let you know about what I am working on. I also pay for a monthly membership programme, to improve my skills to let you know more effectively about what I am working on.
I also chose to push myself further this year with a three month full-time course to really throw myself into developing these skills further. Plus the fees for the years at art school being trained.
As a self-represented artist (i.e. I am not represented by a gallery), it is up to me to market myself. To find collectors who would be interested in my work, to find like-minded souls. It is also up to me to manage all my platforms; web development, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Writing and editing each blog article, product descriptions, and videoing new content. I also mostly take my own photos too, so factoring photoshoots into my time is also important.
Further outside the ring around a piece of art is my cost of living. As a full-time artist, I am now responsible for making money from my art. It’s scary, but a mission that I am determined to do. I was born to do it. So, in order to live, I need to pay my bills - my rent, my phone bills, food, travel, new clothes and enjoying life. Part of my creative practice is travelling to Colombia, to be inspired, to do research, to find my sense of connection and purpose.
Lastly, I need to pay taxes (roughly 20%), ideally pay into a pension plan and make profit to invest in future projects that I have my eye on.
If I can make enough money to pay myself to return to the studio each month, I can continue to paint and create art for your home.
Thank you
So much for reading my open and honest blog post. I really wanted to share with you what goes into creating art full time, and your support means that I can keep going.
With love,
Freny x