How much should I charge for my paintings?

Question

So am going to (hopefully :)) sell my paintings at this local craft's market.  It takes me about 5 to 7 days to make one (working an hour day, I would do more but I have school).  The materials cost about 20 dollars per painting (mostly the canvas).  I paint in oils, in an abstract style.  I also like doing more detailed and realistic work, but it takes a lot longer to finish one, which is why I am mostly doing abstract pieces for this. Other artists at the market charge up to 3000 dollars for theirs, but I should definitely charge less because I an amateur, and besides, I will have a better edge on the competition with a lower price.  So, how much?

smallbizperson · Accepted Answer

It's tricky, you want to earn back your costs, pay for your time, and make a profit.  The trick may be pricing them at a variety of levels to see how potential buyers react.  You might price some paintings in the low $100s and some around $75 and some around $50 and see if some of them sell.  If the less expensive ones sell and the more expensive ones don't, then you have discovered what THAT market will bear for your work.  As you improve, perhaps your paintings will sell for higher prices in time.
However, it the more expensive ones sell along side the less expensive ones, congrats, people like your work and next time you can step it up, ranging the prices from $300 down to $100.  If they continue to sell, you can continue to raise your prices until you hit your ceiling.
NOTE:  Before you offer your paintings for sell, photograph them and keep the images as a sort of on-line portfolio to show future clients (and as a sort of diary of your work.)

? · Answer

$250.00 to $300.00.
You wouldn't want to work at a regular job for less than that a week.

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How much should I charge for my paintings?

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