This is one of the reason why I keep pushing at people to raise their prices. It isn’t to ‘rip someone off’. It’s literally to make sure you are at least making a living wage. At the very least.
I think a lot of the reason people say ‘you’re ripping us off’ is because they don’t understand exactly what they’re paying for.
I like to break things down logically in my pricing, so that I know what to charge. It doesn’t work for everyone, a lot of painters charge by the inch. But this is the way I do it, if it’s helpful to anyone. Particularly people who don’t understand what the cost of that piece of art is.
So the first thing is materials. For people who don’t do art, an artist has to account for things like.. brushes, paints, the board it’s painted on, pencils, lead, erasers, transfer papers, glues, and frames if you are ordering a framed piece. I know that can seem kind of weird for people who aren’t artists? Prices are different all over the place, but I highly, highly suggest going to an art supply store and just.. browsing. Maybe check out lists of materials that classes on the type of art you want to by, lists for students to get. Check out framing shops, get a feel for what kind of expenses you’re looking at.
The next thing is the part that’s hard for people to understand. So think of it in terms of retail. If you are working at say.. a coffee shop. While you are at the coffee shop you are paid for that time, right? Minimum wage usually… let’s say $7 an hour (because I don’t want to play with change). Remember, while the artist is working on your work… they are not making money any other way. This IS their paid job. One 8 hour shift at $7 an hour is $56. That’s if the painting takes one day. Let’s assume it’s one day, you’re looking at at least $56 plus materials. That’s minimum wage, for the type of labor of someone who can flip a burger.
Think about that. Not a skilled labor, not training, we’re talking burger flipping. Remember, this is a skill that studies have said only 2% of the population possess, vs everyone having the capability to flip a burger.
Thinks about this. $56 for one day’s work, not even including the cost of materials… and look at the prices in the fandom. $10. $5. $20. What are they making an hour? How is this making it a viable career choice? How.. is this making it so that the artist who’s work you love enough to want to pay for it… be able to grow, to learn, to get even better, to be even more amazing? How are you supporting your favorite artist?
There’s a reason I charge what I do, and to be frank? My commissioners are people who I respect, and who respect what I do. I am taken seriously, and I work hard. But I never, ever let someone put me down because they think I don’t deserve to have a living wage.
The starving artist, tragic picture is over. I am not longer content to be a tormented, horribly suffering and starving figure to be a ‘real’ artist.
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