If I decide to become an artist, should I charge people by the amount of time they sit for their portraits?

Question

Do I still get to charge them for the amount of time they sit while I take a lunch break to McDonald's? Artists need to have their mind on art, not food!

I mean, they are living in my apartment while I take my lunch break...might as well charge them rent for however long they stay and charge extra for taking up space in my dwelling, eh?

I just want to verify that becoming an artist is worth quitting medical school. I think it will be if I can get paid for lunch breaks!

Answer 1

Sounds like you've been studying too hard.

If I were to consign someone to paint my portrait- I'd
expect a ball-park figure upfront. The painting will cost
between $3-4,000. If it takes longer than you expect to
get it perfect- ready for your signature- then it takes
longer. (If it takes less time to get it perfect, then it does.)
Never would I charge by the hour. Or insult my client. Where
do you think the term "starving artist" came from?

But... if you become a doctor- You can have your patients
wait in your waiting room for hours and then charge them
an arm and a leg for taking their height, weight and blood
pressure. No-- actually your nurse would do that.

When they pay, buy yourself some paints, an easel and
paint in your spare time. ... I'd rather have get medical
advice from a surgeon who paints on the side then a painter
who does surgery on the side.

Answer 2

Before you quit medical to become an artist, (or anything else for that matter), you should have a much better understanding of what art is. What I'm about to say, is in no way an attempt to bag on you.... but I think it's important you hear this. You asked the question.
First off you need to know what art is, and what art isn't. I can tell you right off, a few things it isn't. It's not any of the things you mentioned in your question. I'm not saying you are not an artist... just the items you refer to in your question, have nothing to do with art.
I don't have the right to define art for everyone, but I will offer you my definition below. It took many years to put into a short, consise statement. Because you see, "ART" is not a product. It is communicating something in a way that has never been done before. Otherwise you are just a Xerox machine.
Please read my definition below and think hard about giving up something as important as medical school. The road of an artist is not an easy one, and it usually isn't even pretty, once you get there. Here is my definition of ART:
"THE ART OF GUENUIS, IS SEEING WHAT ALL OTHERS BEFORE YOU, HAVE FAILED TO SEE.
"THE GUENUIS OF ART, IS SAYING WHAT ALL GUENUIES BEFORE YOU, HAVE FAILED TO SAY TO OTHERS!"
WAYNE B.

Answer 3

Sorry lunch breaks don't count. Many artist now a days use a digital camera to photograph their subjects and use the picture/s as refrence to do the final painting. I figure my prices by the size, complexity and number of subjects or objects. This is especially helpful if you plan to accept online commissions. If you want to see some examples of work I have done, old and new, check out website www.hellosanantonio.com and look for the name GUERRO under local artist. I don't know how good you are, but if you had to compete, the artist who paints best and the fastest and keeps his prices reasonable would get the job.

Answer 4

if money is what you are looking for, becoming an artist is DEFINITELY not worth quitting medical school. not unless you have some major connections who can talk people into spending $20,000 on your art. the old "starving artist" saying is true. even if you were to make a decent income in one year, the amount of sales you make varies. you can have really great years and really horrible years. one thing to consider is that art is a luxury item - high gas prices and other economic strains will make people less likely to buy art.

portrait artists usually charge by either the size of the painting or the complexity of it. many charge by the number of subjects in the painting and by how much of the subject appears (full body vs. head and shoulders, etc).

Answer 5

If you love art and are inspired to produce it, then you should follow that instinct. If you are motivated by money and filling in your extra time in the day by RUSHING through art for people who are paying for a "service," you'll be jipping both the customer and yourself since your mind will be focused on getting back to medical school on time after lunch.

Unless you have an amazing aptitude for producing quick and brilliant art, then go for the lunch time mayhem. As a creative person myself, I wouldn't feel comfortable having rushed work represent my abilities to the public, especially if I want to be taken seriously for the work that I truly am proud of and could possibly sell.

I could be wrong, but it sounds like you are just looking for something to fill in your lunch breaks (multitasking to earn $), not pursueing a passion. The question to ask yourself is-

What feels more inherent to you- producing art (money aside) or providing services in the medical field?

If making money is the most important factor to you, it really doesn't matter what you do with your life. Just chase after the green.

Answer 6

Don't quit med school. You will probably make a better living in the medical field.

You can be portrait painter on the side. You can't expect a patron to pay you while you eat at McDonald's or anywhere else. You can charge by the hour as long as that paint brush is working. Anything else would be unethical and you know it.

Answer 7

I think you should NOT charge by the time. Then -any- artists could take an extra 12 hours to paint a picture. You'll run off more clients than you can count.

Answer 8

I think you should stay in med school that way you can get rich off the poor souls sitting in your waiting room while you are at McDonald's for lunch! Doctors charge alot more than you would make painting.

Answer 9

dont get extreme; just think about how much money you're spending to let them stay in the apartment during their session and factor that into their fee. Most of your customers will have done paintings before and know beforehand the ballpark figure of what you might charge. Just be reasonable.

Answer 10

I'd say, stay in med school... do art as a hobby in your spare time. I create graphics and websites, but it's not my job... it's something fun that I do for me to relax and express my creativity!