Commission pricing?

Question

I was wondering what the appropriate price to charge for a painting that is 24"x24" inches (2x2 feet). Any help from people who have actually done commissions will be greatly appreciated :)

Oh and I'm only a student, so should it be cheaper than what professionals usually charge?

Answer 1

I am a professional artist.

Yea, a novice can not charge what a professional can. UNLESS, the painting is very complicated or recreated from a picture then you might be able to charge close to a higher price. Is it a portrait? Human portraits can go for thousands.

Commission work money is usually based on WHAT is the subject matter.

No, you can’t charge by the hour. I’d like to know how people could say that. My hourly rate for other professional work is $85.00 per hour.

I’m not sure why blanzer is talking about a gallery. Unless he has one that buys it outright, galleries usually only take 30% comish.

What you REALLY need to do is this:

When discussing the price with a prospectus ask how much do they want to pay. (They may not want to spend $2000.00 or even $200.00) If the price is to cheap.. Tell them you will think about it or, “I’m not sure if I can do it or that price.” Some people think that JUST because you are a novice you will, “give them a great deal.” Sheesh…..

What type of project is it? Is it simple? Is it complicated?
If simple multiply your COST by 5 If complicated multiply cost by 10

A lot of professionals multiply by 100. After a few years they get to know how much to charge based on the experience of doing it so often. That is why you see Portraits for $10,000. They’ve averaged the costs out so many times it always figures around a certain price. They even will give breaks for certain people.

Me personally, when doing stuff for friends I try to keep cost to a minimum. I usually calculate 2 ways.
5 tubes of paint will be used $3.00 per small tube = $15.00
(You will have left over paint, but I find that this covers your brush usage)

20 x 20 Canvas $29.00

Thinner / linseed / towels , etc… usually about $4.00 TOTAL = $48.00
Simple piece?? $48.00x 5 = $240.00 Complicated piece? $48.00x10=$480.00

If the piece is WAY simple then maybe less money. If it is WAY more complicated then even higher.

The other way is take the total inches of the canvas 20”x20”=$400.00 + $48.00 (cost) = $448.00

simple canvas.. $448.00 x 50% = $224.00
Hard subject? $448.00
Even HARDER subject $448.00 x 2 = $896.00


You really got to roll with your basic instinct.
I’ve sold paintings for $40.00 just because I know the people and like them. Plus it took me really no time to do the piece.

Answer 2

Price is not determined by your station (student vs professional) 1) because we are always students 2) you are a professional when you sell your work and it is your primary, major, or would be if you could afford it, source of income. Size sometimes matters but the real differentiator between a fair price and a good price is the quality of the work in relation to the ability of the artist to produced similar quality works. Buyers want to know that a quality painting did not happen by accident but rather by learned skills and control. Price according to what others charge for similarly accomplished pieces.Neo-professionals tend to undervalue their own work because they are "new." Don't do it. Remember, it is not about pricing and selling, its about conceving and doing. If you can, find someone who will sell your work for you so you can concentrate on doing great ones.

Answer 3

I charge by the hour if a painting took three hours to paint.. I would charge the appropriate price I think I'm worth...plus materials...by the way... galleries tell you what they're going to charge...in my opinion 50 percent is good..