How do you determine the price of a picture you painted.?

Question

I am painting a picture for a friend of my wife's and don't know exactly what to charge her. The canvas is 18"X36" and in oil.
I'm no master or anything, but I am confident in my work.

Answer 1

I would call some "Art Shops, Galleries, or Art Centers" in your area and see what they are charging for the portraits they are offering for sale that are on a same size canvas.

Don't forget to write down all of the time you spend on this project so you will be able to substantiate your price, or get paid for your work!

For example an artist such as yourself who obviously has not experience in this should charge anywhere in the neighborhood of $15.00 - $25.00 per hour so you can be guided accordingly and compare this against how much you charge for other pictures you paint on this size canvas.

Then too you must also take into consideration just how difficult the picture is going to be with the other objects that you intend to put into it.

But the Bottom line question is not what YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE FOR IT!

The Bottom line question is WHAT IS YOUR CLIENT WILLING TO PAY FOR IT!

That is what is going to make the big difference here!

And before you get too far into the project you may put a feeler out to your client as to exactly how much they expect to pay for it?

And above all - Don't forget about the Frame in your pricing! Especially with Frame prices being what they are today!

Don't be surprised if they come back with something like - "Oh between $25 - $50.00!"

At which time you can go on to other better paying projects!

I am also a painter and I have been through this BS!

Answer 2

Calculate the materials cost and how much per hour. Consider that minimum wage is $6.25(?) I figured out that I made 34 cents an hour, once, on a painting. Is the painting going to be in a place where it will be seen? The exposure might be worth something if other people see the work and say, "Hey, I want one of those". Or you could charge by the square inch, when I do a mural that's how I charge. If the painting is being done for a friend maybe let them decide-a lot of times if you give the painting to someone you get a nice present in return-my dentist collects my work so we trade-caps for paintings.

Answer 3

Charge for cost of materials, time, and creativity. Go to art galleries and get an idea of prices. You cannot charge as much as they do in galleries, because you do not pay rent, etc, as they do.

It's important to know the budget of how much this person is willing to spend for this painting.

The price should be agreed upon, before the painting is done, so there's no misunderstanding.

Answer 4

IF you are doing a commission, you should have settled on a price before agreeing to do the piece, because now it will be awkward. Generally, if you have a track record, charge whatever you normally charge. IF you don't have a track record, be reasonable because that piece will hang in someone's house and generate other work for you and that will allow you to eventually raise your prices.

Answer 5

I remember when people would ask me what i charged for a painting and i didn't have a clue what to say. You are going to have to do your homework on this one. You don't say what it is you are painting, and without samples of the kind of work you do, it would be difficult to answer your question.

Answer 6

When i do works by commision, i charge for the time i invested, not the "art" since it is not my idea. and the way i decide how to charge for my time is around what a specialized teacher earns in Mexico (around 20 dollars an hour), i suppose you have to determine your own time value depending on where you live.

Answer 7

factor in cost of material....canvas...paints...brushes...and then stare at it and your number will come. That's how i do it... usually i end up charging too little because i dont want to make a living of my hobbie... and i dont need like a grand for a painting or drawing....

Answer 8

You can have it auctioned and what it gets is the value, or you can figure cost of materials and time but don't forget your artistic value which would be the biggest factor, can anyone else do what you do? if not you charge a bunch.

Answer 9

no one does. The Man does. He prices emotions (art) for the governments own person gain. Everything we do gives the government money, and they don't have the right to price somones emotions

Answer 10

I would ask her how much she can afford to buy it for. If she has lots of money and wants to help you -get as much as you can. let the other party make an offer .thats what I do.