{"id":1560310,"date":"2024-11-22T01:01:08","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T01:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=1560310"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:08:46","slug":"expert-advice-on-pricing-your-artwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/22\/expert-advice-on-pricing-your-artwork\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Advice on Pricing Your Artwork"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pricing your artwork can be a real stumbling block for many artists. How do you define your own value? Well, there are various factors to consider, which can help you be more objective. I\u2019m going to highlight some of them, focusing on the specific queries artists have sent in about pricing criteria, how to price originals vs prints, whether prints affect the value of your work, and how to price commissions.<\/p>\n

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\"Expert<\/p>\n

Expert Advice on Pricing Your Artwork<\/h2>\n

Pricing Criteria<\/h2>\n

Pricing your art can feel arbitrary when you don\u2019t have a system. And while there is no set formula – if only – you can methodically work through a thought process. I\u2019d like you to ask yourself four questions: <\/p>\n

What are my costs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calculate the cost of each artwork you make – add the price of materials (inc. shipping), production\/printing and any framing\/presentation costs. Document these in a spreadsheet. When you sell a piece, deduct the cost price from the sale price, after any sales commission, and see how much your profit is. It can be an eye opener!<\/p>\n

\"Pricing<\/p>\n

What stage am I at?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The experience an artist has is what gives artwork its value \u2013 not<\/em> how long it took them to make. So do a little history check on what you have done to get to this moment. Have you had any formal training? This could be short courses or an MA \u2013 anything to show commitment to your practice. Have you had a previous arts-based career? Perhaps you worked as a textile designer, which will have informed the foundations of your work. Have you shown your artwork in public? This could be a group show in a cafe or a full-on solo. Have you been invited to create any commissions? Or have you made any private sales? This will give you a great indication for what people are willing to pay for your work.<\/p>\n

What is my selling environment?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Whether you sell your work via Instagram, open studios, markets, art fairs, galleries, or online platforms – research your immediate \u2018market\u2019 and territory to check that you\u2019re pricing your art in alignment with your peers. Compare your prices to artists at a similar stage of career\/working in a similar medium.<\/p>\n

Will someone sell my art on my behalf?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to sell your work through representatives such as galleries, art consultants, online platforms, or interior designers, it\u2019s no surprise that they will take a sales commission. The uncertainty lies in where that commission comes from. So let\u2019s make it crystal clear that commission is not added on, it\u2019s taken away. Swap the word price for value: once you have determined the value<\/em> of the work based on the above criteria, the value of the work doesn\u2019t change. Whether it\u2019s in your studio, an open call exhibition or a gallery, it\u2019s always the same. If someone else sells it, they get a piece of the pie. If you sell it, you get the whole pie.<\/p>\n

\"Pricing<\/p>\n

Pricing Originals vs Prints<\/h2>\n

Reproduction prints can be good bread and butter as well as an opportunity to sell your work at an accessible price point. Just like originals, there are many factors that determine the price of prints. So there is no one size fits all and if your original work fetches high prices but your print runs are A4, open edition on basic paper, the gulf between your prints and originals might be very big. Ask yourself – what is the process and paper stock? How much has it cost you to print each piece? Is it limited edition or open edition? How many are in the edition? Is it a variable edition? Are they hand-finished in any way? Are they signed and numbered by hand? Essentially, the rarer the print, the higher the price.<\/p>\n

Do Prints Affect the Value of My Originals?<\/h2>\n

Prints don\u2019t inherently affect the value of original artwork \u2013 or Monet\u2019s stock would be down for the amount of tea towels sold in gift shops \u2013 but you do need to think about the quality of the prints and whether you are inviting people to buy your prints over your originals. There is no right or wrong, only what works within the context of your intentions as an artist. These choices affect the overall impression of your work so you want to make decisions with your eyes open. More on this in a future article.<\/p>\n

\"Pricing<\/p>\n

Pricing Commissions vs Original Artwork<\/h2>\n

Working out how to price your artwork for commission invites further consideration. This is no longer you freely expressing yourself to your heart’s content \u2013 this is a person or company asking you to create something specific based on a brief. This requires more work by way of communication, research, testing, revisions etc. Therefore it should come at a higher price tag. This is where your time can be factored in as you are providing a service in addition to your work. So think of it as a service charge. I recommend adding anything from 10-25% on top of what you would normally charge for a piece of work of that scale. This percentage depends on the level of extra work it will entail – or the level of involvement from the client. Basic things include size, palette and general style. If that\u2019s all they require then you can charge 10-15% more. If they want specific subject matter with reference imagery, site-specific form\/dimensions or a style based on an old body of work then add 20-25%. You also need to assess how much you are offering in terms of communication and revisions. Do you provide a consultation? Working drawings? At what point can they make changes, if any? <\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t itemise the \u2018service charge\u2019 as an extra on the invoice, that\u2019s for your calculations only. Offer one sum in your initial quote and always<\/em> receive 50% before you begin.<\/p>\n

So as you can see there are many factors that determine how to price your artwork. It\u2019s different for everyone so work through these questions and stay curious \u2013 until the point where you feel confident in your value and then stay strong.<\/p>\n

Expert Coaching Webinars With Claudia Kennaugh<\/h2>\n

Over the past few months, we asked the Jackson\u2019s community what they wanted to know most about building a career in art. Based on your responses, we\u2019ve created six webinars in collaboration with Claudia to explore these key topics. Each session is packed with valuable insights to help you grow and succeed as an artist, plus a live Q&A where you can ask your own questions.<\/p>\n