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First, thanks to everyone who's passed along the journal entry here: lockstock.deviantart.com/journ…
By the way, I didn't write that (and I said so at the top of the page) so no kudos to me for the great article.
Now that brings up a sticking point for a lot of beginning (and not so beginning) artists: getting paid for your work, and asking for a decent fee.
First I'll ask those of you who DO make a living or side income as artists, how do you price your works? Do you use something like www.amazon.com/Graphic-Artists… The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook?
Second, it can be very awkward and embarrassing for a new artist to put a price on his or her work. What would you suggest?
My own suggestion is to find a reliable friend or relative to act as your agent when it comes to accepting offers and asking for payment. Of course they would confer with you FIRST before accepting any commissions, but they would be the ones to say "All right, the cost for that is _____ and any changes to the commission will cost more." Or "Sorry but my client does not work for free." Or if that seems too pretentious, just come up with a written price list based on what you WANT to be paid, not what you think you can get or would be willing to settle for, and don't let them haggle you. (Or you can just do what the car dealerships do and quote a really high price that you know will get haggled down to something still pretty decent.)
Pricing your art realistically
Here are some links from the Graphic Artists Guild. Take a look!
On estimating prices
How to negotiate a contract
Although these are for graphic artists, it does give some good guidelines for all artists to consider.
Robert Genn's Ten Commandments of Art Pricing
Thou shalt start out cheap.
Thou shalt publish thy prices.
Thou shalt raise thy prices regularly and a little.
Thou shalt not lower thy prices.
Thou shalt not have one price for Sam and another for Joe.
Thou shalt not price by talent or time taken, but by size.
Thou shalt not easily discount thy prices.
Thou shalt lay control on thy agents and dealers.
Thou shalt deal with those who will honour thee.
Thou shalt end up expensive.
Ten Rules according to someone else: www.artbizblog.com/2005/08/pri… (too long to post here)
So... what do YOU think?
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