ARCHIVED SUCCESS TIPS

February 2004 Tip:
Setting realistic, competitive prices for your artwork

Last month we discussed how to get started with your Artist Success Kit by beginning to inventory your body of work. As you’re working on completing your inventory form, questions about pricing your art work are sure to come up. It’s a challenge for both the beginning and experienced artist, and it’s not often a very clear-cut process to figure out. So how do you price your work so that it is both competitive, and likely to sell?

One way to get a feel for pricing is to visit galleries and exhibitions. Find work similar to yours, done by an artist who is comparable to you in stature and reputation. This can give you an idea of how to price your work competitively. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because often it’s hard to tell the "stature and reputation" of a particular artist. But, if you are persistent, and look for work of similar style, media and subject matter, and work that you judge to be about the same quality as yours, you can then try to find out more about the artist. Here’s how:

The first step is to visit a gallery. By doing this you’ll be killing two birds with one stone: you’ll be scouting galleries that might be suitable for showing your work, and you’ll be gathering information about pricing and artists. Take along your "Gallery Information" sheet from your Success Kit. It will help you know what kind of questions to ask.

When you identify work that’s similar to your own, ask if they have a bio or handout on the artist, or if that artist has a business card or web site. That way you can investigate the artist further, and begin to judge his or her particular level of experience. You can then decide how your pricing might relate to theirs—higher, lower, the same?

Remember to take notes on the prices for different sizes of work of the artist. You’ll want to develop a pricing structure that covers the typical sizes of art that you produce.

Finally, while you are visiting a gallery, you also have the chance to ask the gallery staff about pricing, and what sizes, prices, media and subject matter sells the best in their experience and in their region.

Your Success Handbook has more information on the many other factors you need to consider when you are struggling with pricing. It contains a simple-to-use method of establishing a pricing structure, utilizing the "Price List" form in your kit. You can order the kit now .

October 2004 Tip:
Getting motivated to get started

If you have trouble getting motivated, here's a tip to help you get started with your Artist Success Kit: Try setting a timer for fifteen minutes. Studies show if we commit to doing something for only fifteen minutes, we can get beyond the procrastination stage. Usually, you'll become so engrossed with your project, that you'll continue on with your task. But if fifteen minutes is all you can devote at one time, break your tasks into smaller chunks. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

After you have read the Success Handbook, here's what you can do to get started:

Session 1:
Set your timer for 15 minutes: gather the following materials you will need to start using your Artist Success Kit: a three -ring binder, white paper, colored paper (see your kit instructions on what colors you will need), a set of 12 notebook dividers and a three-hole punch. (time: 15 minutes)

Session 2:
Set your timer for 15 minutes. Print out several copies of each form in the kit; be sure to print them on the correct color of paper recommended; punch them with a 3-hole punch. (time: 5 minutes)

Put them all in a three-ring binder and label the dividers. (time: 10 minutes)

Session 3:
Set your timer for 15 minutes. Review the instructions on the Inventory Number/Media List page to familiarize yourself with the simple inventory numbering system. (time: 5 minutes)

Go into your studio and start taking inventory by filling out an Inventory Data Sheet for the first piece of art you created this year. Then enter the information for that piece on the main Inventory sheet. Continue by doing the same for the second piece of art you created this year and so on. Get as far as you can, and if you must stop, simply set down your notebook, leaving the pencil inside so you know where you left off. Pick up again at your next session and when you've completed all the works created this year, you can work backwards beginning with last year, and so on, until you have inventoried all the artwork you've created.

As you inventory each peice, you should note the information on the back of the work of art. You can use the sample provided in the back of the handbook to create your Artwork Labels, and print them off onto self stick paper. Then simply attach to the back of each work of art.

As you create new works of art, inventory them immediately, keeping track of all the details as you go.

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