How to Price Art Exhibitions Vs Regular Print Sales

Correct pricing is primal to successful art print sales. It allows you lot to establish and nurture credibility and an first-class reputation amongst art collectors and buyers. But, how practise you correctly price fine art prints?

The ideal strategy is to choose a pricing formula that works well with your art prints and suits the phase of your career. However, you should too consider the hours spent, price of materials, the market, your skills and reputation, and what other comparable artists are charging.

This post will show you lot how to make up one's mind what prices to charge for your prints. Of form, what you charge is up to yous, but this guide will offer some important things to consider when making this decision.

What is an Art Print?

How to Correctly Price Art Prints (Simple Guide)

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Before nosotros take a deep dive into how to price fine art prints correctly, let's accept a 2d to talk well-nigh what an art print is.

A fine fine art impress is a digital reproduction impress produced on paper, canvas, metallic, or some other surface. In the instance of digital photography prints, these would exist considered the original artwork, only in the case of an original painting or sculpture, the art prints would be reproductions.

Art prints are printed from a digital file that is created either by taking a digital photo or creating a scan of the original art piece. This digital file is and so used to create as many identical prints as required.

Many painters and other artists sell digital art prints in addition to their original paintings or artwork.

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How To Price Fine art Prints Correctly

Ironically, choosing the selling prices for your fine fine art prints is more than fine art than scientific discipline. If you gear up the price too low you'll be leaving coin on the table, if you set up them too high your art prints could first stacking upward in the studio.

Hence, you need to detect the center ground. Fortunately, at that place are a couple of art pricing formulas that painters use to price their original artwork that y'all can utilize to your art prints to give you a good starting bespeak.

Square Inch × Dollar Amount

First, you tin price your art prints by multiplying the size of your print in square inches by an appropriate dollar amount. To come with the square inches, you should multiply the length of the artwork past its width. And so, you'll want to multiply that number by a dollar figure that seems reasonable based on your reputation and artistic credentials. You lot can then circular that number, upwardly or downward, to the nearest hundred (rounded figures are piece of cake for the brain to process).

Emerging artists should consider choosing an affordable dollar amount while established artists can charge higher. Y'all can start with a range of $2-3 per square inch.

If you sell your art prints at galleries, double the cost of your materials as well, and add that value to the foursquare inch price. That will account for the 50% commission galleries often take to sell your piece. But, of class, you lot don't have to account for the commission if you're not selling prints from an art gallery.

Example: For a piece with a length of 20 inches, a width of sixteen inches, a square inch dollar amount of $3, and cost of material $75:

(twenty inches × xvi inches) = 320 inches

320 inches × $3= $960

Rounded to the nearest hundred = $1000

Double cost of cloth ($75 × two = $150)

Full price ($m + $150) = $1,150

(Height + Width) × Multiplier

This is known equally linear inch pricing. Only add together the width and length, and multiply by an advisable dollar amount. This pricing strategy is a proficient arroyo, peculiarly if you have art prints of unlike sizes. It's also simpler to explain to potential buyers.

Example: For a twenty × 16-inch painting at $25 per linear inch:

xx + 16= 36 linear inches

36 inches × $25 = $900

Go on in mind the multiplier yous use volition need to accept into business relationship the cost of the print as well as the matting and framing (if any).

Using The Print Pricing Formulas: Reproduction Art Prints vs. Original Art

With the formulas to a higher place information technology'southward important to keep in mind that they were developed past painters and artists selling their original artwork. Art prints, on the other hand, are reproductions. One time the digital file is created and edited you lot'll exist able to print as many as your want.

Therefore y'all'll want to accept this into account when plugging the numbers into the formulas to a higher place. For instance, if you're creating a express edition impress serial (more on that below) the numbers I used in the examples above may not be also far off.

If you're creating a series of open edition prints, however, yous will most likely want to tweak the multiplier number downwardly. The bottom line is that once you've used a formula to arrive at a selling price that compensates you adequately for your time and effort, you can utilize the aforementioned formula over and over once more for different prints.

Using the formulas also automatically scales the prices for different fine art print sizes of the same prototype.

Using the (Acme + Width) ten Multiplier formula as an case you can sell the same print in multiple sizes and easily come up upwards with a price for each size once yous've chosen your Multiplier (I used $11 per linear inch in this example).

Linear Inches (Actual Print Size)	Multiplier	Final Auction Price
25 inches (11 ten 14)	$11	$275
36 inches (16 ten 20)	$11	$396
50 inches (twenty x 30)	$eleven	$550

This is my favorite mode to cost fine art prints considering it'southward simple to empathize and employ. It's also easy to adjust. For example, if yous have an extremely popular print you tin can just adjust the multiplier for that print upward higher than your normal multiplier.

Also, every bit your reputation as an artist grows you lot tin increase the multiplier over time. As part of your career program, yous may fifty-fifty want to heighten the multiplier by a prepare corporeality each year equally you go more established.

Some Other Art Impress Pricing Strategies

At that place are a few other print pricing strategies you tin can use also.

First, you lot can make a turn a profit margin by doubling the toll of the art prints and adding 10-20% for the creation of the image. That ways even if y'all sell to a store or gallery, the prices tin still be doubled once more without making them too pricey.

Another recommendation is to divide the initial set-up costs into the full edition. For instance, if y'all're planning a final edition of 100, split your calibration and scanning costs by 100, add that to your per-unit of measurement cost, and double the amount to arrive at your selling price.

You should also accept advantage of discounts for volume. Your unit per slice costs tin be significantly less and the turn a profit margin higher if you have a large guild. In other words, base the end price of the print on the full cost to make a single impress, then save coin by having your prints printed in majority at a cheaper price.

You tin also take advantage of majority price breaks when selling framed prints as you can often salvage coin when ownership these supplies in a larger quanity.

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Things To Consider When Pricing Your Art Prints

When deciding on the all-time prices for selling art prints it will aid if you take a basic agreement of how the art print business organization works and how an art collector buys and shops for prints.

You should also objectively evaluate the quality and significance of your work in relation to the work available from other artists. That said, permit'southward intermission down the bones items you'll need to consider:

When Pricing Art Prints Consider All The Costs of Running Your Business organisation

Of course, you should make back what you lot spent in making the art print. However, that should also include your stock-still costs such as lighting, heating, office space. The costs can be spread out amidst the number of fine art prints you program to sell monthly.

Also, y'all should consider variable costs, including all of the art supplies you used to create the original piece of work. This might include things similar paint, brushes, canvases, cameras, computers, monitors, etc.

The point is that many artists but consider the cost of a unmarried artwork. To exist a successful artist and business person, you need to have into account every unmarried one of your expenses when pricing fine art prints.

Limited Edition Vs. Open up Edition Fine art Prints

When pricing your art impress, consider if you'll be offering limited edition or open edition prints. Limited edition art prints are more valuable and should exist priced considerably higher as simply a fix number of prints volition be available for sale.

Conversely, an open edition impress doesn't limit the number of impress images offered to the public and thus should be priced less.

The neat thing most reproduction art prints, however, is that you can offer both a express edition serial at a college toll indicate and an open edition of the print at the same fourth dimension. The express-edition serial of prints, while being signed and numbered, tin can be printed on a more exclusive surface or utilise a better quality finish in guild to set them apart from the open edition prints.

Apply The Prices Of Comparable Fine art Prints to Toll Your Prints

Yous'll desire to thoroughly inquiry the market place you're competing in to give you lot a better idea of how to price your art prints. For example, you should consider other art pieces that are comparable to yours in medium, style, size, or colour.

It also helps if you look at other artists' experience, accomplishments, production charge per unit, and geographic location as it compares to you.

Visit galleries, open studios, fine art fairs, and search online to learn what these artists charge and why. This data will help you to approximate your pricing and make sure information technology's in the right ballpark. Moreover, assessing the art world's accomplishments gives you a sense of how you're positioned compared to other artists doing like fine art prints.

Cost Your Art Prints Co-ordinate to Your Skill and Reputation Level

If your art pieces are widely known, the demand for them will exist greater. For example, you could be a rising star whose art has been featured in art magazines, art blogs, and solo exhibitions. Or maybe you're an established artist with at least 5-7 years of exposure in your market.

The extent to which you're established will requite conviction to buyers to pay higher prices. Conversely, if you've not had any solo or media coverage and y'all're an emerging artist just starting out, you lot might have to price your fine art prints lower, to brainstorm with.

A Signed Vs. Unsigned Print Volition Affect The Impress Price

Many artists sign their prints at the right lesser corner of the artwork. Past signing a impress, it'due south deemed that the artist is proud of the piece of work and claims it as their own.

A signature counts a lot in the art world equally information technology adds to the slice's actuality, especially for known artists. Typically, the value of a signed print is two or more times college than that of an unsigned ane.

The Fourth dimension and Effort Put Into an Artwork Will Affect The Cost of Its Fine art Print

The amount of fourth dimension you have to produce an art piece has a bearing on its perceived value. Thus, you should include the time, effort, and idea that has gone into the concept and the process of crafting the artwork. Note that this might be a bit subjective from the buyer's perspective, and hence you lot need to be objective and validate the price.

For example, if you're a lensman who traveled to Antarctica to capture a stunning epitome of a baby penguin, you demand to take into account your farthermost time and effort to capture that image. A print of an prototype similar that will have a much college perceived value to art collectors than an equally stunning epitome of a dandelion taken in your lawn.

The same goes for a painting or any other artwork. Art buyers will take a sense of the time and effort you put into creating the art piece and are willing to pay more if the subject field affair of the art impress was difficult or time-consuming to attain.

The Market You Are Selling Affects Your Art Print Prices

Determine the market you're planning to sell your art prints in. Are you selling locally, nationally, or internationally? Set your price appropriately based on the prices of similar prints in the same markets.

For instance, the going price of your print in your city might be slightly college or lower than the online market price for prints selling internationally.

Empathize The Retail and Wholesale Prices of Art Prints

When starting out, you'll probable sell mainly through your studio. However, fifty-fifty if you sell through a gallery, you might all the same sell some prints directly to customers.

Selling to customers directly is referred to equally retail, and selling through a gallery is considered wholesale.

If selling retail, yous can use the tips discussed so far. Even so, if you're selling through a gallery, you should consider the commission when pricing the artwork. For example, if y'all set your print toll at $250 per piece. The gallery will likely accept 50% of the sale toll. So, your selling price at the gallery should be $500 per piece in order for you to encompass your costs and make a profit.

Practicle Tips For Pricing Art Prints

Hither are some practical tips for pricing your fine art prints correctly:

Go Help To Set Your Art Print Prices

Sometimes, professional fine art evaluators or gallery owners can assist y'all gear up your price considerately. Simply ensure the practiced doesn't have a conflict of involvement. For example, you can meet with a professional consultant in your region who's familiar with your niche.

Take any assist yous receive in this surface area every bit guidance only. Don't let a gallery or consultant tell you that y'all need to set your toll way lower without a solid reason. As the artist, you should have the final say as to the selling toll of your work.

Examination Various Print Prices

Pricing artwork is every bit much of an art equally it is a scientific discipline. Therefore in that location is no right or incorrect way of doing it. So, you can toll some pieces at different levels and exam which ones sell the most or which ones are more profitable.

Stand By Your Fine art Print Cost

Confidence tin can exercise wonders and can help you lot achieve the price you deserve. So, when you take the time to price your art prints correctly and realistically, you should stand behind your price.

Have confidence in yourself and your prices; otherwise, buyers will figure it out quickly. Moreover, you should ignore any thoughts of lowering the cost, and if the buyers want to get below, be ready to justify your price.

Whether y'all're okay or non with a bit of negotiation is entirely up to you. Some artists are willing to negotiate, while others are not. Either way is okay simply don't always go below whatsoever you lot set up as your baseline price.

Selling works of art at a loss will never be made up for by selling at an increased volume, and a buyer's promises of greater exposure for your work won't feed your family.

Keep The Aforementioned Art Print Price for Galleries and Your Studio

It'd be best if you didn't sell your pieces from your studio at lower prices than your work is selling for in a gallery. Galleries put energy and time into sales and aren't happy to know you've been selling work for less and volition stop showcasing your pieces. Moreover, other galleries might learn nearly it and become less inclined to work with you.

So, ensure that y'all ready similar prices for your work whether it is in a gallery or your ain studio to maintain a positive relationship with the galleries. Your art prices should likewise remain consequent, whether the works are offered offline or online.

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Common Mistakes to Avert When Pricing Art Prints

Collectors and buyers who view art prints more objectively don't sympathise certain value judgments and may view your pricing strategy as inconsistent or confusing. Nobody likes buying anything they don't understand. Hence, avoiding different mistakes that artists make when pricing their artwork is crucial.

Here are some of the mutual mistakes that artists make when pricing prints that misfile art buyers:

Setting The Art Print Cost Emotionally

It's piece of cake to be attached to an art piece in which y'all've invested your time, effort, and emotion. However, while being proud of your inventiveness is excellent, letting emotions influence your pricing is not.

For instance, an artist may place special meanings on such pieces and consequently place excessively loftier prices. Moreover, an creative person can place low prices on artwork that they consider lacking in some regard or don't have a personal zipper to.

Therefore, pricing should exist predominantly based on concrete attributes and not personal value. That's considering it'due south hard to explain subjective qualities such as emotional attachment to buyers. Go along the art off the market if y'all feel exceptionally close to it, and save it for your private collection to avoid this pitfall.

Ignoring The Bigger Fine art Market place Picture show

Some artists tend to focus only on their art and don't pay much attention to the remainder (some fifty-fifty dismiss the other fine art every bit irrelevant). In such cases, your prices may make perfect sense to you merely trivial sense inside the broader context of the art world.

For instance, if several artists are selling 16 10 xx prints of a bouquet of flowers in a vase for $325 and you're selling your similar impress for $600, you probably won't be selling a lot, if any, of that print.

Annotation that the more aware you're of the bigger picture, the more you'll correctly price and market place your pieces. You'll besides understand who'south buying what, why, and for how much.

Underselling Yourself by Pricing Your Art Prints Too Low

Lots of artists sometimes go the feeling that they don't belong. That's known as the impostor syndrome, which makes you feel like you shouldn't be charging what comparable artists are charging. But creating an art print tin can exist time-consuming and require costly materials.

Therefore, y'all should consider costs of materials and a reasonable hourly wage- The The states Dept. of Labor indicates the average hourly wage for a fine artist is $24.58 (yous can employ that to estimate). In fact, if the price doesn't make you feel a footling uncomfortable (like y'all're charging too much), then you're probably undercharging.

This video holds some sage advice for pricing your fine art prints.

When is The Platonic Time to Enhance Art Print Prices?

You can raise the prices of your fine art prints when you're experiencing a consequent caste of success and have established a proven record of sales lasting at to the lowest degree 6 months. You should be selling at to the lowest degree half of all the art prints you lot produce within a reasonable period, say six months or less.

Consequently, as the sales continue to rise and demand is loftier, you lot tin can increase the prices at least 10-25% after a yr or two. Note that, like other price-setting strategies, you should be able to justify the increases with facts.

Should Yous Lower Prices If Your Fine art Prints Aren't Selling?

Don't be also hasty to lower the prices of your art prints. That's considering if a buyer sees the prices of the fine art prints going down, they might be less likely to purchase them.

So instead, ensure that y'all or your gallery are putting effort into promoting the pieces before blaming the prices.

First, however, check out comparable artists (same size, medium, and place in career) for an idea of where to toll. Typically, your prices should only go upward over time.

Concluding Thoughts on Pricing Art Prints

While pricing reproduction art prints isn't an exact scientific discipline, using the ideas, formulas, and tips in this article should requite you some dandy ideas of where to begin.

The principal bespeak is to accept confidence in your work and the prices you lot've prepare equally that belief will transfer over to your buyers. Also, recall to take ALL of your expenses into consideration when pricing your fine art prints.

That way your buyers will be getting a great print at a price that offers you a proper return for your investment in terms of fourth dimension, free energy, supplies, costs, and emotion.

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