Is it OK to negotiate with an artist?
Consider approaching the subject by asking: “Is there a collector discount?” or “Is the price negotiable?” Galleries expect buyers to push back on price, so do not hesitate to ask. The standard discount is between 5% and 15%, depending on the overall price of the work and the gallery policy.
Whether or not you are interested in purchasing the piece, you will leave with a better perspective on the art market and current trends. And remember, there is usually some wiggle room, so be prepared to negotiate.
For commissions, reduce the amount of detail, or size. Negotiate time or timing. For plein air pieces purchased in situ, offer pieces done more quickly. In the case of a commission, extend the time period for completion so that you can accept other commissions in that time frame as well.
Haggling is socially acceptable in specific situations such as purchasing a car, real estate, and flea markets. It is not socially acceptable in commercialized businesses, such as retailers, restaurants, and supermarkets.
Proper art etiquette in an art gallery is similar to how you should behave in any other art venue. Respect the art, space, and other patrons. Don't rush other people when they're enjoying a painting, photograph, or sculpture. Instead, you can engage in a conversation.
While it's not a mandatory part of the process — and almost no company will insist on giving you more money — negotiating is a good idea. After all, you can't get more money if you don't ask for it.
Instead of asking what a specific piece costs, you can simple ask something along the lines of: I like your work, but am limited in the funds-department. Is there something for me to consider in the price range of $x? Don't worry, I'm prepared for a "No sorry, that's not enough" answer!
Multiply the painting's width by its length to arrive at the total size, in square inches. Then multiply that number by a set dollar amount that's appropriate for your reputation. I currently use $6 per square inch for oil paintings. Then calculate your cost of canvas and framing, and then double that number.
Most artists charge a fixed price per square inch on the canvas and multiply that dollar amount by the size of the canvas. For example, an average price point is $1 per square inch. If you request a 16" x 20" art piece, that is an area of 320 inches. 320 x $1 per square inch is $320.
For commissioned works, artists are generally paid 50% of the agreed-upon price upfront and 50% when the commission is complete.
What is a typical commission for art?
Galleries often add on anywhere between 33% and 100% to your price as their commission. Commission on work sold through boutique shops or specialist stores may reach as much as 250%, or more.
Better Alternative – If your BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) far surpasses your need to negotiate, then don't negotiate. Having a superior BATNA that exceeds even the best possible outcome of any negotiation scenario, is simply a waste of time.
Despite this, haggling can be both ethical and enjoyable—as long as you approach it the right way. Bargaining well is about respectfully reaching an agreement on a fair price that both the buyer and seller are happy with. As Tourism Concern says, a fair price is not always the cheapest price.
- 1) Finding Aspirations. Many times artists find it hard to find their aspirations. ...
- 2) Keeping Up With The Talent. ...
- 3) Self-trust. ...
- 4) No Response. ...
- 5) No Sale Plans.
Lack of Knowledge: Many artists are willing to do the work but don't know what to do. Many don't know where to start or are afraid that they will do things wrong so they don't do anything. This includes marketing, performing, songwriting, legal issues, recording and other important facets of their careers.
Mathematically speaking, the Golden Ratio is a ratio of 1 to 1.618, which is also known as the Golden Number. The 1:1.618 might also be expressed using the Greek letter phi, like this: 1: φ. In our artworks, this ratio creates a pleasing aesthetic through the balance and harmony it creates.
- Use techniques such as knitting, weaving, glassblowing, painting, drawing, and sculpting.
- Develop creative ideas or new methods for making art.
- Create sketches, templates, or models to guide their work.
- Select which materials to use on the basis of color, texture, strength, and other criteria.
Commissioning art is when a client hires an artist to create an artwork based on their request. The history of art on commission is wide-ranging. Rulers and government bodies have commissioned portraits and statues to demonstrate their power, privilege and wealth for centuries.
The three most basic rules for negotiations are: 1) Prepare, 2) Listen 3) Be Present.
Start with a figure that's no more than 10-20% above their initial offer. Remember, you're applying for entry level, and you shouldn't expect something on the higher range. Consider negotiating lower if 10-20% places you above the average.
Can you lose an offer if you negotiate?
It is simple: you can lose a job offer by negotiating salary if you make unreasonable demands or by going below what is expected of the request.
Creating art is time consuming and many materials can be expensive. Think about a reasonable hourly wage and the cost of materials when pricing your art - that includes framing and shipping, if applicable. The US Dept. of Labor lists the average hourly wage for a fine artist as $24.58—use this to help you estimate.
Pay yourself a reasonable hourly wage, add the cost of materials and make that your asking price. For example, if materials cost $50, you take 20 hours to make the art, and you pay yourself $20 an hour to make it, then you price the art at $450 ($20 X 20 hours + $50 cost of materials).
How much does an Artist make? As of May 11, 2023, the average hourly pay for an Artist in the United States is $20.22 an hour.
The price is based on the artist's exhibition history, sales history, and career level. In general, the greater the demand for an artist, the higher the prices fetched on the market.
So for instance, anything 8″x10″ or under is priced at $1.25 per square inch, anything over would be $1.00 per square inch. This formula may work well for you if your artworks are similar in technique, no matter what the size. Often materials used will be part of your determination.
- Determine what your “hourly rate” is as an artist. For our purposes, let's say $25.
- Figure out how many hours you spent on the piece. If it was five hours, that's 25 x 5, or $125.
- Now consider materials. If you spent $50, that's $125 + $50 for a total price of $175.
Title to the artwork passes to the client or commissioning agency/organization upon their written acceptance of and payment for the work, but copyright belongs to and remains with the artist.
Therefore, the commission process is not only about the art, but also about the bespoke service, ensuring the final product is perfectly suited to your tastes and space! While this does not devalue original art at all, these additional costs can mean commissioned art is sometimes more expensive.
Time and training. Often, the longer a piece takes to create, the more the piece will cost. This is especially true of commissions, where an artist will have to spend additional time working with a patron to provide them exactly what they want.
Do artists get paid by commission?
One valuable way to generate a level of predictable income is through commissioned works of art. Standard commission terms call for 50% payment upon signing, and 50% upon completion. If an artist is able to secure six commissions over the course of a year, they can expect twelve incoming payments.
Payment agreement: Standard commission payments require the buyer to pay 50% upon signing the contract, and the rest (50%) upon completion (before shipping and delivery) — DO NOT deliver a commissioned artwork until it is fully paid for.
Reach out to local galleries.
Take the initiative and get in touch with local galleries to let them know you'd be interested in showing your work. The more you put your art out there, the better your chances of snagging a commission, so get in touch instead of waiting for art dealers to come to you.
In art, a commission is the act of requesting the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another. Artwork may be commissioned by private individuals, by the government, or businesses. Commissions often resemble endorsement or sponsorship.
Private individuals may commission an artist for a personal piece of artwork as a gift or for their own use. For example, an artist may have a commission to create avatars for an individual's social media channels. In these commissions, the person approaches the artist directly to commission the piece they want.
Q. How long does it take to commission an artwork? The time varies, depending on the size, medium (oil takes more time to dry), the details of the piece, and the artist's own schedule. Typically you should count on 4 – 12 weeks for completion, however it may be longer depending on the artist'a schedule.
According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, sitting silently for at least three seconds during a difficult moment in a negotiation, confrontation, or even conversation makes both people more deliberative -- and leads to better outcomes.
- When you negotiate, you should never go beyond your limit. Now, your limit is the most you'll pay if you're buying, and it's the lowest price you'll go to if you're selling. And you need to set that limit before you start and never, never go beyond it.
- “I'm sorry.” ...
- “I need…” ...
- “No.” ...
- “I'll take it.” ...
- “I don't know.” ...
- “I want more.” ...
- “The least I'd be willing to take is…” ...
- “Is that all?”
- All I have in my budget is X.
- What would your cash price be?
- How far can you come down in price to meet me?
- What? or Wow.
- Is that the best you can do?
- Ill give you X if we can close the deal now.
- Ill agree to this price if you.
- Your competitor offers.
How do you respectfully bargain?
- Always tell the truth. Keep your character intact, people. ...
- Time it right. The end of the day is a great time to get your haggle on. ...
- Ask for a discount. ...
- Use the power of cash. ...
- Use your walk-away power. ...
- Know when to be quiet. ...
- Say, “That's not good enough.” ...
- Let them know your budget.
Many people are terrified of having to "bargain" with someone else. They think they will end up with the short end of the stick. They are afraid of either giving in too easily or getting so fed up that they will explode with anger. Therefore, they tend to avoid negotiating.
Any inaccurate and untruthful statements (i.e., lies) introduced into this social exchange manipulate information in favor of the introducer. Power motives often lead to unethical tactics such as bluffing, falsification, misrepresentation, deception, and selective disclosure, the liar gains advantage.
With all of this other advice in mind, you should feel confident haggling. Be polite but straightforward. No hemming and hawing, just say what you mean and ask for what you need! Confidence pays.
Don't use unnecessary jargon. Avoid words, phrases, and ideas that are so specific to your discipline that a general arts reader might not understand them. If there's a term or phrase that's essential to include, just explain it briefly. This can be accomplished in as little as a phrase within the sentence.
Perfectionism gets in the way of progress
Perfectionism is one of those traits that people often try to disguise as a strength. It's in line with “I work too hard and care too much.” When you take a deeper look, it can be the cause of a lot of harm to your career and growth as an artist.
Firm, yet kind, language is key. Above all else, don't bury the lede. It's okay to immediately say something like, “Though we received applications from many talented artists, your artwork was not selected.” Sometimes, it's good to give hard facts (e.g. if hundreds of artists applied for three spots).
- The reason behind creating your work and its history.
- Overall vision.
- The context of your work -Medium, artistic process, technique, and influences. ...
- The expectations of your audience and how they perceive your work.
Often, artists are instructed to write a three-paragraph statement that begins with a broad overview of their ideas, then gives an explanation of their materials, and ends with a description of their personal philosophies.
HIGHLIGHTS: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: Draw something every day, even if it's just a doodle. Keep all your artwork even if you don't like it so you can see the improvement over time. DON'T COMPARE: Looking at other artists for inspiration is great, but don't compare your work to others and let it get you down.
Why are artists shy?
The often highly sensitive nature of artists allows them to find beauty and joy in places that others may not. But the trade-off is that they're often more vulnerable to darkness and sorrow that goes undetected by the less creative or sensitive person. This can leave them feeling shy, isolated, and prone to depression.
In the modern world, there are many reasons why artists struggle in life. The challenges of getting recognition, regular work, and a liveable wage all impact the mental health of our creatives and affect their well-being.
1) They have a creative mind
The fact is, artists don't have the same deduction system or system of values as others, and that's the reason why we find it hard to understand or follow their train of thought. Also, their minds tick a bit differently than the average person's, because diverse details move it.
Why artists struggle with relationships. Being creative is hard. Thinking up ways to connect disparate elements into a whole that not only hasn't been seen before but also delights us with surprise, meaning, or beauty requires a great deal of energy—"executive function," as psychologists put it.
The often highly sensitive nature of artists allows them to find beauty and joy in places that others may not. But the trade-off is that they're often more vulnerable to darkness and sorrow that goes undetected by the less creative or sensitive person. This can leave them feeling shy, isolated, and prone to depression.
This predisposition might be spurred by family interests, exciting teachers or mentors, or by their own talents. Artists may also be acutely sensitive to the ambient moods, sounds, pictures, people and events in their lives. They may resonate to their surroundings at an unconscious and deep emotional level.
Just be truthful but tactful. Maybe something to the effect of "The work you've requested is meaningful to you and sounds fantastic however for work such as this my fee is $_____." It would be nice if you had a referral to offer but even if you don't the simple truth is you personally are just not in their price range.
- Be Direct. There's no beating around the bush when it comes to rejecting someone. ...
- Keep It Simple. ...
- Don't Apologize. ...
- A Call or Text is Fine. ...
- Don't Drag It Out. ...
- Don't Mention Physical Traits. ...
- You Don't Have to Explain. ...
- Accept That You May Hurt Them.
- Set the scene. This may sound obvious or simple, but clean your desk, put on some good music and set the scene. ...
- Exercise. YUP. ...
- Journal. Journaling my thoughts and inspirations before my painting time always helps to calm my mind. ...
- Get outside. ...
- Ditch perfectionism.
References
- https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/salary-negotiations-for-the-entry-level-applicant/
- https://artincontext.org/what-are-art-commissions/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_(art)
- https://tunehoppers.com/blog/8-reasons-why-artists-struggle-in-life/
- https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-4-tips-writing-good-artist-statement
- https://jennarainey.com/6-steps-to-overcome-artists-block/
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-graceful-way-to-tell-someone-that-they-cant-afford-your-services-Asked-to-do-a-meaningful-commission-by-someone-I-am-an-artist-Budget-is-just-too-low
- https://emptyeasel.com/2014/09/22/when-and-how-to-negotiate-during-a-sale-a-guide-for-artists/
- https://www.linkedin.com/learning/strategies-for-negotiation-nano-tips-with-chris-croft/the-number-one-rule-of-negotiating
- https://www.pixpa.com/blog/how-to-write-an-artist-statement
- https://www.negotiations.com/articles/negotiate-when/
- https://www.ucsart.com/learn/blog/learn-the-golden-ratio-for-your-artworks-on-canvas
- https://www.asc701.org/whatsnewatascblog/2021/ask-a-curator-why-is-art-so-expensive
- https://www.tryhighrise.com/blog-posts/can-you-lose-a-job-offer-by-negotiating-salary
- https://www.strathmoreartist.com/blog-reader/the-best-pieces-of-art-advice.html
- https://www.nyfa.org/blog/the-artist-statement-5-dos-and-donts/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-in-world/201201/the-problem-living-creative-life
- https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/what-are-commissions
- https://www.dunncarney.com/news-resources/three-rules-effective-negotiations-begin-basics/
- https://www.betterup.com/blog/salary-negotiation
- https://hellorelish.com/articles/how-to-reject-someone.html
- https://news.artnet.com/market/8-tips-for-buying-art-at-an-art-fair-hint-try-these-out-at-the-armory-and-adaa-4587
- https://www.carolefeuerman.com/blog/2020/12/28/challenges-you-may-face-as-an-artist
- https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/do-s-and-don-ts-of-pricing-your-artwork
- https://www.callforentry.org/thanks-but-no-thanks-how-to-write-rejection-notices/
- https://www.mademay.com/post/how-much-does-it-cost-to-commission-customized-art-4-main-guideline
- https://tonithorntonart.com/what-is-the-difference-between-original-and-commissioned-art/
- https://www.riseart.com/guide/2432/commissioning-art
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm
- https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/words-phrases-avoid-during-salary-negotiations/
- https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/every-artist-has-a-weakness-here-s-how-to-make-the-most-of-yours
- https://www.carolefeuerman.com/blog/2020/12/28/reasons-why-artists-can-be-hard-to-understand
- https://artsacad.net/the-often-highly-sensitive-nature-of-artists/
- https://www.artistsnetwork.com/artist-life/a-simple-formula-for-pricing-artwork/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/valuation/haggling/
- https://adelmanfineart.com/commissions/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonborbet/2015/04/16/an-artists-business-guide-to-commissions/
- https://magazine.artland.com/value-art/
- https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/art-business-essentials-commission-contracts-for-artists
- https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/science-says-use-3-second-rule-to-become-remarkably-persuasive-backed-by-science.html
- https://thebusinessprofessor.com/communications-negotiations/unethical-tactics-in-negotiation
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-emotional-footprint/201603/artistic-creativity-and-psychological-distress
- https://interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/23684/how-to-politely-ask-for-a-price-for-a-commision-when-i-only-intend-to-ask
- https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/faq/who-owns-the-copyright-for-a-public-artwork
- https://adventure.com/ethics-haggling-bartering-debate/
- https://www.skillshare.com/en/blog/expert-advice-how-to-price-your-art/
- https://www.artinkprint.ca/how-to-price-artwork/
- https://www.artsacad.net/the-often-highly-sensitive-nature-of-artists/
- https://funcheaporfree.com/the-classy-way-to-haggle/
- https://revenuegrid.com/blog/eight-phrases-to-use-when-negotiating-a-lower-price/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/how-to-negotiate-a-bargain
- https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/10-tips-for-artists-to-land-more-commissioned-work
- https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/gallery-commission/
- https://hanginginvestments.com/art-etiquette/
- https://www.accordence.com/overcoming-avoidance
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Artist-Salary-per-Hour
- https://www.artbusiness.com/artists-how-to-price-your-art-for-sale.html
- https://dottedmusic.com/2012/lifestyle/why-some-artists-fail-and-others-succeed/