When I determine the price of a painting, I look at several things. Its size and materials, of course, but also the time involved and its place within my body of work.
What I Take into Account
Oil paint, wood, canvas and mixed techniques each come with their own costs and technical demands. Time is another factor. Not just the hours spent painting, but also the preparation, the development of an idea and the finishing of the work.
I also consider the position of a painting within a series. Is it a study, an independent work or part of a larger group of paintings?
Keeping Prices Consistent
I compare each work with earlier pieces and other works of a similar format. The prices need to make sense in relation to one another.
When my work is shown through a gallery, I maintain the same prices as I do through my other sales channels. A painting should not have a different price simply because someone encounters it somewhere else.
You can explore my available paintings here.”
Is There a Formula?
There is no single formula for determining the price of an artwork. Different methods are used within the art world.
- Surface area: Height × width, multiplied by a rate. This is one of the methods I take into account.
- Linear measurement: A calculation based on dimensions rather than surface area.
- Hourly rate and material costs: A method sometimes used for commissions or applied work.
I also consider the development of my practice over time, including exhibitions, sales and the body of work I have built.
These methods are useful, but they are not fixed rules. I use them to maintain a consistent relationship between my works and their prices.
Working out these prices takes time. So does selecting and organising my studio archive. Neither is the part of being an artist that people usually see, but both are part of my practice.