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What should she charge, or should she charge anything

18 years ago

Our granddaughter is an amateur artist, but a very good one, and is planning to go to art school. People are always asking her to draw pictures for them to frame. She does mostly portraits- people subjects- It seems to me she should charge something for her time and expenses but she has no idea what to do. I told her I would ask here because all of you always have good ideas about things. Thanks.

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Comments (9)

grammahony
18 years ago
Yes, she should charge. It's using her time and talents. Now if she wants to make it a gift, that's different.
Leslie
carla35
18 years ago
I suggest that she should charge too.

The price... Well, that's hard to know without knowing her talent, costs and time spent. I would at least charge the price of a picture you buy in the store to hang. Probably more. In fact, I would tend to over price her work rather than under price it. It may become more in demand if more expensive.

I would check sites that sell sketched work to compare and see what they charge. Does she sketch from pictures? I have a friend that does that. I'll try to track down his pricing if you want.
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FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
"Oh, I'd love to! I charge $20 for a 4x6, $30 for a 5x7 and 8x10's are $50, all unframed!" That lets them know right up front that she's not a pushover. (Prices pulled out of thin air.)
carla35
18 years ago
I found my friend's pricing... he works from a 4X6 photo sent in and for the portraits he makes from them (they look very similar to the photo pictures) he charges:
$95.00 (5x7)
$185.00 (8x10)
$285.00 (11x14)
gmom74
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks to all for your replies. They should encourage her to ask for some sort of payment. Carla, she works from photographs and does a darn good job. She would love to be able to get the prices your friend gets. Thank you for that information. She'll be delighted to read your responses.
sue_va
18 years ago
Be sure she signs and dates her work!

Sue
bud_wi
18 years ago
Yes, she should charge. Suggest to her that she print up some business cards to hand to people when they inquire about having art made. That way it lets people know that she is a professional and it makes is less awkward to ask for the money.
azzalea
18 years ago
Just last spring, I paid an artist about $1300 for an oil painting of our cat for my husband's birthday present. Her prices have since gone up--today, the same portrait would cost closer to $2000.

Your granddaughter should consider making up a price list. Prices would depend upon: size of finished work, number of subjects, complexity of background, whether the finished product is framed or matted, etc. It's not enough for her to say a 4 X 6 costs X amount--some people might expect to get a 4 X 6 of 2 dozen family members for the same price that someone else would pay for a 4 X 6 of their beagle.

You'll also want to encourage her to make sure she's doing all this legally--collecting and paying the appropriate sales tax; keeping careful records, making sure that she's allowed to run such a business from her home. Nothing shuts down a home-based business faster than that visit from a town official when they get wind of an unregistered enterprise.
gmom74
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, now- things are getting complicated. No one has thought of tax and such. I thnk she already signs and dates the pictures that she has done and given to people. I hope that one day she will be able to have her own studio or at least a corner in her living room to work in. I just hope she doesn't lose the dream.

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