Thanks- you reassured my sentiments. The request for my budget rubbed me the wrong way.

I would tell him the size you want and if you want it on canvas and ask the price again. He maybe willing to sell you a single digital file for you to print locally.

Or for price ideas check out smugmug or fineArtAmerica and see what people are asking. I think the second one the site sets the price and gives the photographer a share.

If if the friend does not have regular web sales site, they may want to post to a website and allow them to do the work

FYI photo gear is not cheap and it does take time for most to develop talent and technique. Many of my photo buddies do some incredible work and could probably teach a better class than the guys so spend on self promotion and marketing. They also may not have a website that allows for ordering because they would rather shoot and enjoy. Just because they spend their time and talents differently does not mean they do not do quality work or are not professional quality. In the past the most profit for photography was porn people and pets. (in that order)Landscape etc not so much.

Ordinarily, I would 100% agree with auntjen. Artists/art dealers are never shy about the prices. They will set the going rate of the piece and it is not unusual to haggle a bit, but just asking you to name a price is not typical.

That said, since you said you have some quasi-familial relationship with this person, is it possible he's trying to give you a deal or be helpful by asking your budget and then letting you know what he may be able to do within that range? Although awkward, he may not intend to be difficult, but trying to be helpful? I'd tend to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

If you are still interested in pursuing a purchase from this artist, I would plainly tell him that you would like X item in X size on canvas and ask him to give you a price. It will either be something that works for you or doesn't.

There may be a cost in printing the canvas which would dictate how large a piece your budget can accommodate?

I am a full time professional artist.

My prices for my drawings are set. I don't change them depending on who calls me. However, if you are a repeat customer, I will give a 10% discount.

Yes even my print prices are set in stone.

Now having said that, I was doing a show and had a customer who really loved one of my drawings of peonies. (It's on the cover of The Artist's Magazine December issue, btw) However the price was a bit more ($2400 more to be exact, lol) than she was willing to spend. She told me she could only spend x $$. I showed her what size original art she could get for her price and she asked if I could do something in the smaller size. I explained that I absolutely could, but that it wouldn't be a whole bouquet like the drawing she was looking at but a single bud on a bowl.

When I got home, I emailed her my idea for something in her price range and she agreed. It was delivered to her last month and she was thrilled. :)

So like my customer, it's possible the artist was trying to help you in that if you could only spend say $300, he would be able to make a print that was 10 x 14 vs a larger one.

cp, I just had a peek of that cover. You are an extremely gifted artist. Wow.

CP - if I had just been glancing at the cover, I would have assumed it was a photograph. Your talent is remarkable.

My thoughts went to what cpartist described. A quote is not a commitment. What do you have to lose to tell him what you want and for how much...see what he can do?