How Much?

Holly Sears

Lori Watts

One of the hardest things to do, as an artist, is to price our own work. I imagine this gets a lot easier to do if you’ve a lot of sales. Maybe.

I know two full time, pro potters who suffered great pains when they finally decided to raise their respective prices. Both of them had been in the biz for awhile, had a good amount of success and, after a time, felt like they needed a greater return on the time, energy and soul investment of making and marketing their work. Neither makes straight up, plain, diner-esque pieces. There’s much decoration/ornament. Each piece is unique — functional sculpture is more how I think of their stuff.

You can find a cute mug for $10 at your local Pier 1 or get em direct from the Fiesta-ware outlet. You can even get a cool set of 6 stacking mugs at World Market but none have the grace, unique charm, that je ne sais quoi of a handmade beauty. You may spend between $22 and $38 for one of their cups but you’re getting a one of a kind creation.

I don’t believe either lost customers when they raised their prices. Each has a loyal following. Also too, it's not as though they went from $22 to $122 for a mug.

our first bands

Then there’s Jes Maharry. I first came across her work through the Sundance jewelry catalogue — my fav bauble seller. In fact, the first set of wedding bands The Amazing Bob and I wore, were crafted by her. What draws me to her stuff is the funky, raw, naive, primitive even quality. At some point over the years, since TAB and I got our first rings, her prices went through the roof. It pains me, as I’m flipping through the catalogue — doing the home version of window shopping — to happen on an astounding piece, realize “of course I love it — it’s a Jes Maharry” and know that there’s no way on Bast’s blue planet that I can afford it.

The Hills of the Moon — Silvano Braido Pittore

Yeah, I’m now totes priced out of her customer base (not that I need more earrings or rings, mind you). Here’s the thing — it’s her work, her art. She knows how much time, materials, emotional energy and slices of her soul go into each piece — it’s her right to price them as she sees fit.  I just wish I could afford the Evenfall earrings or the Zuri ring.

Oh well, I don’t have the bucks for an original Silvano Braido Pittore either. *dramatic sigh*

So, how about me — what’s my pricing scheme? I’ve always had to have a regular gig (for that all important health insurance dahlings. The Affordable Care Act so viciously, heartlessly, greedily opposed by the “right wing” wasn’t around when I was a struggling 20 something). Making the rent didn't depend on my art sales. Thank Bast!

When thinking of what to charge, I’ve considered:

• time/materials spent to create the piece
• the going rate for similar-ish work
• who’s the buyer? If they were poor like me, but really wanted one of my paintings, sculptures or pots, I went to the basement level rate OR I just gave it to the person.
• and, if I loved my creation so much that it was hard to say goodbye to it, how many Benjamins would it take for me to let go.

Bottom line for any artist pricing their work — the decision is ours and no one else's. I asked a friend recently for her opinion on a price I’d set for a small print. She tut tutted saying it was too high. I was stunned. I always price my work too low and this particular piece was a royal stunner (in my not so humble opinion)! I was expecting her to say "sounds good" or "nah, you could go higher" and then a helpful conversation would follow.

Nope.

The nub, the crux, the baseline perhaps is “can I sell this work if I charge X amount.” If not, "does that bug me?" and "am I willing/able to lower the price?" For me, that depends on the piece AND on the buyer.