They usually have another income supporting them, and their art is not their main business. They give stuff away often. I say I feel frustrated about that because it devalues art, and they say it is OK because they are happy to do it, and that ‘everyone should get to experience art’.

I really want people to be happy and do what their soul asks. So, if their soul is asking them to throw their art freely to the Four Winds, then, follow your happiness, but, please also consider how it affects others.

Perhaps you could give away very small pieces that lead to larger purchases. I give out tiny pieces of art (prints, not originals) 2.5″ x 1″ that are a combination of art and mini business cards. People are happy. I am happy. Sales for larger pieces come from them.

Have an excellent day!

Thanks for your honest opinion, Dan. I’m going out on a limb here to guess that you do not create art or write for a living. If you did, you would see it a different way.

I agree with you in this case: in a non-commercial capacity, sharing your art freely with individuals doesn’t harm you at all, nor does it harm the professionals. It might lower your art value, but if you are a hobby-artist, that may not matter to you.

But for professional artists and illustrators, when other professionals give work away for cheap or “promotional value” they are truly harming their profession.

It’s what’s called “The race to the bottom” and no one wins in that race.

Dan x

I am going to keep sharing this with the visualization that every artist in the world will read it.

Have a fabulous day full of luscious adventures!
Creative Christine

Fantastic information all around!!!

I want every artist on earth to read and practice this! If all artists would stop giving things away for free, people would be trained to pay and value us at whatever level we choose, whether that’s ‘Bill Gates’ artist or lawyer or…doctor or…

I used to give my stuff away a lot, and now it is a very rare event. I realized I was training people to expect art for free! Yikes! Plus, I realized I was also hurting other artists, just like you say!

Thank You for posting this!!!

Creative Christine Marsh

The one time I did a watercolor of someones house without the half up front. They seemed like such a nice couple, we drank wine and had snacks on their patio.

“They’re OK I thought, Ill give them a little bit of a discount and not mention the half up front”

did the sketches, got the approval, come final they didn’t like the color of the house any longer, wanted changes, and finally,

” We think its a bit expensive, we think you should frame it for that price too” I got back in my car, went home and changed it as best I could ( it was a watercolor!) and thought to myself

” If they mention anything about the price or try to haggle with me, I’m gonna keep the painting, its not worth loosing my cool or my integrity over these assholes.”

Well the woman started, but the husband stepped in and said they should pay the agreed price. I think he realized and got a bit embarrassed.

ON THE OTHER HAND people love to feel like they got a bargain. It makes them feel special. I know that if I go in to an electronics store to buy an expensive camera, and the guy throws in a memory card or something, Ill leave with a sense of accomplishment, and ill feel good about the expensive purchase.

Maybe its an idea to do something similar, when pricing artwork. Either over-quote, which is common in many businesses, or fx, frame it or give them a print or something. (of course, this is already baked in to the price) The whole idea being to give the client a sense of a bargain. Big con to that is that you’ll turn your nice gallery in to a bazaar, and if word gets out I can be talked down, then all hell brakes loose. Old clients will get pissed off, and you’ll spend all day bitching about a few hundred dollars. I dont think its worth the aggravation! I tell them that prices are fixed, but discounts are discussed if they make a multiple purchase.

Ive also toyed with the idea of dividing up the payments. Not everyone can just cough up a few thousand on the spot, but if the payments are split in to six months, then maybe. But then we turn in to used car salesmen, And thats something my daddy warned me against a long time ago.

i still stand firm on never saying anything about price on the street. Most of the time they are just asshats trying to figure out if I can make a living, or if they are too expensive. Most of the time they are not interested in purchasing. Sometimes Im tempted to jut grab an expensive figure and throw it out there to shut them up but its not a good idea. You never know who you’re talking too! (As seen in my previous post) The one thing Ive come to realize i that I am my brand. Whatever I do and how I act reflects directly on purchases. In a small town with only a few artists word get around VERY quickly and If I become an arrogant SOB , well then my days here are limited!

Oh to cap off, here is a another vid. I’m sure you’ve seen this one as well, but maybe there is some of your readers who missed it!

“Client Vendor Relationship In Real Life”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2a8TRSgzZY

I agree!

Your suggestions are great – asking someone to wash your car is hilarious!

Thanks for reading and commenting! (PS-I checked out your website – you do beautiful work!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE