Two Pennies Left

Fortune_Smiles

Karmacat wrote: »

Oh my, thats very tricky about the pricing. What are the issues ... your own skill, your original talent (those are different!), the work you've put into learning, the materials, how big they are, whether they're framed or not ... people on your art course, is anyone else already selling stuff? You're on etsy, I think, what are people on there selling similar stuff for?

A brilliant, brilliant "problem" to need a solution for, congratulations!

Thanks KC. I'm still giving it some thought. You're right it is a brilliant problem to have. I'm more comfortable with a barter system as far as friends are concerned.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Calfuray wrote: »

Aw You are so sweet FS Hope you have a lovely weekend too.

In regards to the picture - I didn't think I could love the picture more than the last one, but this one is my favourite so far. I love the 'moodiness' of it, the colours of the sea and sky. Beautiful, you talented woman, you!

Regarding the price, I would say, start at what you would sell it on Folksy. Bear in mind the price of the current works you have on there, the size of those compared to these ones, and the time it took for those ones compared to the boat pictures. There, you have a rough starting point. Now, you take off 20% for MSE friends, so take 20% off. Then, you have said she is a good friend, so perhaps RL friends get more than 20%? So take off another x percent.

Then you have a realistic price with a healthy discount. If you still feel it is too high or low, you can adjust as necessary. But perhaps this will make you feel less guilty since you know it wasn't a price you plucked out of nowhere, and has some basis?

Cal x

Thanks Cal. That's a good starting point. I remembered that the said friend is altering a dress for me so I'll need to take that into account too.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Calfuray wrote: »

Aw You are so sweet FS Hope you have a lovely weekend too.

In regards to the picture - I didn't think I could love the picture more than the last one, but this one is my favourite so far. I love the 'moodiness' of it, the colours of the sea and sky. Beautiful, you talented woman, you!

Regarding the price, I would say, start at what you would sell it on Folksy. Bear in mind the price of the current works you have on there, the size of those compared to these ones, and the time it took for those ones compared to the boat pictures. There, you have a rough starting point. Now, you take off 20% for MSE friends, so take 20% off. Then, you have said she is a good friend, so perhaps RL friends get more than 20%? So take off another x percent.

Then you have a realistic price with a healthy discount. If you still feel it is too high or low, you can adjust as necessary. But perhaps this will make you feel less guilty since you know it wasn't a price you plucked out of nowhere, and has some basis?

Cal x

Just worked it out according to your suggestions Cal and I think I will ask her to cover my dinner next time we're out in Caf£ R0ug£. That would save me a reasonable amount but would cost her a fraction of that as she'll have bargainous T£$c0 vouchers. So takes into account the dress alteration she's doing for me too.

Thank you for that

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Having battled with the question of costs with these boat pictures, I've realised that my new commission will pose a similar problem. Do you remember 'The Project'. It was a Series II Land Rover given to us by a kind friend and, when it arrived, looked like it had been living in a chicken shed for the last 20 years (not your chicken shed obviously MWC). Well that kind friend is the Rolls Royce owner. I seem to remember we made quite a bit of money on that Land Rover so I think I'll be painting the Roller for free! Shame because I have [STRIKE]been a bit naughty[/STRIKE] taken advantage of a not to be missed opportunity today.


MS today:

• listed the new boat picture in my Folksy shop http://folksy.com/items/4455100-Boat-on-the-Beach-Original-Watercolour-Painting-Picture-Sea-Yacht-Nautical- So pleased with the way this one turned out. I was worried about capturing the light on the water but the effect looks good.
• Step class this morning
• ordered the new hot water tap cartridge for the bathroom. They come in pairs apparently so we'll have a spare for the cold if ever that goes. All covered under the guarantee so no cost :T
• popped into the market town to post the Fleabay item that sold. £44 offset against my art course
• dropped a pair of trousers into the dry cleaners for Mr F
• disposed of the evidence of Saturday night's misadventures in the bottle bank :rotfl:
• a couple of hour's admin work this afternoon
• neighbour-across-the-lane's husband telephoned. He was in the art shop (he is a Graphic Artist). They had a big sale on and he knew I'd been after some more watercolours. He'd found a 24 half pan set RRP £146 for £37:eek: Well, what was a girl to do. So I'll soon have a more extensive pallet. He also picked me up a couple of A4 watercolour pads as I was running short - £11.98
• baked Sticky Plum Flapjacks for Mr F's lunch boxes this week http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12810/sticky-plum-flapjack-bars although he's now announced that he will be away Wednesday and Thursday
• Mediterranean Pasta from the meal plan for supper tonight http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3319/silvanas-mediterranean-and-basil-pasta

Mr F is off to the gym soon and I need to finish that letter to the Financial 0mbud$man. I hope that one pans out, got to pay for this art stuff some how - must not spend any more money on art, must not spend any more money on art...

Happy Monday everyone

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Just checked back over my diary and we made about £80 on 'The Project'. Time to return the favour

Fortune x

megela

The boat pictures are beautiful.

I'll be giving the Plum Flapjack recipe a go. We have a glut from our plum tree at the moment, I can never use them quick enough.

Karmacat

Sounds like I got a bit ahead of myself with ideas about the pricing for you - I'm glad Calfuray had a balance you felt happy with I'm just so impressed you're doing what you're doing! In my line of work (counselling) beginners often work for free for years, so I'm very wary when I see it, but reading of the friendship web you're describing, I can see its really appropriate. Thats very lovely! And the result is that your art makes you happy, as well as the people it will be living with. Great result.

Fortune_Smiles

megela wrote: »

The boat pictures are beautiful.

I'll be giving the Plum Flapjack recipe a go. We have a glut from our plum tree at the moment, I can never use them quick enough.

Thanks Megela. We still have loads of plums left over so I can feel more plum recipes coming on soon.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Karmacat wrote: »

Sounds like I got a bit ahead of myself with ideas about the pricing for you - I'm glad Calfuray had a balance you felt happy with I'm just so impressed you're doing what you're doing! In my line of work (counselling) beginners often work for free for years, so I'm very wary when I see it, but reading of the friendship web you're describing, I can see its really appropriate. Thats very lovely! And the result is that your art makes you happy, as well as the people it will be living with. Great result.

Hi KC. Not at all - I used both yours and Cal's ideas to come to something I felt comfortable with. Lovely to get the input on a tricky issue. Originally I started selling on Folksy so it was relatively straight forward - I thought if a complete stranger liked my work enough to pay for it, so be it. I never expected friends to be interested and I find that more difficult. The boat pictures were particularly popular and I could have sold them elsewhere. I know what you mean about counselling (my profession was Learning & Development and I also qualified as a coach). As a beginner you feel a bit of a fraud if you charge - even if you have had years of training. I think, if you've qualified and met the professional standard then you should charge a professional rate.

Do keep posting - I really value your opinion.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Very excited yesterday as my new art course was starting. Drove down to the venue to find it full of playgroup equipment and devoid of artists :eek: It seems that the start date has been pushed back a week and Adult Education thought they would use telepathy to tell me that :mad:

I put the time to good use though:

• did the weekly on-line shop - should be about £35 under budget this week :T Mr F being unexpectedly away last week means I have the makings for several meals left over
• Zumba in the morning
• started a preliminary sketch for the Rolls Royce. I'm going to send it to my friend to see if it's what he's got in mind before I start painting
• Mr F was away for work so DC came to stay for the night
• £5 Amaz0n voucher arrived from $B
• a little admin work
• Cauliflower & Bacon Pasta for supper as I had a pack of cauliflower and broccoli florets to use up http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cauliflower-bacon-pasta

Friday tomorrow everyone!

Fortune x