Pricing art work

middlewife

My son painted a large landscape 150cm x 70, acrylic on board for his A level extended project. The college principal wants to buy it and has asked DS for a price. I am totally ignorant of the art world, it took 15 hours to paint, plus cost of materials £25.
Realistically 15 hours min wage plus materials is roughly £75.
Would this be a fair price -I think it's very good, but then I am a bit biased.
Son hasn't seen it since the college exhibition as the principal removed it to his office.
Any ideas on negotiation?

Artytarty

Ta at seems about the right mark to me.
I do a bit of watercolour painting and generally price them around three times the cost of framing . Frames often about forty pounds so I go for one twenty or one fifty if I think I can get away with it! I then have to pay commission of twenty five percent so I don't end up with much.
I don't think the price of art is really influenced by the amount of time it takes to complete.
Good luck to him!
I would doubt the head will want to negotiate, I'm sure he will happily pay what your son asks.

middlewife

Thanks Artytarty,
DS has consulted MIL who dabbles in art, she thought it sounded about right, so have advised him to ask for £85, he can always drop if Principal baulks, but I doubt it.
All very exciting for him!

PasturesNew

Do you have a photograph of it? Could ask some online art forums, local shops and any other art teachers he knows

Never undersell your work, or you're stuck with a low price expectation for future works.

Blackpool_Saver

I would want to keep it myself. If he needs/wants the money pay him for it, he will get it back then when you are gone...

StumpyPumpy

First rule of bargaining: Get them to name a price first. Seriously. Go back to the Principal and ask how much he is prepared to pay. Then work from there (He may be willing to pay much than your son would accept if you're lucky)

Also find out where it is going to be hung. If it is going to be in the Principal's office this could be a good thing for your son's resume, or maybe he has "contacts" that he will sell it on to, this would also be good to know as your son might be able to use the info to get commissions.

SP

skintchick

£10 an hour minimum plus materials. £200 at least. Never undervalue creativity. He can always drop down but never go up.

EDIT. It's not just the painting hours either. It's all the preliminary work and time spent exploring ideas.

browneyedbazzi

I think the advice about getting the teacher to name a price to start the negotiation (and or to ask around for the opinions of others who have seen the work) is a good tactic - otherwise your son will always wonder if he's undersold himself.

I don't think that calculations based on time and materials are particularly relevant to the price of art because some people can spend a lot of time and use a lot of expensive materials to produce rubbish and others will take a moment to create something wonderful with really basic materials.

Well done to your son on selling his first piece!

Treevo

Does your son want it back? That's the first question I would be asking. The second would involve a long rant against the Principal for taking your son's property but that's just me.

And £75 is exceptionally cheap. To put it into perspective we have paid £3600 for a print (one of 50 too!) from one of my favourite artists (though certainly not hugely well-known) just a bit bigger than your son's original.

Considering your son is starting out and if he really wants to sell it - £250 seems like a reasonable price to pay for a man who has already taken it.

iammumtoone

I think I would be temped to tell him unless he offers something your son can't refuse you will be keeping it.

I can't paint, but if I could I certainly would not be selling one of my first works especially for a cheap price.

I don't know what your financial situation is but as his parent if your son needs the money I would be temped to buy the painting from him yourself just so you can keep it for him.

It is very flattering that your son has been asked this and he should be very proud of himself but it doesn't mean he has to sell, surely keeping your early work means more than money (even if he doesn't see that yet)

Goldiegirl

A piece of art is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so, as has been said, the Principal should state how much he's willing to buy it for, as a starting point for the negotiations.

The principal asked for a price, because he thought a young person would almost certainly undervalue their work, and the principal probably wants the piece at a bargain price.