Pricing art work

jenhug

yup, ask him to make an offer and negotiate. If it is that good though, maybe look into getting prints from it and get it copyrighted so he has the rights to any future reproductions etc.

podperson

I'm a little confused as to why you're only working it out at minimum wage. To me minimum wage implies an unskilled worker (not meant in a offensive way) and it sounds like your son is very talented. I agree with the above poster that at £10 an hour would be more reasonable or ask the principal what he would be willing to pay for it. Don't undervalue your son's work - plus you can always negiotate down but not up.

FatVonD

I too agree that £75 is way too cheap. If it's good (and I presume it is) I think you should be starting around £300.

Why not see if any of the big art colleges have work from degree shows online (they're coming up now) and see what art students would be expecting to get? Didn't LLB pay an art student £500 for a painting at a degree show in one episode of House Gift? I think that may have been because that was what his budget was but I don't think £300 would be unreasonable.

System

Hi,
I am an emerging artist as well as crafts etc. I agree with the above posters, £75 is far, far too cheap.
As an example, I sold an A4 sized etching at my degree show and the purchaser was delighted to get it for £40. I also sold a teeny little A5 sized watercolour for £25 (and that was mates rates, it would have been £40 otherwise)
I would think your son's artwork should be more like £200. Whilst it is flattering that the Principal wants to buy it, he had no right to put it in his office, as if it already belongs to him!
I know that there are lots of fees etc involved in selling via agents or galleries, but even so, £75 is dirt cheap for a piece of original art.
HTH
Linda x

aileth

Can't help on price... But I find it incredibly odd that the Principal has already 'claimed' it. What happens if you can't agree a price? Will he get it back from him or will he just keep it locked in his office? Very weird!

ValHaller

£525. Seriously. The guy wants it and has taken possession of it. But get him to make an offer for it first.

I'd rather take it back and get nothing for it than let it go at £75

Pechow

jenhug wrote: »

yup, ask him to make an offer and negotiate. If it is that good though, maybe look into getting prints from it and get it copyrighted so he has the rights to any future reproductions etc.

Artwork is automatically copyrighted on creation to the creator, nothing needs to be done. They also keep all the rights unless specified-if he sold the original image, he still keeps the rights to make prints etc, and the buyer does not have such rights unless they are specifically granted such.

DaftyDuck

StumpyPumpy wrote: »

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

That bit first. Definitely... It's possible the principal really really likes his work... he's no doubt had the chance to buy from many students over quite a few years, and I doubt he's done too much of that, or he'd have no wall space left.

The fact Principal has removed it shows he's really keen. Now, it may be unlikely, but I'd ask for it back for a while at least, and take it round a few local exhibits (aim low to start with... the kind of cafe that displays art, a small local art shop, that kind of thing), and just see what they say. Maybe try and sell a few others as a collection. It's just possible your son has something, a real something..

Last point... if it is that good, maybe son should hang onto it for a while longer... inspiration, learning from it, act as part of his portfolio... It might actually be more valuable to him than the cash in hand would be.

Person_one

middlewife wrote: »

Son hasn't seen it since the college exhibition as the principal removed it to his office.
Any ideas on negotiation?

He needs to get decent photographs of it for his portfolio before anything else.

Artytarty

More fool me then for choosing to shift the work at some profit than have it in storage at home.