"Post it" I cried and see what we all come up with. So, last week at Paint Party Friday she did just that and here it is.
So then, of course I'm under intense pressure to come up with something good, being as it was my idea and all. As usual I forgot to scan in work in progress. However, that may be for the best as it a while for all to go to plan. In fact, at one point I gave up and went digital. But giving up is not really in my DNA, nor does it mix particularly well with my life motto - Where there's a will, there's a way. So, I called up my old friend Percy Vereance and we worked on it together. The wild wind outside may have penetrated our subconscious and influenced the girl's flowing locks.
So, I present you with a jumble of images to view on this post. I'm sure you can figure out which was which! I wonder if anyone else took up the challenge. I'm off now to look!
Postscript
When I posted my link on Paint Party Friday, my heart and soul were moved to comment by their question of the week - How do we price our art?
This is my response below - you can see I got more and more passionate about it as I went on! I'd love to know what you think too. To join the debate, follow this thread of comments.
This is a great question this week. I get upset when I see so many great artists practically giving their art away. I think we have to consider a number of aspects when we price our art.
Firstly - how long did it take? What is your hourly rate? Consider how many years of experience you have and what training you have taken. Do not under price your talent!
How much did you materials cost? A rough estimate at least!
What would you pay for it?
What would you think if it was only priced at $30. Would you think it was too cheap and therefore inferior? If you are buying a piece of original art, wouldn't you want to think it was special (ie expensive). Don't undervalue yourself.
Of course, it's all very well me writing all this, but we all know how hard it is to sell art. This is the theory, but in practice????
I just think it is unfair that so much talent is undervalued. I think we, as artists need to work together to shift a mindset. After all, we'd go out for dinner and happily pay £30 for a meal that's gone in 30 minutes. We'd pay £8 to see a movie, £40 for a skirt, £100 for a pair of boots.
WE ARE SPECIAL! Until we all stop undercharging for our work, we are never going to earn what we are worth. How on earth do we fix this??
Discuss!!
Posts
Great Post, real problem... I think that art is worth just as much as other occupations but no one else seems to... if I hire a cleaner (actually can't afford to) I pay $20 an hour, yet I can't earn that... but here's the difference... passion, can't price it, others de-value it, the thing inside us that gives us worth by what we produce not by what people will pay... don't know the answers, but I think the 'personality type' of an artist leaves them more open to exploitation, but you then have to think... do you really want to be like those other dudes... cool post & love the results, extremely cool :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post and love what you did.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and love your art work ~ thanks ~namaste, Carol HPPF ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteI would love to raise my prices, but if I did, I would have a stockpile of art here. People here can barely afford to buy their groceries and pay their bills, and unfortunately art is the first thing that is crossed off of their list, even if they want it--it's a luxury for them. So in the meantime I'll keep my prices affordable.
ReplyDeleteI want people to take my art home and enjoy it--this is one of the reasons why I do this. I can't imagine my life without art--I have to make it everyday...and this is why I do it, not for monetary reasons.
My favorite part is meeting people, explaining what I do, and seeing their excitement and smiles when they can take a piece of my art home with them (which is a part of me).
This is what makes me smile!
Both super but I REALLY like the top one
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great idea, Lisa! Both of your versions are wonderful - I'm so glad you stuck with the top one too because she is such a beauty :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to read all of your thoughts on pricing and I'm so glad you've shared them with the group - you make many excellent points!
xo
Kristin
I like your two jobs ... and of course will never be paid what they are worth, nor will be paid on time you have spent, much less the heart you put into them, and perhaps not even pay nobody ever, but the artists we know there are very few and very few peoplewilling to pay for having an original on your wall.
ReplyDeleteBut do not stop painting, the artists (amateur or professional) can not stop creating, is for us, who got off work! Saludos
She is gorgeous. YOu used the background well. :) I agree with you on the pricing but it's hard to actually put a price on a painting and then it doesn't sell.It sucks big time. I'm thinking more and more to get someone else to price my work.:)
ReplyDeleteDear everyone
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting debate! I'm approaching things from more of a business standpoint and as a marketing specialist what I tell my clients is that they should never sell themselves short. You have to really believe in your product and yourself.
I think Natasha is onto something when she suggests that someone else set the price. I guess galleries would help us do this. I've never quite had the nerve to approach any!
Ultimately we can sell for whatever price we like - it's our art, but it just seems crazy to me that it is so undervalued. We have footballers in this country earning a base salary of £100,000 per week - yes, per week! There's something very wrong somewhere!!
These are so striking, how you made the faces appear in such a mysterious way....Love these! :-)
ReplyDeleteLisa I love both versions! And thanks for all your thoughts on pricing art, I commented over at PPF and its such a great topic! Good to read everyone's thoughts over here too!
ReplyDelete:)
My first time ever on this painting party. I have no earthly idea what you are talking about in the first part of your blog post. I actually read through it twice!! duh. Anyhow.... The last image with the female face staring off to the right with the layers of abstracted shapes is breathtaking. It's so hauntingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlways interesting and wonderful posts! love what you have created with the background...amazing work! Happy ppf POP ART MINIS
ReplyDeletei wish i'd remembered about using iamrushmore's piece as a background-you and kristin have come up with lovely additions!
ReplyDeleteas for pricing, i hate it so much. i base my pointy portraits on an hourly rate as they take so much time to complete, even small A4 paper. the problem is i don't think the paying public would ever appreciate the amout of time, blood, sweat and tears thats goes into our art and so i think they'd baulk if i said a bespoke portrait on A4 paper was going to be say £180 (based on £10 per hour). i agree i would far rather someone else price them for me.
YAY!!!!!!! Thank you so much for "putting your money where your mouth is". I almost chickened out and didn't post the background, but I'm so glad I did. I love your painting - she's so beautiful. And the digital image is haunting. When I thought about adding a face to my background I could fathom painting one (and in fact printed a ghostly black and white of myself and tried incorporating it, but it just didn't work). Loving the discussion here and in the PPF comments about pricing and value. well said!
ReplyDeleteLove what you have done with the background. As to selling art - I have never tried, I don't think anyone would want what I make. Valerie
ReplyDeletenice work you did on the challenge! You made some good points on the pricing!
ReplyDeleteI love your version of this....very striking together, this combination :)
ReplyDeleteMy Husband always tells me I sell my stuff too cheaply......and you are absolutely right, we must feel that our time and talent are worth charging more! I've tried pricing things high...and am now pricing things low...simply because I figure, I'm just going to keep painting....might as well, try to entice those that love a certain piece to take it home with them....
Though, truth is, neither price point has sold anything for me :(
Ah well..I figure, when it's meant to be, it will happen. Until then, I'll happily paint away, trading pieces here and there....using them as their own kind of currency, to acquire the great works of other artists :)
Such an interesting concept, and well resolved. I really enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and everyone seems pretty interested about it. Buckety buckety buck a boo. hehehehe Great work, both of them. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove both pieces Lisa and its a great post. Happy PPF, Annette x
ReplyDeleteOh Lisa, I love what you did in both pieces, especially the one where the circles are floating above and behind her face- wonderful! As for the pricing, I HATE pricing things! I agree with those folks above me who said if they priced things according to how many hours they'd spent, their paintings would NEVER sell! So I price mine pretty cheap unless it's one I really love; then I price it based on hours spent and how much it would take for me to part with it (tho even in that case, still pretty cheap compared to some ;))
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to think about these things....and welcome back to the net! My 'puter has been touch and go as of late oo!
oh these are lovely the dream like quality in her eyes,, lovely,, I charge what i think i would pay, taking all things into consideration, if I seel a peice in a gallery or shop they have a say sometimes in pricing and mine must be in tune with others in the shop,, sometimes I feel they over price in that sitiuation,, I want e
ReplyDeleteveryone to be able to afford my art not just a chosen few.
Both wonderful creations! I printed it off but didn't have a chance to work on it this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great feedback to the question. it's a great discussion so far! (And you've given me an idea...)
These are great paintings. I really like the first one a lot.
ReplyDeleteAs to pricing, maybe we should set up a pricing co-operative and help each other figure out what to charge.
Lovely artwork. Both are really pretty. I love the colors. Happy PPF! Theresa
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous piece, post and discussion. First of all, I love that you presented this challenge - the background and your treatment of it is so beautiful. I really like them both, but my heart is with your painted piece ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd your discussion is brilliant. I am in the some-artists-don't-charge-enough-for-their-work camp, but it is an unfair assumption on my part as I have never tried selling anything. I will say that your point about perceived value is a good one - and I loved the idea of having someone else price it.
Thanks - that was cool, xoxo
Oh I love what you did with the background, both are spectacular!This has been interesting reading all the posts here and on the PPF site about pricing. I still change my mind so much on this depending on so many different circumstances.I'm Gemini though,lol! Happy PPF! Deb
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a haunting and beautiful image of the woman! Thanks for your thoughts on pricing too, I never know and love to hear other's opinions.
ReplyDeleteThese are both wonderful paintings but i really like the second one the best. I'm afraid i too often set my prices too low, afraid of not making a sale. I am working on that and slowly raising my prices. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my Sunflowers, Happy PPf!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, love the blue background showing through and adding like an extra layer of shading on her face and body...
ReplyDelete// - T.W -
Gorgeous work Lisa...i love them both..but my fave is the first one..very striking and has such a soulful presence..lovely!
ReplyDeleteHUgs and sparkles
Victoria
I like both ladies, but the first one is my favorite ~ loved seeing your interpretation of what to do with the blue background.
ReplyDeleteThe digital creation is fantastic! Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and work! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF!
~Mary
Lisa, first of all great outcome of the painting. I wonder how you did it. Second of all, great inputs on the topic of how to price one's art. Personally it's not the undervaluing of our art that is being the problem but more on feeling with what's happening around us. I agree with some others that these days people are living with a tight budget and we don't buy art unless it's something quite cheap or really beautiful. I think to price our art your above points are to be considered. In the end it shouldn't be too expensive and too cheap. Something in between.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful eyes!
ReplyDeleteYour "Girl" work is getting better and better. Well Done! And noted all your points about putting a dollar sign of artwork.Very well said. ;)
ReplyDeleteBoth are very good in their own way.
ReplyDeleteGreat post , very much in agreement with your points on pricing.A little more clear on the practice, thanks.