"What is the price of that painting?", she asked me as her husband and I held it up on their living room wall. I was blindsided, just stood there balanced on a chair, it seemed like forever, as they looked up inquiringly. I had never before been asked "the price" for one of my paintings, although I certainly put "prices" on my work. The words have always been "How much," like; "How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail?" Not like, "What is the price of that doggie," as if he was stuffed.
As she smiled anxiously and he good naturedly tottered with his half of the heavy painting, this is what went on in my mind. It is a very good painting, yet one from an earlier series. I was budgeting to have professionally over framed, so I can save money by not having to do that. I built our studio with no closets, and now the good-sized storage room is Francisco's bedroom so not having to store this painting would help the crunch. This painting is oversized and does not stack well with the others; it is also just a little too heavy for me to lift and I hate asking for help. This is a couple on a budget decorating their new nest; they are very sociable and enthusiastic, and if they buy the painting, my work will be out there, getting exposure. This was the painting she loved when she first saw it in the gallery and the colors work perfectly in their home. I want to give them the lowest price possible on this painting.
So, what is the lowest price? If you are to be respected as a serious artist you can't go below a certain price line when selling your work. This was the price I was trying to establish in my head as I stood there. How would I feel about another established artist selling a mature painting of this size for below this price. Will selling at this price devaluate quality art that already has incredibly low south of the border prices? I looked at the piece I was holding through the eyes of another artist. At what price could I sell it and still maintain their respect as an artist?
The price of a piece of art is completely separate from its value. You cannot put a price on something intangible unless it ha been made into a product. For example, what price would you put on listening to a bird's song, or on that painting that captured a feeling, a concept, that spoke to you, that was created, not one of many on an art studio assembly line, but only this one time?
There is no way I could ever be truly adequately paid for my art, for each piece is a creation of a lifetime. I do not even expect to receive any sort of fair hourly compensation.
I have earned my living consulting and teaching art, but selling what I create has never supported me. Never in a life without the connections to become a star; it has to be that way, or I would just be painting commercially - making saleable products.
Ask Janice for bargain prices on hand-woven pre-Hispanic tapestries through August at Aztec Studios on the lateral of the main highway at Calle Rio Bravo, 1 mile west of Ajijic. We're open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
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