Affordable Art - Part I
ACEO #23
©2008
2.5" x 3.5"
$25
Because That’s What I Buy
It’s taken me several years to come around to the idea of making affordable art. My first love is to make big expansive artwork. Given the time and materials involved in that process I can’t afford to sell my large textile paintings for only a few hundred dollars, which prices me right out of most people’s budget, including my own.
I started seriously buying art a few years ago and find that most of the art I purchase is under $200. I see a lot of other people buying art in this price range also. While I have saved my money and bought a few pieces in the $500-$1000 range that it doesn’t happen very often yet.
When I made the decision this year to actively look to sell my artwork I decided that this was a market that I wanted to participate in. I know that I very much appreciate the artists that make work at price points that fit my budget and it feels right to be able to do this.
Small Art Showcase
The impetus for creating my small artwork for sale webpage was to participate in an online small art showcase my friend Jeanne Williamson organized. (Thank you Jeanne!)
The website is now live and in addition to my work you can find small art work by 11 other artists working in a variety of mediums. The work ranges from $25-$500. Check out the website Jeanne created and get some holiday shopping done: Small Art Showcase .
I here there might be more artists coming soon so check back often.
ACEOs
Until this month I was selling my ACEOs for $21 including shipping. They are now $26 with shipping as I realized I wasn’t making much of a profit on them, between paypal fees, postage, materials and my time (to both make the ACEO, then photograph iand list on my website). While I want to make small art that is affordable, I also want to make some money while doing it.
Each of my aceos is created the same way I create my larger artwork. Each piece is cut individually (I never strip piece - for those that know what this means). Each cut I make and each color change in the work was made with deliberately.
On a very rare occasion I will have scraps leftover from a piece and will use those to make my aceos (I think this has happened twice), otherwise the pieces are made with intention, just like my larger textile paintings. The result is these are rather time consuming and if I want to keep making them it needs to make financial sense.
ACEO #23, above, was inspired by Markings #3, as was my small piece Markings #25. It is available for purchasefor $25 on my small artwork for sale webpage (near the bottom of the page).
A Series of Posts
I have much to say on the topic of affordable art so I’ve decided to write a series of posts so look for more thought on the topic over the next week or so.
Construction Progress
No post these days is complete without some construction progress. I think tomorrow I’ll have studio walls. Today they got one built:
Construction Photos - Wednesday - November 19
Construction Photos - Thursday - November 20
Posted by Lisa in: art business
Tagged: ACEOs, affordable art, Art for Sale, buying art, home remodel, Jeanne Williamson, selling, Textile Paintings
Mary said,
November 21, 2008 @ 3:28 am
I love that you are doing this. I try to buy at least one or two pieces of art other than pottery (as a clay person i LOVE pottery and collect a lot of it) each year but my budget is rather limited. As an artist I am not particularly well known outside my tilework so most of my work is affordable by default. I will go check out the website you have mentioned–sounds great!
Nellie said,
November 22, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
Your take on art priced $200 and under is essentially the observation of the people who run the gallery my work is in. Art sales in that price range didn’t seem to be affected by our tight economy … nor was the art at the highest range in the gallery ($1000+). Their theory was that people with lots of money had no hesitation about purchasing what they want. However, this conversation took place before the stock market took a dive.
Lisa Call said,
November 27, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Nellie - thanks for that info - I’m curious their thoughts now!
Mary - I think one can make a living with all smaller work - especially if it can be made faster than I make my work!