Artists work hard
When you look at art for sale, it can seem sometimes artists are out of touch with reality and ask an unreasonably high price for their art. It seems so. I once asked a lady who had stopped by at my studio: do you know anybody who would work for about a month, every day, 6-8 hours a day and then get for all this work 200 bucks minus cost of materials? It wasn’t that I tried to make her pay more, it is how long it takes me in average to paint something. She was a nice lady, and she honestly said she didn’t know anybody who would work on such terms. I could add to this that I don’t know either, except fellow artists who for different reasons undersell their art.
Who benefits from art and artists
A brief list of these who benefit not only from full-time artists, but anybody who creates art and tries to sell their art, are companies which:
make pencils, papers, tracing papers, graphite papers, drawing sketching, watercolor and all kinds of art papers,
make canvas, canvas panels, canvas boards, stretcher bars and canvas fabric,
make paints, pigments, mediums for paints, solvents, varnishes, and all kinds of chemicals that are necessary for putting paint on canvas or paper at different stages or for preserving art,
make easels, supports, frame and framing supply manufacturers, including mats, matting paper, glass, Plexiglas and similar materials.
Let’s add website and blog
Every artists needs a website or blog, as well as social media presentation, so there are numerous platforms and hosting businesses which sell everything from security certificates to software for managing website, hosting, themes, plugins and many tools in order the website stayed functional.
We should add companies which manufacture computers, tablets, laptops, cameras, video cameras and phones since we need to get the art image captured and transferred to online space.
Virtual and real space-related cost
Space-related cost involves quite many aspects: any landlord who leases studio or showroom space;
any utility provider who sells power, gas and water to the studio;
any show, gallery, exhibition, fair, including juried shows, online competitions and online shows which charge a fee for putting the artwork out there;
any online art sales or art print sales provider which charges membership fee and commission;
money collecting and payment processing companies, banks, etc. also benefit from artists and their work.
More expenses
That is not the entire list, mind you, and to some extent it is similar to expenses that are inevitable for any freelance or self-employed person. The creation of art is definitely at the higher end of expenses in regard to costs of materials and time consumption.
Artists obviously pay for paints, paper, canvasses, frames and framing, fees for shows and gallery representation and any utilities, as well as monthly payments for studio regardless of whether there is going to be some profit or not. Even when art ends up in the wastebasket, it still involves cost.
Product and demand
I know, anybody, who creates a product, must create it first and there is never a guarantee of selling it. However, most products which are 100% unique, handmade and original sell for much more than the materials and labor that goes into them. So, we have arrived at the most important question: who enables the artist to earn living? Who makes it possible for the artist to profit from their talent, work and efforts? That is, you, dear friend who loves art. These are people who collect art.
How does an artist earn income?
The artist can only profit from his or her clients, who purchase the work whether as a product with art image on or in it, or as an original painting and drawing. Therefore, all artists are looking out for people, who love and appreciate art. People, who have enough money and are willing to spend it not on food, not on outfit, not on make-up or furniture, but art. Art is not a medication and it won’t cover you as a blanket, but it can feel that way, too. I know people, who can stand for half an hour at some of my paintings, and they feel exactly that: warmth and energy, and healing power.
Think about it
I hope when you go to an art show next time and when you look at some painting, you will be aware that along with artist’s efforts, talent, time and soul, a lot of other expenses are included. That constitutes the invisible part of a painting which is quite frequently not covered at all.
Freelancing
Being a freelance writer and artist is not easy by any means. There is huge insecurity. I never know when a new work request arrives, I cannot guess with certainty when a painting will sell. I obviously cannot work when I’m not well, and that causes other problems. The domino effect.
Why to do this? At the present moment, this is the only option I have, and I just love creating art more than anything else.
A few watercolor paintings in fresh colors
I am presenting for reference a few large watercolor paintings which come as a result of many hours of work.
I am not sure if I will post something else before I fly to Latvia next Monday. I unintentionally have chosen the full solar eclipse day, but who cares. I am happy to go on this trip and see my family.
Thanks for reading!