Over the past few days, I have revised my entire catalog of works and reevaluated my art prices.
Some works are now slightly cheaper. Not because they are worth less, but because I wanted to make my pricing structure more transparent, comprehensible, and fair.
Art and its prices are a topic that is so important and concerns many people. This includes me as an artist, as well as people who buy art or are simply interested in contemporary painting. With this article, I would like to show what really lies behind the price of a work of art.
About value, not only numbers
The price of a work of art is not determined by chance. It reflects time, dedication, materials, experience, and energy. Above all, it represents what art is at its core: expression, personality, and meaning.
When considering the purchase price of a work of art, many people first think of the visible work. In other words, the hours spent directly on the canvas. But the real effort begins long before completion. Every work begins as an idea, grows through sketches, layers, breaks, and moments of doubt, until it finally becomes what you see on the canvas. Weeks or months of creative development, searching for the right expression, experimenting with colors, compositions, and techniques. Added to this are the costs of materials: canvases, paints, varnishes, tools, painting mediums, brushes, frames, and much more.
As an artist, I also incur costs and invest time in studio rent, energy, shipping, photographing the works, maintaining the website, social media work, email communication, exhibitions, platform fees, and advertising costs. All of this, visible or invisible, flows into every single work.
The important emotional side also plays a role, of course: the concentration, the struggle for balance, the energy I put into every painting. That’s exactly what makes originals so special: they bear the signature of a genuine process.
Between appreciation and accessibility
Over the years, I have had many conversations with galleries, collectors, and other artists. Two statements have stayed with me in particular:
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
“A price that is too low can devalue a work of art.”
These statements are not an expression of arrogance, but of respect. Respect for art and for the people who purchase it. Because a fair price inspires confidence. Anyone who buys art should be sure that the price reflects its true value: the quality, the creative process, and the authenticity of the work.
My benchmark: fairness and transparency
In order to make my prices transparent and fair, I once again use the classic artist factor as a guide. That is, the formula length × width × factor. This method is simple, transparent, and easy to explain. For those interested, it is understandable and more comprehensible than abstract evaluation systems. The factor takes into account my artistic experience, the quality of the work, previous exhibitions and sales, and the effort that goes into each piece.
This year, I had my work evaluated by the independent Akoun system. This assessment was valuable, but it also showed me that such certifications can vary greatly depending on format, market, and subjective assessment. With the classic factor, I have now found a clear, consistent, and, above all, tangible basis again. For me as well as for my buyers.
I stand by my decision: my prices should be fair and transparent, accessible without losing value.
What lies behind the price of a work of art
As I described above, a work of art is much more than just paint on canvas. Behind every price tag are many visible and invisible factors, including:
- Weeks or months of creative work
- Material costs for canvases, paints, varnishes, painting materials, tools, brushes, packaging
- Studio rent, energy, storage, transport
- Costs and time spent on exhibitions, platforms, and advertising
- Photographing the works, maintaining the website, social media
- Communication, inquiries, shipping preparation, accounting
- And the emotional energy that goes into each work
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When you want to buy art online or in a studio, you often only see the finished picture. But people often don’t think about everything else that goes into it. That’s exactly why the price is also a form of appreciation.
An open approach
I am open about my pricing. Anyone who views my art or wishes to purchase a piece should be able to understand how the price is calculated and what it includes. My art is fairly priced, honest in its expression, and created with conviction. Even though I try to have a pricing structure that appeals to buyers, I do not want to devalue my art as a commodity or “cheap goods.” I hope that interested parties, collectors, and buyers will understand this.
When you buy an original, you are not just purchasing a piece of canvas, but also a story, an attitude and an emotion.
Conclusion: Art is not an off-the-shelf product
I want my art to touch people, to inspire joy, to stimulate thought and imagination. For me, it is not merely a decorative object, but an expression of life, depth, and authenticity. My works should remain accessible without losing their value.
That is why I remain true to my path: fair in price, honest in expression, open in conversation. Because true art does not live solely from sales, but from the resonance it triggers.
Even a free artistic path needs an economic basis.
Because one thing is clear: without sales, I cannot survive as an artist in the long term.
