Silvia and Wen,
Artists need to price their work to cover materials’ cost, time and the shipping expenses. They also need to remember that it is the whole sale price and double it because the gallery will take 50% off for the sale, to cover gallery’s expenses. That is how it works. The problem is that many times it makes the artwork too expensive and it does not sale, so no body wins!

Thank you Sylvia.

Fabulous solution, thank you.

Alyson, I am happy to answer any “gallery perspective” questions that you or your readers may have. Misunderstandings and lack of knowledge on artist/gallery collaborations sadly, happen too often resulting in many lost opportunites. My gallery frequently offers Professional Development seminars, especially to university fine art students. It is critical that emerging artists have a realistic understanding of how the “business of art” works and how they can successfully navigate this world…especially if they intend to make a living with their art.

Sylvia: I never mentioned galleries in my post and didn’t intend to include galleries in this dialogue.
Galleries prove themselves by staying in business, caring for the art, and promoting their artists work. A gallery’s track record is quite public.
But perhaps there is a different burden for newer gallerists to prove themselves. Do you think?
I’ve heard from too many artists whose galleries have gone bankrupt or have sold work without ever paying the artists. Of course, many of those artists have admitted that they didn’t do enough to stay on top of their business dealings with the galleries.
What do you suggest in those instances? When galleries aren’t responsive to the artists’ questions?

Sylvia: Thank you for sharing your perspective as a gallerist. This might make a good guest post in itself if you’re ever interested.

Sylvia: I’m a big advocate of responsible gallerists. No one can replace the professional gallerist in an artist’s career, but not every artist is cut out to be a gallery artist – as I’m sure you know far better than I.
And I’m very well aware that galleries have high (!) overhead. I educate my artists about this whenever I can – and about the connections that a gallerist will have.
My comment immediately above wasn’t in response to the 50% earned (not taken) by the gallery. It was in response to the shipping costs, which have gotten prohibitive for many artists.
Notice that my post didn’t say “galleries” anywhere.

I”ll tell you what, I will take you on as an artist and not take my 50% when these things happen:
My employees work for me for free.
My mortgage company will no longer require payment for the gallery.
My insurance company will insure your art for free.
My gas and electric company will offer service for free.
My van loan is forgiven.
My vendors will supply all the necessary products and services to run a gallery for free.
I decide that I love your art so much that I will sell it even if I don’t make any .money.

Really Christine?
Stop crying in your soup and use your brains about how you conduct your life as an artist. No one is holding a gun to you…do your research and make educated choices…you do have choices. If you get “taken advantage of”…only one person to blame.