Pricing your artwork can be one of the most challenging aspects of being an artist. You want to ensure your airbrush pieces are valued correctly while remaining competitive in the market. Striking this balance is essential for achieving consistent sales and growth. Here’s a guide on how to price airbrush art effectively, ensuring you get paid for your talent and effort.
1. Understand Your Material Costs When You Price Airbrush Art
The first step in pricing your artwork is calculating your material expenses. The tools, paints, and canvases you use directly impact your cost. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Airbrush Tools: Calculate the cost of your equipment, such as your Custom Micron CM-C Plus or Medea Eclipse HP BCS, and divide that cost over the expected lifespan of the tool.
- Paints: Include costs for your non-toxic allejo and Zieler paints.
- Canvas and Paper: For larger projects, consider the cost of canvases and high-weight paper (gsm) used for smaller works.
Knowing your material costs allows you to set a baseline price, ensuring that you don’t undervalue your work from the start.
2. Factor in Time and Effort
Your time is valuable. Pricing should reflect not just the hours spent on the piece but also the skill level and complexity involved in creating it. Keep track of the following:
- Hours Worked: Estimate how long it takes to complete a piece, factoring in design, painting, and finishing touches.
- Complexity: More intricate pieces, like highly detailed anime or comic book characters, demand higher pricing due to the time and skill involved.
To calculate labor, many artists use an hourly rate. Set an hourly rate that reflects your skill level and experience. For example, if you charge £25 per hour and spend 10 hours on a piece, labor alone would add £250 to your final price.
3. Research Market Rates
Before finalizing your prices, it’s crucial to research other artists’ pricing, especially those working in similar styles or mediums. Consider these points:
- Artists at Your Level: Look at airbrush artists with similar experience and quality of work to see what they charge.
- Local and Online Markets: Prices can vary by location and platform. For instance, an airbrush piece may fetch higher prices in galleries compared to online stores.
Platforms like Etsy, DeviantArt, and Instagram are great places to check prices for similar airbrush art and adjust your rates accordingly.
4. Consider Size and Scale When You Price Airbrush Art
The size of your artwork also plays a significant role in pricing. Larger canvases or murals require more time, materials, and effort. For example:
- Small Pieces: For smaller pieces on paper or canvas, use a per-square-inch pricing formula. A common approach is to charge £1-3 per square inch, but this depends on complexity and material costs.
- Larger Projects: For large-scale works, consider increasing the rate per square inch or using a flat rate, which factors in complexity, time, and size. Remember, a 24″x36″ canvas will require more paint and time than a smaller 8″x10″ piece.
5. Build In Overhead Costs
In addition to materials and labor, don’t forget to include overhead costs such as:
- Studio Space: If you rent a studio, factor in the monthly costs divided across your artwork output.
- Equipment Maintenance: Airbrushes like iWATA and compressors like Airgoo require upkeep. These maintenance costs should be included in your pricing structure.
- Shipping: For artists selling online, the cost of packaging and shipping your artwork should also be factored into your price or added separately.
By including these hidden costs, you ensure your pricing fully reflects the effort and expense behind each piece.
6. Add Value for Originality and Rarity
Each piece of airbrush art is unique, but if you’re creating one-of-a-kind custom pieces, you can charge a premium for originality. Consider these factors:
- Limited Edition: If you decide to make a limited run of prints or originals, increase the price to reflect their exclusivity.
- Personalised Commissions: Commissioned pieces should carry a higher price tag, as they require custom designs and often more interaction with the buyer.
By promoting the rarity or personal nature of your work, you can justify higher prices.
7. Set Tiered Pricing for Different Customers
A smart pricing strategy includes different price points for different types of customers. Offering a variety of price levels makes your artwork accessible to a broader audience:
- Entry-Level Pieces: Smaller, less detailed pieces with lower pricing are perfect for new customers or those with smaller budgets.
- Mid-Range Pieces: These works may have more detail or larger size, appealing to those looking for unique décor.
- High-End Pieces: Fully customized or intricate large-scale works should be priced higher, targeting collectors or serious buyers.
Having these tiers helps attract a range of buyers without undervaluing your high-quality pieces.
8. Don’t Be Afraid to Raise Prices
As you gain more experience, demand for your work grows, and your skills improve, it’s perfectly acceptable to raise your prices.
- Increased Skill: If you’ve mastered advanced techniques like those in your Medea Eclipse HP CS toolset, the level of work deserves to be priced accordingly.
- Increased Demand: As more people become familiar with your artwork, especially through platforms like Instagram or your blog, higher demand should push your prices up.
Your time and talent grow over time, and your pricing should reflect that evolution.
Conclusion: Price Confidently, Sell Confidently
Pricing your airbrush artwork isn’t just about covering costs—it’s about valuing your creative talent and effort. By factoring in material costs, time, market research, and added value for rarity, you can create a pricing model that’s both fair to you and attractive to your customers. Remember, confident pricing leads to confident sales.
If you’re ready to sell your artwork online, take the time to review your pricing model regularly. As your skills and demand increase, adjust accordingly and let your prices reflect your growing expertise in airbrush art.