Tuesday, December 16, 2014

THANKS TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THE HOLIDAY POTLUCK & ART SHARE. IT WAS A SUCCESS!



It was a pleasure to see everyone and their artwork. There was plenty of food and conversation. We had a great time connecting.

MEMBER EVENTS



Join us at
HOLIDAZE

CFJ Fine Arts will be a part ofHOLIDAZE
A pop-up holiday market at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
in collaboration with Fenton Street Market
Running from December 4 to 23
December 4 - 7, 12:00 - 8:00 pm
December 11 - 14, 12:00 - 8:00 pm
December 17-23, 12:00 - 8:00 pm
There will be a late opening on the 20th and FSM's Holiday Party


*If you have an event or exhibit that you would like posted, please send your information to wcadcorg.@gmail.com at least 14 days in advance.


UPCOMING EVENTS

January 31, 2015: WCADC's January Planning Meeting, Hosted by Jane Pettit
More information soon.

February 21, 2015: Meet at National Museum of Women in the Arts, Arts Chat the "Picturing Mary" Exhibition. www.nmwa.org



WCADC WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR!



Sunday, November 9, 2014

Annual WCA/DC
Potluck Holiday Brunch and Art Share
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREAT FUN - GREAT COMPANY - DELICIOUS FOOD & DRINK
ART SHARE!!!
BRING YOUR FRIENDS- Introduce your friends to WCA/DC!
DATE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

LOCATION:  Marilyn J. Hayes House
                       
Parking: On the street - Public transportation: Metro Blue or Orange Line at Rosslyn Call Marilyn’s house for pickup from the Metro – 

Please RSVP to Marilyn Hayes -  Email: hayesarts@yahoo.com by December 1, 2014.
Tell her how many people will be attending. The event is open to potential members and significant others.  Please do not RSVP by phone.

Food and Drink
Bring something from the list below or bring some other tasty dish. 
Juices, coffee, tea, cream/half and half, quiche, breakfast dishes, pastries, breads, muffins, bagels, jelly, cream cheese, spreads, fruit, fruit salad, cheese and or any other goodies you can think of.  Please bring your own dishes to display your food.Please don’t bring paper/plastic products.  Sufficient WCADC paper product stored at Marilyn’s house.

Art Share  - You can bring one small piece of art work to share.  Please do not bring your work in jpg or other formats unless you bring your own hand held equipment w/battery to present it on.

Volunteers Needed
Are you available to help set up or clean up before or after the brunch?
Can you help with the Art Share?
Do you want to contribute to the multicultural holiday decorations? 

Please let Marilyn know when you RSVP

The brunch is the perfect time to renew your membership for 2015 – please remember to bring your checkbook to the party!

See Upcoming November newsletter for address/phone.


CINDY K RENTERIA



Landscapes, figures and motion are the focus of my art. Line, color, and rhythm create movement in the paintings. Each painting is alive with motion and light. 

Blues
Read more about Cindy in her November feature www.zhibit.org/womensartcollaborative. Also, Cindy will be featured in our November newsletter.

Thursday, October 30, 2014


EVENTS


Joan Tarbell Plato

FACES OF CUBA
Charles Bowers

BIRD HABITATS 
Joan Tarbell Plato




 OPENING RECEPTION 
November 1, 5 - 9 pm

CHARLES BOWERS will have a show at TAG/The Artists Gallery entitled “Faces of Cuba: An Photographic Exhibition.”  To celebrate the exhibition’s opening on Sat., Nov. 1, there will be music by solo guitarist and instrumentalist Kevin Burnes and refreshments by Sabor de Cuba. The gallery will open additional hours in November on Saturday evenings from 6-9 pm.

Curiosity is what drew Bowers to Cuba. “I wanted to know what life is like for the Cuban people, after over a half century of Communism,” he says.  

“The faces of the Cuban people told their story. The streets were alive with people scurrying to and from work, talking to friends on street corners and park benches. Life appeared normal. I saw, in their faces, warm smiles and their true joy of existence.”

JOAN TARBELL PLATO Also in November, painter Joan Tarbell Plato will show “Bird Habitats: Imagination Taking Flight.”  These works were inspired by birds and the natural world.  Plato paints intricate landscapes where birds wade and fly through green thickets, appearing camouflaged. One painting depicts a blackbird at rest but carefully alert, while others show a heron walking through a thicket and a small bird in a late afternoon wind.

Plato’s work lets the viewer experience nature’s space. The birds themselves often occupy only a small part of the work.

“The beauty of the natural world inspires me, Plato explains. “I respond to its ebb and flow.  In this series I began by applying loose ink to Yupo paper, painting and imprinting as I danced above it.  I studied the negative areas and values and let the patterns and shapes speak to me as I add layers of acrylic paint and sometimes birds, trees or flowers.”
 

216 N. Market St., Frederick, MD  21701

TheArtistsGalleryFrederick.com


The Romaine Brooks You Never Knew

Rediscovering America’s Elusive Modernist Painter

WCADC Please Join me for
A lunchtime talk at the Smithsonian
Thursday, November 20th
12 noon
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street NW
2nd Floor
Please present your ID to enter the building
Look forward to seeing you,
Dr. Cassandra Langer
Former Smithsonian Post-Doctoral Fellow
and author of
All or Nothing: Romaine Brooks (1874-1970)
forthcoming from
University of Wisconsin Press
and
Mother and Child in Art




Tuesday, October 21, 2014



WCA-DC ArtShare & Planning Meeting

October, 26 2014 Barbara Wolanin's House 2:30-6:30

Brief Business Meeting 2:30
ArtShare-3:15
Early Sunday Supper 4:45

RSVP: bwolanin@comcast.net by October 24,2014
*pick up at Tenelytown metro can be arranged

**Members are welcome to bring one art piece to share or provide 1 digital image no larger than 1mb. send digital image to wcadcorg@gmail.com by October 24, 2014.

See October's Newsletter/News Blast! or contact Barbara for address


MEMBER EXHIBIT

ON VIEW NOW!

JANE FORTH - "River through the Trees" exhibited in the Piedmont Virginian Artist Showcase,October 18-December 28, 2014River District Arts, Rappahannock County, Virginia.















Friday, October 10, 2014

The Power Within Opening Reception
September 27, 2014
Thanks to all that attended. It was wonderful.


WCA-DC ArtShare & Planning Meeting
October, 26 2014 Barbara Wolanin's House
ArtShare-3:00-4:00
Brief Business Meeting 4:30-5:00
Early Sunday Supper 5:00-6:30
RSVP: bwolanin@comcast.net by October 24,2014
*pick up at Tenelytown metro can be arranged

**Members are welcome to bring one art piece to share or provide 1 digital image no larger than 1mb. send digital image to wcadcorg@gmail.com by October 24, 2014.


Call for Submissions*

Women's Caucus for Art / International Caucus Online Gallery

Reply to email with the following in the body of the email:

Name:
Title:
One sentence artist statement.
Attachment:

One jpg image (image will be resized for the web / no image restrictions):

Label the image file with your First LastName only.


*You must be a member in good standing to participate.


ARTIST OF THE MONTH!?

WCA/DC is looking for the artist of the month for October/November. Get featured in our Newsletter and on The Women's Art Collaborative.
Send 8-10 images,  1 picture of the yourself, Biography (1 page) including upcoming/current exhibits or events, your website, image files should be no larger than 3mb. Send ASAP to wcadcorg@gmail.com






Tuesday, September 23, 2014




Opening Reception: September 27, 2014 1:30-3:30 pm
Artist talk 2:45
Executive Conference Room, VisArts 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD
walking distance from Rockville metro, parking available
Friends and Family Welcome


WCA-DC ArtShare & Planning Meeting
October, 26 2014 Barbara Wolanin's House
ArtShare-3:00-4:00
Brief Business Meeting 4:30-5:00
Early Sunday Supper 5:00-6:30
RSVP: bwolanin@comcast.net by October 24,2014
*pick up at Tenelytown metro can be arranged

**Members are welcome to bring one art piece to share or provide 1 digital image no larger than 1mb. send digital image to wcadcorg@gmail.com by October 24, 2014.


MEMBER EVENT



The Eurasia Center's American-Eurasian Art Foundation
and the Friendship Society of Washington, DC
invite you and your friends to:
An International Art Exhibition of Natalya Parris - Rediscovering the Structure & Beauty of Nature with an Enchanting Violin Performance by Roy Hill,
and End of Summer Social Networking Party 
Wednesday September 24th, (7:00 p.m. - 11 p.m.)
The Churchill Hotel
The Chartwell Restaurant & Lounge
1914 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Drink Specials include Russia's Best BALTIKA Beer & Special Abbreviated Menu/Free Friendship Raffle with Prizes
TO REGISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITON, VIOLIN PERFORMANCE and SOCIAL NETWORKING PARTY please visitwww.eurasiacenter.org
REGISTRATION FORM for INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION AND PARTY
REGISTRATION is $10 per person, Couples $17 (tax-deductible), but you must pre-register. Space limited Register as soon as possible.
Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/ 15 minute walk from DuPont Circle Metro Q St Exit, street parking.


On the September 21, 2014 Examiner.com site, Natalya Parris is being featured. WCA/DC The Power Within Online Exhibit is mentioned in the article. Members are invited to attend Natalya's events.


Sunday, September 7, 2014

WCA/DC EVENTS


The Power Within Online Exhibit


Online Now
Opening Reception: September 27, 2014 1:30-3:30 pm
Artist talk 2:45
Executive Conference Room, VisArts 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD
walking distance from Rockville metro, parking available
Friends and Family Welcome


WCA-DC ArtShare & Planning Meeting
October, 26 2014 Barbara Wolanin's House
ArtShare-3:00-4:00
Brief Business Meeting 4:30-5:00
Early Sunday Supper 5:00-6:30
RSVP: bwolanin@comcast.net by October 24,2014
*pick up at Tenelytown metro can be arranged

**Members are welcome to bring one art piece to share or provide 1 digital image no larger than 1mb. send digital image to wcadcorg@gmail.com by October 24, 2014.

 _______________________________________________
MEMBER NEWS

Bonnie MacAllister

Is being featured on the International Museum of Women (San Francisco)'s site for activism and art.  Hope you'll take a look.

Here's what the museum says about her in the exhibition, Imagining Equality: 

"In this series, multimedia artist Bonnie MacAllister conflates photographs of women on the international stage, such as vigilante activists like Riot Girl, to the women in her own life to create embroidered works that she calls "riart"--art as riot, or revolution."




Artist Spotlight- Michelle Frazier                            Featured Artist in the Fall Edition of DomiCile Magazine pgs. 40-42. http://ht.ly/AYZjo
____________________________________________

ART EVENTS/CALLS FOR ENTRIES

Pyramid Atlantic
Exhibit: Invitation
Dates: September 6 - September 28
Place: Pyramid Atlantic
Times: Wed-Sat: Noon to 5 pm, Sun: from 1 pm - 4 pm

Experience the works of 3 contemporary artists: Tunde Odunlade from Nigeria, Carlos Uribe from New York and Caryl Henry from DC.

__________________________________________
Exhibit: Comicville: Art with a Message
Dates: September 6 - September 28
Place: Pyramid Atlantic
Times: Wed-Sat: Noon to 5 pm, Sun: from 1 - 4 pm

Comicville features the sketches, painting and drawings of young artist Bradford Spady.  Bradford has illustrated 3 books and has studied with artists at Disney in Orlando, Fl.  Come see an emerging talent!

Artist Reception on Saturday, September 13 from 1 pm - 3 pm.

__________________________________
Event: Speak like a Champion-a 3 hour "hands on-on your feet" class  
Date: Saturday, September 20  
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm         
Place: Pyramid Atlantic Art Center     

Cost: $49
RSVP: jesse.a.mejia@gmail.com

Does public speak scare the s*** out of you? 

Would you rather have a root canal than discuss your art, your work and anything else pertaining to you?

If this sounds like, fear not, we have just the thing for you!
  
A 3 hour session with speaking champions John Melmed, Jesse Mejia and Clarence Featherson will do the trick!  These "experts of gab" will help you craft your story and get you prepared for that next artist talk or uncomfortable cocktail party.  Don't miss this opportunity to work with the best.

Sign up today by contacting jesse.a.mejia@gmail.com. 

____________________________________________
NMWA National Museum of Women in the Arts
nmwa.org

NMWA is proud to be a cultural partner for the fourth annual (e)merge Art Fair, taking place October 2-5. View carefully curated selections of emerging art a the Capitol Skyline Hotel in Washington, D.C. exhibited on three levels inside the hotel and throughout the hotel's grounds and public spaces.

______________________________________
UPCOMING EVENTS AT BRENTWOOD ART EXCHANGE

Axis Artists' Talk
Saturday, Oct 4, 2 pm

Calabash Carnage Family Pumpkin Carving
Oct 25, 11 am - 2 pm

Gateway Arts Center & EZ Storage Studios Open Studios
Saturday, Nov 8. 1-5pm

2nd Annual Thanksgiving Glitter Fest
Nov 22, 11 pm

Black Friday Sale
Nov 28, 10 am-7 pm

Brentwood Arts Exchange Craft Fair
Dec 13, 11 am - 4 pm

_____________________________________

Imagining Deep Time

 August 28, 2014 through January 15, 2015


NAS Building
2101 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo ID required. No charge.

This exhibition, featuring 18 works by 15 artists, explores the role of the artist in helping us imagine the vast geological timescale, a concept beyond the realm of human experience. Artists featured are Chul Hyun Ahn, Alfredo Arreguin, Diane Burko, Alison Carey, Terry Falke,Arthur Ganson, Sharon Harper, the artistic team Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe, Rosalie Lang, David Maisel, the artistic team Semiconductor, Rachel Sussman, and Jonathon Wells.

______________________________________
CALLS FOR ENTRIES

JAMES OLIVER GALLERY - Call for Entries

Works submitted should explore the human form acted on by an outside digital process. All mediums, including installations and performance Art will be considered. Artists applications are available via online and require a $15 entry Fee. A $500 stipend will be given to one artist in the pool tocreate art specifically for the exhibition. For more information: http://artnudephilly.com/



 _______________________________________________

Call for participation: Biennial of the Frontiers
Curatorial project proposal deadline: August 22, 2014
Artist proposal deadline: September 22, 2014

Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Tamaulipas, MACT
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Mexico

www.bienaldelasfronteras.org
______________________________________________

Studio 26 Gallery East Village storefront gallery is now accepting applications for the October group show. Each monthly group show includes weekly artist talks, poetry readings, musical guests and performances. Our goal is to activate your show and have new clients come through the doors and engage your work.
 The East Village has an iconic identity and is the historical birthplace of artistic movements. It is also a very affluent neighborhood in Manhattan, NYC. Did you know know that at least 1/3 of all gallery sales come from walk-ins?

Email Studio 26 at info@studio26nyc.org to receive an artist agreement with more details and costs break down. Please include a link to your most recent portfolio.

______________________________________

The Twinning of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden", 1989- Miriam Shapiro 
The St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art
"Contemporary Women Artists XVII- Reimaging Femmage"
February 20-April 4, 2015
Juror's presentation: Friday February 20th, 5-6:00pm
Reception: Friday February 20th, 6:8:00pm
Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main St., St. Charles MO 63301

DEADLINE to APPLY: November 2, 11:59 CST

The theme is based on the work of feminist Miriam Schapiro. Influenced by the feminist movement of the early 1970s, she changed her style radically, embracing the use of textiles as symbolic of feminine labor. 
Schapiro developed a method of collage, assemblage and painting that
used found or saved material relating to women's lives and traditionally 
female skills such as embroidery and quilting, calling it "femmage"

Juried by Lisa Melandri, Executive Director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM).  Prior to joining CAM, Melandri served as the 
Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs at the Santa Monica Museum of Art, where she curated a number of notable exhibitions and oversaw programming of the Project Room, a dynamic exhibition series at the museum featuring national and international emerging artists.

This is one of the oldest running biennial exhibitions that focus on the work of women artists in the Midwest ( circa 1977 ). This exhibition is open to all women and women-identified artists in the US and abroad.

For more information on the exhibition and to access the online entry portal: http://www.wca-stl.org/contemporary-women-artists-xvii---reimagining-femmage.html




Thursday, August 28, 2014

THE POWER WITHIN


Opening Reception: September 27, 2014 1:30-3:30 pm.
Executive Conference Room 3rd Floor, VisArts Rockville.
Artist talk 2:30.
Family and Friends Welcome

VisArts is within walking distance from Rockville Metro, parking available.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014


MEMBER EVENTS


From C. Farrell Johnson Fine Arts
Join Us!  

For Whom it Stands, TOO
A group exhibition at
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & Museum

Reception
Thursday, August 28, 2014
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The exhibition will be showing
July 1 - September 14

Curated by
Asantewa Boakyewa,
Associate Curator of Exhibitions 
Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore

Join Cynthia at Fenton Street Market!

And here is the CFJ Fine Arts schedule for the rest of the season September 13, October 4 and October 25.

Fenton Street Market runs  10:00 am - 4:00 pm, at Veterans Plaza (Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive) in Downtown Silver Spring.  Free parking is available in the garage across the street.  It is also a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro station.

Cherie Redlinger

CARAVAN: AMEN-A PRAYER FOR THE WORLD
Washington National Cathedral


AUGUST 30-OCTOBER 6


48 fiberglass sculptures of figures in prayer, decorated by premier Egyptian and Western artist, will be on display in the nave later this summer. This exhibit expresses the deep, fundamental human acknowledgment of power and hope for all people. 


Kirsten Bruner

MiniSolos at Touchstone Gallery
August 1-30, 2014
9th and New York Ave., NW. near Gallery Place Metro







PYRAMID ATLANTIC

Sports Legends & Comic Book Heroes Fill The Gallery
Exhibit: We Came, We Saw,
We Drew It!
Dates: August 1 - August 30
Place: Pyramid Atlantic
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Come meet artists Luis Camacho, David Ventura, Alex Ayala & Mauricio Ayala, Clay Harris, Al Phillips and others for a dynamic "celebration of illustration" right in the gallery. 
The exhibit will feature comic book heroes, sports legends, video game characters, cartoons and more celebrating the legacy of illustration.

Have an event or exhibit? Let us know. Send your information to wcadcorg@gmail.com.





Wednesday, July 30, 2014

MEMBER EVENTS



Natalya B. Parris artworks Alexei and Olga will be on display at “Earth Angel for Peace" August 2 - 30, 2014 exhibit at the Latino Art Museum; Opening Reception and Pomona Art Walk on Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 4PM – 9PM; 281 S. Thomas St.  Suite 105, the Art Colony Pomona, CA  91766

Marilyn Hayes & Jane Forth

Join us at Studio 2 in River District Arts (RDA) in Sperryville, VA, this coming weekend, Saturday & Sunday, August 2nd & 3rd. See our new work! Enjoy great music at the Living Sky Foundation fundraiser. Have delicious authentic Spanish tapas and food at El Quijote. 
And - there's a lot more to see. View fine art in 9 other studios at RDA and in the Co-op Middle River gallery and ... visit the Old Rag Photographers and artisan market. 
Check out the details below. Enjoy a day in the country. River District Arts is in beautiful Rappahannock County - travel time from DC area is only about 1and a 1/2 hours.  You can also see the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains.  http://www.riverdistrictarts.org/
Have questions?  Email me at hayesarts@yahoo.com
PS - You can also find us at the Rappahannock County Artisan Trail, part of the Artisan  Trail Network at http://www.artisanscenterofvirginia.org/

Have an event or exhibit, send your information to wcadcorg@gmail.com


HOW TO PRICE YOUR ARTWORK-

Artist/Teacher/Curator/Blogger Karen Atkinson truly understands the art world from different perspectives. She shares her expertise in this guest blog, reprinted from her website at GYST http://gyst-ink.com/, a company run for artists by artists in California. 

Pricing work can be one of the strangest, most nebulous areas of an art practice to navigate. After all, the monetary value of art, unlike car repair, or say, furniture manufacturing, can’t really be quantified by any set standard. There is no perfect formula for pricing your work, but here are a few helpful hints. 
• Plan ahead. Don’t price things at the last minute. This can lead to outrageously high or low prices depending on your mood, current economic situation, or desire for attention. 
• Err on the high side. Low pricing often signifies that the artist doesn’t have confidence in their work. On the other hand, if you are an emerging artist, asking for $25,000 for a painting might be over the top. Prices can go up, but they should never go down. Getting your work to start selling might be more important than pricing things too high. Use common sense. 
• You should compensate yourself fairly for your time and materials. Most artists undervalue their work; often make less money on sales than they spent making work. It is a good idea to keep track of your expenses and the time spent creating the work. Use the GYST software http://www.gyst-ink.com/products/index.php for this. 
• Defend your prices. If you have kept track of your time and expenses, you can defend the price of your work should your dealer or collector insist they are too high. Be realistic here, but also include your direct expenses for materials, as well as your overhead expenses such as studio rent, utilities, phone, etc. 
• Use an hourly wage to calculate how much your art is worth. You are a professional artist and you deserve a professional living wage. Don’t go with minimum wage numbers here. The US Department of Labor Occupational Labor Statistics lists the mean hourly wage of Fine Artists as $23.22. Use this as a starting point for figuring out your hourly wage. 
• Letting dealers and consultants price your work is not always the best way to go. Often a dealer will set the price of your work, but you should be a part of this discussion and it should be a joint decision. If you have your expenses calculated, you have a better chance of getting your share of the total price of the work. But remember that gallery dealers calculate things like rent, salaries for employees, and marketing costs into valuing your work. 

• Some excuses you will hear from dealers about pricing the work low is that you are an emerging artist, your résumé does not have the right venues, the work is small or derivative, or the dealer needs to spend more time and spend more to promote the work of emerging artists. Defend your work, show them how much it costs to make your work, refer to your hourly rate. Be negotiable, but don’t undervalue your work. 
• Artists with gallery experience and consistent sales histories should already have base prices set for their works. If you do not already have a track record of sales, your base price should approximate what artists in your locale (with comparable experience and sales records) charge for similar works of art. Keep in mind that even though your art is unique, experienced art professionals, like dealers, advanced collectors, consultants and agents, make price comparisons from artist to artist all the time. Being able to evaluate your art from a detached standpoint, by comparing it to that of other artists in your area, is necessary in order for your price structure to make sense in the marketplace. 
• Keep work that holds special meaning for you or represents critical moments in your life or career off the market. Make sure this work is not drastically different from your other art in terms of physical criteria. You may want this work as part of your own private collection. Also, often times, the tendency is to overprice such work. 
• When calculating your studio expenses, maintain records of the time you spend, and the cost of materials. Include overhead such as rent, utilities, professional fees, fabrication costs, assistants’ wages, transportation, postage, and shipping. Divide the total by the number of works you make a year, and average the cost per work. Then, add the sales commission. Make sure you build in a profit margin and room for a discount to notable collectors or collecting institutions. 
• Visit galleries, rental spaces and exhibitions, and do some research on comparable artists and artwork. Look at the exhibition checklist for these details. 
• If you are selling work in your studio or at a studio sale, you might want to price the work a few hundred dollars over the set price so you have space to negotiate. 
• You should not price your work according to what region of the country or city it is shown, or what gallery sells it. Consistent pricing is a cornerstone of a sound practice and eventually leads to successful sales. 
• Always have a price list available that states the full retail price. If you are selling the work yourself, always include the discount policy in writing on the price sheet. This will get you out of a bind if a buyer brings it up. 
Commission Splits 
• Usually galleries and art consultants take a 50% commission of all sales. Anything above that is highway robbery. If the commission is less than 50%, do not lower the price. Have a heart-to-heart talk with anyone who wants a higher commission. Often there will be a wide range of excuses for this, including that you are an emerging artist, your work costs more to sell, etc. Do not buy it! Many nonprofit galleries take from 0-30% commission and many leave the negotiation up to the artist. 
• There are special circumstances in which you may need to receive more than the 50% commission. If your work is very expensive to produce, and the fabrication is very costly (such as foundry work) or you use a specialized process, you will need to negotiate this up front, before the commission split. 
Prices Too High? 
• If people like your art enough to ask how much it costs, but do not buy, it may be because your price structure is too high. First, conduct an informal survey by asking dealers, experienced collectors, consultants, fellow artists, and agents what they think. Never arbitrarily cut prices or adjust them on the spur of the moment. Reduce your prices according to the consensus of knowledgeable people. Use your concerned judgment. Avoid having to reduce prices again by making sure your reductions are in line with or even slightly greater than the consensus opinion. Never make your art so inexpensive that people will not take it, or you, seriously. 
Price Increases 
• A price increase is in order when demand for your art regularly outstrips demand for your contemporaries’ work. The best time to increase prices is when you are experiencing a consistent degree of success and have established a proven track record of sales that has lasted for at least six months and preferably longer. Depending on what you make, and the quantity of your output, you should also be selling at least half of everything that you produce within a six-month time period. As long as sales continue and demand remains high, price increases of 10-25% per year are in order. As with any other price-setting circumstances, be able to justify all increases with facts. Never raise prices based on whimsy, personal feelings or because you feel that they have remained the same for long enough. 
• Your prices should remain stabilized until you have one or more of the following: increased sales, increases in the number of exhibitions you participate in, increase in the number galleries that represent you, or inflation. 
Online Sales 
• When pricing and selling your work online, you should keep the big picture in mind. Continually compare your prices to available art in your area, as well as on the Internet, and not just among your circle. Have a good selection of reasonably priced works available for purchase. Give the buyer the option of starting small, without having to risk too much money. Remember, people are just beginning to get used to the idea of shopping online for art. Hosting your work on the Internet opens the doors to a different market, which is not necessarily driven by region. Many collectors and patrons visit web site to see new artists who are outside of their area. 
Discounts 
• You should not be required to split discounts with the gallery. It is a public relations expense for the dealer and you should not be paying that expense. The gallery is usually awarding the buyer for previous patronage. Exceptions might be when the buyer purchased your work before or they are buying more than one work by you. Always get a Bill of Sale as a purchase contract between the artist and the collector. Often, a dealer will issue you a purchase order, which states both commissions and the collector who bought your work. Always maintain records of who has purchased you work, including name, mailing address, and email and phone number if possible. Beware of dealers who will not give you the information on a collector, as by law, you are entitled to a copy of the bill of sale and information on who bought the work. 
Market fluctuation 
• No matter how old you are or how long you have been making art, know that art prices fluctuate over time as a result of a variety of factors. Set your initial price structure according to the initial value of your work, your local or regional art market, but be ready to revise those prices at any time (assuming adequate justification). The more you are aware of market forces in general, and how people respond to your art in particular, the better prepared you are to maintain sensible selling prices and to maximize your sales. 

*There is also a great guide to pricing your work by Alan Bamberger  who is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America. He has served on the board of Creativity Explored, an organization dedicated to encouraging artistic expression in the developmentally challenged, and on the exhibition committee of Visual Aid, a service organization for artists with AIDS. 

For more information on this and other subjects of interest to both artist and collector, or to speak with Alan regarding his specialized artist services, visit his web site at www.artbusiness.com 






Looking for the next artist. Are you interested in being the Artist of the Month?
Please send your artist statement/bio and exhibit/website information, 6-8 images, image list (name, size, medium), image files no larger than 3mb/150dpi  to wcadcorg@gmail.com