I'm new to this, but in the limited places I have found mosaic pieces (retail stores, not art galleries), I see that they are priced WAY below what it likely costs to create such fine art. For example- a "rose bowl" type candle at Kohl's was on sale for some insane amount like $5 after Thanksgiving. The work involved to create the piece by you or me would more than double that.

However, that having been said, those who have an appreciation for fine art will pay for fine art, which means that the better outlet for our wares is likely a gallery or other such place, rather than craft fairs or smaller venues.

We "artsy-fartsy" types have to remember that the rest of the world does't "get" art, and they don't know what goes into creating said works.

I'm sure others who have btdt will chime in on specifics...mine is merely a newbie observation with limited art knowledge (drawing, painting, little bit of sculpture, but no SG or M) from HS & college. Thanks for posing the question; great thread.

Good luck to you!!!

It's really a hard thing to decide. Ask yourself what you'd pay for it. Then consider what you put into it, and would be comfortable letting it go for. It always depends on where you are selling it too, like mmqc said. At a swap meet
you might not get as much as a craft fair, and way less than say a gallery....the gallery is going to take a cut,
so things are priced for that.

Good luck!!

Hazie

I'd add up:

The cost of supplies
+ Hourly rate / or by the sq. ft. / or even by the inch

There's other things you can add in if it's a business,
but those 2 things are the simple 'go to' basics for an idea on price.

My stuff has gone for between $85 - $400 depending on the piece.

My rep (that means my DH) won't let me quote a price to anyone any longer. He does all the pricing and negotiating - he says I'm too close to the subject and not rational when it comes to this part!! I'm glad he does this for me cuz most likely I would give the stuff away.

I too have decided that an hrly rate and cost of supplies is what I'll be doing. I plan to build an inventory as is Bama, for the spring. I plan to attend a wknd garden show where booths will be available for vendors. My theme is garden art stuff. I know a proffesional stained glass man who builds sg boats, and he says he sells stuff for $5/for every pc of glass involved. My ex boss hass a stained glass(tiffany style)light fixture in his study that he paid $1200 for. I just wanna recoupe some money for more materials!!! And I have a LOT of materials, it seems it is just a thrilling to buy the "materials" as it is making it!!!

Like everyone here said, your time and supplies. Go look on ebay or esty and see what others our selling there stuff for. Hope you sell lots.

Thank you for all who responded. calamity_j I also love buying or looking at materials.
I live in the California Desert between Los Angeles and Vegas, so no galleries.
I wish my husband would sell my pieces for me. But, it will be neat to see peoples reactions. I am nervous though.

I've never found that formula to be accurate. I don't use it at all. My advice is to know what the market will bear in that area & make things in that price range. I could sell something at craft fair in a nice part of the city for $50 ...... and in another part of the city , I Wouldn't get more than $15 for it. I've learned to do my homework - or I'd be sitting with a thing marked $50 while everybody else is selling $20 things.

oh, absolutely, tmg...I had a friend who made WONDERFUL ceramic pieces, and would be at the local fair in the fall. She would sell lots and lots of one particular "under $20" item, and the nicer, larger items never sold. It's what people are willing to spend, not necessarily the type of item. But in another area just 20 miles away, she likely could sell many of the larger items because it's an "artsy" area.
Yup, def do your homework to see what your demographic is.

Natasha, whatever you decide, make sure you cover your costs plus your time. You can decided what your time is worth. Don't underestimate yourself and your art. Be proud of your work and don't sell cheap.

Think about if someone came up and asked, "Would you make me one in pink rather than blue?" Are you willing to do it for the marked price? I can guarantee you that people will do that.

I think that you need to find the right place to sell your art rather than adjust your prices to meet the audience. People respect art and will pay for it, in the right places.

I totally agree with TooMuch! I gotta remember that cuz it IS like that in the town I live in!

Yep what TMG and CJ say. It is the same here. No one even begins to understand art. And the time it takes to make it. This is why I do not even try to sell my things. I have sold a few things to make room for more. It is just here people want to pay $5.00 for something that cost more to make it and hours of time.

I did sell one table that I kept track of time only because I started it when hubby took off to go ride his snowmobile and finished gluing it just as he came home. He was gone 8 hours. Then I grouted it and it was a fast and easy grout job. The cost of the table was $2.00 the tiles on it were about $5.00. Grout?? $1.00. Small table did not take much. About 10 hours all together to make it start to finish. I sold it for $45.00 to a friend. After this I never kept track of my time and cost of things because I am doing them for me.

Now if someone comes here and asks to buy something I will quote them a price if I am willing to part with the item. Otherwise it will stay here.That happened with a piece a few months ago.

Chris

I really appreciate the time each of you took to tell me all of this. You are very good people, and you HAVE been heard by me. I have learned that I should take what I will accept for something and multiply it by at least 3. I would not ask someone else to cheat themselves. So why should I let it happen to me? I am nervous, but what's the worst thing to happen? And I resemble that sentence about the other color. I would have done it if I had not been told that today. Any other color at this point will cost me, and if they want the expertise without putting their own efforts into it they will have to pay more. At my last job I spoke to a carpet installer and I was asking him about a good grout-sealer. I showed him one of my mosaic pieces I brought to work and he told me he KNOWS someone that does mosaics and had to raise her prices as she was too busy. That is Exciting.
Thank you this is what I needed.
Natasha687

Natasha, I understand your nervousness but try to overcome that by being proud of your art and realizing your work is worth your asking price. You can't please everyone. You are not selling something that is massed produced, you are selling a uniquely crafted item that is one of a kind. I am willing to pay for something that is unique and that I know no one can find anywhere else. I think gift givers are willing to do that too.