Don't give away your work!
 

If you ever expect to be a pro and sell your work, DON'T GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE!

I am always surprised when I hear that artists do this and I think that it is a really dumb marketing ploy...

Think about it from your potential client's viewpoint...why should he/she be silly enough to pay big (probably hard-earned) bucks for a painting by you when other people get them for nothing?

If you don't value your own work, can you really expect someone else to see value in it?

I have seen artists who ask someone to model for them and then in "gratitude," actually give them the painting. Maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to pay the sitter, take 'em to lunch, and/or send them a note with a photo of the work enclosed?

Giving your work away for free not only harms your reputation as a serious artist, but sets a low standard for those artists who are trying to make a living by selling their work!

Karin,

What you say makes so much sense and is related to that favorite subject of not pricing high enough. Even my young daughter tells me to have more confidence and raise my prices. I listen to her, believe it or not and have been doing just that.

So far I haven't given anything away, except as special occasion gifts to immediate family. Relatives and in-laws sometimes hint they'd like a free portrait. They don't seem to realize how much time is involved. I let them know in a nice way but it's frustrating because they make it clear they'd love to have this kind of original artwork...if it's free.

Thanks for the excellent advice.
Margaret

I doubt that other self-employed professionals willingly and cheerfully donate that many hours of their "extra" family time, energy (not to mention the costly materials) to all the shirt-tail relatives and friends who unthinklingly ask this of them...even though they could probably afford to pay the standard fee.

With a BIG family and/or lots of friends, you could easily go broke.

Ha Ha
 

Today, I actually gave away two drawings to my model. In return, I receved two portrait commissions. I never give any of my stuff away, but since I didn't care for the drawings, I wasn't too worried about it. Besides they took very little time. I would NEVER give a painting away.

If I produce a piece of artwork that I personally don't like, I'd NEVER EVER let anyone have it...my fear is that they might "show it around" as an example of my skill!

A couple of years back, I let a friend twist my arm and I donated a small "not-so-great" watercolor to an auction (for a very good cause). And to my embarassment it sold for $200...weeks later that darn thing was keeping me awake at night.

I ended up contacting the buyer and paying DOUBLE to get it back so I could hide it in the "circular file."

Quality Control
 

I think this is a very important subject. We all go through years where we are learning our craft. I used to save everything, even paintings that were failures. I recently destroyed all the failures. I think this opened a new door for me. I learned something from each of the failures, but I don't want them coming back to bite me in 20 years. I went to the Chihuly exhibit during the Olympics where I learned a really good lesson. There was a documentary of Chihuly at work at the exibit. In the documentary it showed him destroying much of his work, he threw beautiful pieces of blown glass against a giant cement wall. It almost hurt to watch him do this. He called this quality control. After visiting the gift shop, I came to realize why he destroyed all those pieces. Have you ever seen how much a Chihuly piece costs?

:( One of my major regrets was that I destroyed a couple of (unsigned) REALLY AWFUL EMBARRASSING paintings I slaved over when I was just starting out in oils...

:thumbsdow I often run into people who mistakenly assume that I was "lucky enough to be born with talent"...and that I didn't really start out at the bottom. HA!

I'd like to show 'em just how bad my work once was...it might inspire them to not ever give up :thumbsup: as anything is possible. Really and truly!

Giving away free vs donating??
 

Well I most agree that one must value one's art if they expect others too.

But...
We should draw a distinction between giving away Art for free as if it had little value vs. a donation or a gift to a cherished friend or relative.

Also a donation of a painting to a charity or organization fund raiser is also a worthy cause and can give exposure to yourself as well as a cause you may believe in.

I do not know about you but I find great pleasure in donating at least one painting a year to a cause or as a gift.

(This is also tax deductible as long as you are selling similar work at the declared value)
Those receiving these works are well aware of the value of these works.

Also many times my donation of a painting for a charity auction has raised far more then I could have donated in cash. Often much more then I could have sold the piece for on commission. (It seems people are very generous when the money is going to a charity)

So although I agree that as a rule you should not work for free I also feel that life brings more to those with their arms open in giving then to those with clenched fists trying to hold on to what they have.

When you open your hand to give it will be open to receive as well.
I see nothing wrong with a gift to a family member. It is a gift that means far more then anything they could have received from a store bought gift.

I do not make a habit of giving away paintings just because they ask but I have no problem giving a gift of a oil sketch to a family member as a christmas gift.

How many gifts have you given that have brought tears joy to those you bestowed it to.
I can say I have and the joy I received in the giving was worth far more to me then the money those paintings were worth. (And yes they know and respect my fees and never ask me to work for free the understand that these were special gifts)

I do not make it a habit of earning my living off income from relatives.
and I would hope that I am never reduced to selling art to family to survive.
In the end it is little loss to me monetarily but I huge gain to me in the love and joy I recieved by giving.

Since I make a living painting portraits, my circumstances might be a little different...

My little town of Peterborough, New Hampshire has an annual art auction for charity. The average bid generated from this auction is less than $200.

My average price for a portrait is $8000 and producing it takes months of my time, attention and energy...not to mention the high cost of materials. (Imagine how I'd feel if someone got $8000 worth of my work for a mere $200?)

My annual income does not support my making an outright $8000 gift to one charity. Therefore, I think that it would be foolish for me to donate a portrait to this (or any other) charity or auction.

For me, a 10% gift of the cash income from my work to charity makes a lot more sense. If there are those who think this is stingy of me...so be it.

In addition to this...I confess that I love to shop! I'd much rather poke around in little stores and find "just the right" gift for friends and relatives...alas, not everyone finds my work "precious."

Anyhow, this is just another viewpoint :D ....to each his own...

Michael,

Just to clarify according to tax law put into effect in 1988 (I am researching the actual code so I may lobby to change this, it really stinks..). We can only deduct the materials we used to produce the piece. The fair-market value is NOT tax-deductible. A real bummer..

Stanka,

According to my accountant, my time is worth nothing (can you imagine that!). Therefore, if I produce a web site and the client never pays me, technically I cannot deduct that as a bad debt. Very interesting, since I have an hourly rate for web design...hmmmm, something in their logic escapes me here.

In another situation, I created a web site gratis for a local portrait society. The letter they gave me stating the value of the donation had to be redone so it said I had donated a web site, rather than that I had donated my services. The web site is considered to have value, but my time is not.

I'm for lobbying to change this one too. I have a number of bad debts that by rights I should be able to write off as a loss and cannot due to this ridiculous interpretation.

Stanka I think you are correct on this.

Karin,

To clarify, the amount raised for charity it all depends on the charity auction and what is donated.

I had a 9"x12" oil sketch that went for over $1000 on a Public television auction. This type of piece I seldom sell for more then $200-$500 (unframed of course) and it is only 2-3 hours to complete one. I even might do two or more of these of a client that I have no intention of selling before I do a large commission to work out colors and/or composition or to get a feel for the person I am painting. (and when doing illustrations I often submit a color sketch like this for approval before starting the finished piece.)

And the same for pieces I have given away to friends or relatives these are not large commissions like you are referring to. But I would not even have a problem giving a piece like that to a relative if it was a very special reason. And I felt like the gift would be appreciated.

And as for how I earn my living, yes it is from my art. Not all portraits but I have no other income except my Art. I am doing more portraits now but I also do commissioned illustration work and sell other paintings.

But...
I do not think it has anything to do with how you earn your living. If I was a plumber and a close relative needed some work done I would not charge them if it was within my means to help.

Like you said this is just another viewpoint.

If I were a plumber and I could help out a relative/friend with necessary work that they needed and it took a weekend of my time and (depending on need) some donated materials, I would probably do it. Indeed, "Habitat for Humanity" is one of my favorite charities...

But please understand my situation...I do not do "little sketches". If I spend weeks or months of my time (not earning money) and being "a good guy" by giving my paintings away to beloved relatives and my dearest friends...who in the heck will pay the college tuition for my children? Where will the money come from to pay my mortgage? Taxes? Medical insurance? There are those annoying little extras to consider also...i.e., food, car repair, etc.

Maybe, if/when I eventually get to "paint with the big boys in New York" and earn megabucks for my work, I'll be able to give a portion of my work away and not jeopardize the welfare of my immediate family.

But right now, what I "give away" is my knowlege about painting portraits to perfect strangers via this forum. I think that the world really needs better artists...(and it seems like a good use of my time when I need a studio break).

Right now I need ALL the income that I am able to earn by painting portraits. This is the first time in my life I have been able to "squeak by" doing what I want to do and I am loath to give it up.

Meanwhile, I really do admire your spirit of generosity :D and would like to think that you do not make a harsh judgement about mine....

No judgement made
 

Karin I did not mean to make any judgment about you or anyone. We all know you give of yourself on this forum. I was just sharing how I feel about giving it is not a judgment or to be take as a example for anyone else. We all must follow what is best for us.

Dear Michael,

What you have said is clearly NOT judgmental. I am not usually so darned thin-skinned. Sorry.

These past two weeks have been brutal for me business wise. I lost THREE portrait commisssions that I was counting on because of "the economy." It was a big financial hit, it surprised me and it hurt. Anyhow, I re-read all of our posts and I can see that I am overreacting.

Meekly yours,
Karin

Cash Donation
 

I annually donate a number of jewelry appraisals to a number of charity auctions. (In real-life I am a jewelry appraiser). According to my tax accountant this is the same as a cash donation.

If this is wrong I hope uncle Sam isn't a member of this forum!

How should I set up a donation?
 

I am planning to donate a portrait to a local peace and leadership organization. It's not a charity auction. The painting has already been completed.

I would like to get some exposure for my portrait business from this donation and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as to how I should set this up. The leader of the foundation is well known in this city and has seen photographs of the painting and "loves it."

Any suggestions as to how I should proceed?

Michele,

Here are a couple suggestions.

How about inviting the press to be there for the official "handing over" of the portrait. Or if the press can't make it, have someone else take photos of you, the painting and the person it is being presented to and then mail the photos and press releases to all the local papers. At the very least, prior to the event take a photo of you with the painting and send that image with a press release to all the local papers.

Also, have brochures and business cards at the auction and try and attend if possible. If you overhear people discussing your work, try and enter the conversation and introduce yourself.

Hope this helps,
Mary Reilly

I donate a small still life to a charity auction each year. I believe in their cause and I see it as a way to use my advertising budget as a way to donate back into my community. I feel very happy about how I am now able to donate more to charity than I ever have in the past.