I have a really difficult subject to talk to you about. 

It’s about money.

More specifically, how an artist makes money.

Let me correct that—how an artist earns money.

As I write this, I am quite afraid of saying the wrong thing, but I believe I speak on behalf of people inside the arena who earn their living by creating. 

A decade ago, during my first art show, I was having a great connection with someone.  We talked for awhile.  They were certainly interested in buying an artwork.

“Is that your best price?” She said it with a smile.  Her voice was drenched in warmth.

I quickly gave her a discount.  I was happy.  She was too.

The show turned out great, and I was happy to be on this journey as a creative.

Hours later, however, after I packed up and headed back on the road, I was thinking about that "discount moment" while I was driving.  I must admit a feeling of dissatisfaction slowly started to smother the spark of happiness ignited and burning from that particular moment when I sold my artwork.  I realized I had not given myself full credit for what I believed was a fair price.  My time invested in creating something I was proud of was devalued by the person I look at every day in the mirror.  It was me that ultimately decided the worth of my artwork was less than I had thought initially.

I was thinking about this occasion because just the other day, I had someone ask me this exact same question, and it really got me thinking about discounts.

Before I sound like a hypocrite...

I, too, have asked for discounts on occasion.  What made my request (seemingly) justified?  Is it ever right or wrong?  

Like I asked myself, I'll ask you...

Do you ask your doctor for a discount?

Do you ask your dentist for a discount?

Do you ask your optometrist for a discount?

Do you ask your chiropractor for a discount?

Okay, so I think in general, we don’t really ask for discounts in the medical realm.  At least I never have.

I kept thinking about these questions.

Do you ask your massuse for a discount (if you’re fortunate enough to encounter one)?

Do you ask your plumber for a discount?

Do you ask your mechanic for a discount?

I don’t ever recall doing so.

Let’s go even further.

Do you ask your landscaper for a discount?

Do you ask your waitress for a discount?

Nope.  I haven’t.

I then started to think about the occasions I did ask for a little extra something or a discount.

When I bought my appliances.

When I bought some furniture.

When I bought my car.

When I bought…..a thing!  Ah yes, it’s the times I bought a tangible, humanless object.

It’s not the times I bought a service.

As humans, it’s certainly easier for us to ask for a discount on a doo-dad or thing-a-majig.  Things become less personal because items are created by mass production assembly lines, machines, and impersonal manufacturing processes.

It’s not so easy to ask another fellow human to discount physical or mental work used to help you.

Perhaps the reason why people request a discount on artwork is because it is seen as an object, and not as a service.  The physical nature of its creation is often behind the scenes.  The art becomes a product, and products are less personal than services.

This is a major disconnect.

Artists hone their skill, just as any doctor, mechanic, plumber, or landscaper would.  All professions require practice, and creating art is no different.

The main difference is, the skill of an artist is transformed into a product, or tangible good.  Because of this, the notion of the skill and practice behind it gets somewhat lost unfortunately.

So my view as an artist is...

Aside from the time and dedication required, you might be astonished at the costs involved with producing art that has every intention of becoming something special.  Everything from camera equipment, computers, monitors, hard drives, gadgets, training, education and software.  Did I mention hard drives ;-)

I have dedicated more than ten years of my life and an endless number of hours and failures to attempt to master the process of creating an artwork.  Other artists have done the same.

While I believe “mastery” is impossible, I strive to create something that resonates with you.  I am ecstatic when I have accomplished that goal. 

So when it comes to buying your next artwork, remember the physical work that was put into that very special something that grabs your attention, and because it did, it's worth the full price.