Lesson 30
1. Thought
"Myth two is: you should get paid for your time. Even if
the Small Business Administration says that art is a commodity,
it is still essentially different from other commodities. Other
commodities that have pricing guidelines established on the basis
of cost in accordance with time carry the implicit guarantee that
if more time is spent in production the product is better. Fine
art ... must be free of this guarantee." from "Pricing",
article by Barbara Dougherty in ArtCalendar, Feb 1992.
Think about this. How does it seem true to you? How untrue? What
difficulties might you encounter with it as an artist? What about
as a customer? How does one put a price on "quality?"
or "greatness"? (This is a debate topic, not expecting
a hard and fast solution.)
2. Words:
Fine Art "Art primarily produced for the artist's satisfaction
rather than for direct commercial purposes; does not necessarily
denote quality." North Light Dictionary of Art Terms
(Not sure I agree with this definition. How do you feel?
Fine Art " Art which is concerned with the creation of objects
of imagination and taste for their own sake and without relation
to the utility of the object produced." Webster's Collegiate,
1949 edition.
(Still not adequate as a definition. Want to contribute to the
search?)
3. Practice: "Learning bears fruit when it is applied."
Continue working on drawing and painting exercises, but as a
special exercise this week, try coming up with a "pricing
concept" for your work. Discuss
with me if you wish.
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