How to Price a Painting on a Used Surfboard?
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Nov 12th, 2009 | Comments (2)
We got this question from an artist in Hawaii:
Hi. I’ve been asked to paint on a used board. I’m just not sure how to price it. Can you recommend a starting range. Should I just price it like a regular painting? Thanks for your help! Aloha, Kara
Kara, this is a great question, and I think that surfboard artists everywhere should somehow format a similar pricing structure.
First, make up a price sheet for yourself. Second, be sure to charge extra for used boards, because more time is involved to prepare them for painting.
And to answer the part of the question about “Should I price it like a regular painting?”: We have two different price sheets for painted surfboards. One for real art, and one just for board decoration.
REAL ART TO HANG ON THE WALL: The first price sheet is for true pieces of art that will be hung. These are priced like any painting and pricing begins at $3,500.00 (includes the board) and goes up to $20,000, depending on the size and complexity of the subject matter.
BOARD DECORATION: This second price sheet is for all surfboard paintings that are meant to decorate a board that will be ridden. The board is supplied by the customer.
Pricing for this starts at $75.00 and can go up to $2,000, depending on the size of the board, the painting, and the complexity.
What you get for $75.00 is what we call a small board “tattoo”. Usually a little “hit” painted on the rail, or a small character or wave on the nose of the board.
What you get for $120 is a larger painting, still on the nose or a small section of the board, but of greater complexity, like a beach scene or a sexy mermaid.
Most of our customers ask for a $250 paint job, which covers about a third to half of the surfboard and is a beautiful painting that they can proudly show off when surfing.
A full board painting, of course, will cost in the $500 - $2,000 range.
REGARDING PAYMENT: Make sure that payment is made at the time that the board is picked up. No board leaves our studio unless I’ve been paid in full (cash preferably).
CHARGE EXTRA FOR USED BOARDS: We require that they bring it with wax completely scraped off. We also add $20.00 for used boards, because even with the wax cleaned off, it takes a lot of extra time prepping it for painting to remove the residue.
MAKE A PRICE SHEET that details the different painting prices for different types of board decoration.
I wish you the best of luck! Please, feel free to ask any other questions on this topic. We’re here to help.
Maria “Spunk” Brophy xxoo
PS: Check out my business blog for artists www.mariabrophy.com
Our Biggest Mistake Ever
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Oct 13th, 2009 | Comments (5)
(c) Rick Rietveld
Rick and Natalie Rietveld were heroes to us. We would visit their booth at trade shows where they marketed their clothing company.
Rick’s art was colorful and wild, like Drew’s but in a different style. We envied their family owned business, one that printed Rick’s art on high-end men’s shirts, tees and board shorts.
I would call Natalie every now and again and ask art business advice. She was a tough lady, and I admired that. She taught me what to expect out of clients and how to get it. (more…)
To All Artists - 8 Philosophies for Success from Camryn Manheim
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Oct 10th, 2009 | Comments (2)
In May of 2009 Camryn Manheim, a professional actress (star of “The Practice”), gave a commencement address to students at College of the Arts.
Her speech inspired artists of all kinds, so much so that an outline of her speech has been circulated online.
(I don’t know where this outline originally came from. If you know, please tell me and I’ll give proper credit.)
Camryn shares a philosophy that has enabled her to find success (more…)
The Big Sell-Out Question
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Oct 7th, 2009 | Comments (4)
I knew this day would come. In the twenty years of Drew being an artist, we hadn’t heard anyone call him a sell-out. Until now.
SELL-OUT. The words make me cringe. Usually uttered by uninformed or jealous people who don’t know what it means.
The accusation was on a blog that chooses one poor soul every week to be his “SELL-OUT OF THE WEEK.” And every person he chooses for that column just happens to be successful.
It really irritated me. (Drew, of course, laughed it off.)
The article implied that Drew is selling-out because he allows his art to go (more…)
Do you worry about people stealing your art?
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Oct 1st, 2009 | Comments (8)
(c) Hazel Dooney
Do you worry about your art being stolen? Some creative types worry about this incessantly.
The progressive, successful ones don’t.
THE OLD WAY OF THINKING: The old way was to fiercely guard your images from any possible unauthorized use, even if it meant not letting many people see them.
I had an older gentleman tell me that he was afraid to put his paintings on the internet, for fear of someone stealing his ideas!
I told him that was the least of his worries; (more…)
Artist Lecture Series-10 Success Principles Nov. 20, 2009
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Oct 1st, 2009 | Comments (0)
Photo by Aaron Bickford
Join Drew Brophy at the Artist Lecture Series:
10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 6:00-7:30 pm
Where: San Clemente Center for the Arts 1531 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA
Cost: $10.00
Sign up: Call 949-369-6603 Space is limited–call to reserve a spot (more…)
Money Talks, BullHockey Walks (Weeding out the Not-so-Serious)
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Sep 28th, 2009 | Comments (4)
Drew and Maria in Studio
The following is an excerpt from a chapter in my forthcoming book titled The Brophy Principles - A Brutally Honest Business Guide for Creative Types:
We get crazy proposals almost daily, from people who want to use Drew’s art and fame to help sell their products. And that’s our job – to make things look cool.
I know that many a good deal can be a diamond in the rough, so I make it a point to entertain every idea, even the ones that sound downright stupid.
The problem, however, is that some of these proposals come from people who don’t have capital ($$). They want to hang out, talk to Drew for hours about their new venture, and pick his brain for ideas. Then they disappear. Drew would rather be painting.
BUT - THERE ARE WAYS TO WEED OUT THE SERIOUS FROM THE BULL-HOCKERS.
Brophy Principal: Giving Art to Worthy Causes while Protecting the Value
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Sep 17th, 2009 | Comments (3)
Photo by Aaron Bickford
It’s common for artists to be asked by various charities and not-for-charities (companies) to “DONATE” artwork or painting services for their cause.
Here are some benefits of giving art to charities:
1.) You feel good about giving to a charity that you love & you get to help them further the cause
2.) You may get media coverage (usually not)
3.) You may gain new art collectors (this rarely happens, but it can)
Don’t do it for the write off - ACCORDING TO THE I.R.S. (more…)
Exclusive Agreements with IGNORANT Galleries
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Sep 7th, 2009 | Comments (6)
Photo by Simon Howden
One of my artist friends was asked to put her art in a high profile gallery in Miami Beach, Florida.
Excited, I said “Great! This could be big time for your career!”
Then she told me why she had to turn down this great opportunity… (more…)
Stupid Advice from Smart People
Posted by Maria "Spunk" Brophyon Jul 5th, 2009 | Comments (19)
Stupid advice has brought down more artists than you can imagine. It can hinder you from achieving your goals.
"Ruby's Dilemma" painting by Tom Laura - it's Mature!
Some “well meaning” people will give advice, not knowing how bad it is.
And others, well, they are bitter and their advice comes from a place of anger.
If you are going to take advice from someone, take it from a person who has already achieved what you are striving for.
Don’t take advice from someone who has failed, because their advice may just get you to where they are: failure.
Here’s a short list of some of the worst advice we’ve received over the years: (more…)