What kind of income are we talking here?
 

Is portrait painting a current job or do you get clients every other blue moon?

RE: What kind of income are we talking here?
 

I always have a waiting list of commissions since I began 3 years ago. I am not getting rich yet, but I continue to raise my prices and I do not have an agent. I know many people who are doing better than myself and I continue to study, read and train to improve my work. You can see my work and my price list on this site at Annette Ellingwood. Best of luck to you!

Steady work
 

My first portrait commission took longer than any other to get. I found that each portrait I produce that results in a happy customer leads to many more commissions. I have quite a backlog and have never had a period of time since I began that I was without somebody to paint. Instead of raising my prices further, I am finding ways to work faster without compromising the quality of my work. And yes, I have kept the kids in cookies by my painting.

Income as Portrait Artist?
 

Hello,

I am glad someone else started the topic of money. I know talking about income & art is probably in poor taste, but I really am curious and a little frustrated.

I started working as a portrait artist two years ago. I have had constant work since I began, but I have yet to make a sustainable income. In fact, I am fresh off of filing my taxes for the year and I have a very good idea of my revenues. After all of my expenses were added into the equation I only made $2,000 for a year of work. Although I am not putting in full-time hours, I am putting in part-time hours. (Not even Walmart pays that little!) I fully understand that building your own business takes time, and it is rare for a start-up cottage industry like portrait painting to make a significant profit for the first few years. I kind of went into all of this with the idea of improving my skills and being paid to do it. Which is my mind is a win-win scenario for now.

But looking into the future, I am curious about how long it has taken some of you to make a sustainable income (over $35,000?). I can't justify too many years of $2,000. I work too hard and portraits are such a custom piece of art that I get very little in return, other than a bigger portfolio and improved skills.

Okay, this is enough of my candid comments, I hope someone might venture a response?

Thank you,
Lara Cannon

You're right that it's not uncommon for small businesses of all types to declare a loss for the first few years.

Your work is terrific, Lara. In my opinion, it's time to raise your prices at least 50%. That, plus being able to work faster with more experience should help with the profit equation.

Reply
 

Hi Michele,

Thank you, I forget how easy it is to zoom around to our websites and see what we are charging! I really appreciate your vote of confidence. I actually have raised my prices to the point that the work flow is turning into a trickle, and I am waiting before I bump them up again.

But on a less personal note, I guess I am hinting around trying to figure out if there is any kind of pattern in this business? (Or perhaps it varies so widely it is impossible to predict.) I know that even laying a business foundation takes time--not to mention the artistic and professional development required to demand the higher prices. Then of course, it also takes time to find and connect with the clientele who can afford to pay the higher prices.

Which brings me back to my original question: Can an artist who is working hard both professionally and artistically expect to make a living as a portrait artist. Or is it only an elite few who ever make it beyond hobby type wages?

Can an artist make a living as a professional portrait artist? Yes and no, it all depends upon the artist.

It has been said many times that a person can do anything they want if they have confidence and believe in their own capabilities. I believe that this is true, never giving up is the key.

Hello Lara,

I have found relief and enormous satisfaction in letting go of the income tally. Frankly, it took years... I realize this is difficult when you have committed yourself to portraiture as a career and not seeing the numbers reflect a business model.

As artists, we are here to do special work. The rewards far exceed what numbers will often reflect. Always keep in mind the motivation that brings you to the studio, and let the rest fall. Your spirit, your talent will attract the right clients, and eventually, the right income. Have faith, check in with your 'source', and don't stress!

I know, easier said than done ;)

Best regards and much success,
Stanka

Hi Lara,

As a newbie to the forums here and as one who is making the crossover as graphic artist to studio artist, I also thank you for bringing this subject up. I've made an ok living for 30 years in the field of sign work and logo design. I've even been able to sharpen my painting skills for fine art while doing large portraits on the many billboards I've done and the occasional custom airbrush picture on hot rods, motorcycles and T-shirts. Until digital prints appeared it was a typical "middle class" income. Now, they have changed the nomenclature and the wage scale at the same time. Sign people today have fancier names but make about 8 dollars per hour less than we used to.

At 52, I'm quite ready to go full time in the field of oil painting portraits and other gallery quality work as a way to earn a living as well as fulfilling a dream. I, like everyone else here I'm sure, have started out giving away work and discounts in order to "get the word out".

However, I've noticed a couple of weird things since actually getting paid for doing some commissions. One is, of the several pieces I've done this last year for where I've given the "deal" ....about half of them have never made it into a frame and hung properly on the walls. The other half has brought me mostly people who are looking for a similar discount. Even though I schooled the first party to tell the second parties my "real" charges.....it seems that folks in certain social gatherings can't help themselves at bragging about the "great deal my friend gave" on the artwork. I think it's a yuppie thing. Ha ;)

It wasn't until I showed my work to curious acquaintances after an event during a school reunions last year that I got the empowerment needed to come all the way out with attracting more abundance with my service. Four people, who are very successful in their own rights, told me I have "GOT to do this." One individual commissioned me on the spot and said she wouldn't let me do the pencil piece for less than a thousand dollars. The most I had charged before this was $200-$300. I gotta tell ya.....that really inspired me. I not only felt the power I needed, but I actually pulled things off doing that portrait that surprised everyone, including myself.

I personally am chiming in with everyone else here who is making it and those who are trying to make it: just dig deeper and keep on doing what you are! Old saying: Do what you love......so that you love what you do.

Gear

Reply
 

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for all of the responses. I will keep at it!

Lara

No one here has mentioned something I have noticed and that is location.

I know the internet has changed that somewhat, but not completely since we have to be paid to travel to get good photo references and that ups the price more.

I personally could not survive on just portraits. I'd love to have more, but I truly feel it is where I am. Small, low-income town. My goal is to get the word out at the nearby San Antonio to improve things - but it takes time and money to do that - especially when I do not get there often.

Doesnt it make sense that say, Michele, who lives in Seattle would have more client options than myself in a small low-income town of 25,000 people? The five people in town who can afford it have already hired me. ;)

Yes, Kimberly, I wholeheartedly agree. As someone has already mentioned on this forum about who can afford the service of fine portraiture...... in that, when you look at figurative artists from anytime and any culture of the past, it has always been the elite among them that had the resources to pay for the time and talent that this kind of work commands. Portrait artists of the past, when Kings ruled the earth, were set up in the palace premises so that their services could be readily available at the requests (demands) of the royal government.

Back in my hometown of 45,000 in an agricultural area of central California, I doubt there would be 10 people that would justify paying more than $1000.00 for a portrait of any size. I, prersonally, think there it's mostly due to a lack of art education. They would just say, "Gawwwly.....he shore is a good artist.....but, man.....he wants a lotta money for his stuff." Then drive off to the coast with friends in a 60 thousand dollar Escalade and think nothing of spending 500 bucks on a fancy dinner.

Happy Hunting,

Gear

Geary, I think you hit on something important here: Chris Saper and Peggy Baumgaertner have talked about the phenomenon of "induced demand" in portraiture. Having more top quality portrait artists in an area doesn't mean less work for each (due to competition) but rather, more work for each artist. Prospective clients begin to see lots of good portraiture in the homes and art shows around them (and learn what the typical prices are) and that starts the idea growing. Once a half dozen of their neighbors have paid $5,000 plus for a gorgeous portrait, they start to think it might be a good idea too. And, Geary and Lara, since you'll both have a Seattle-area waiting list of a couple of years, maybe I'll get the commission!

Lara, I think the reason you haven't gotten a specific dollars-and-cents reply on this subject from some of the more established pros (apart from modesty about money) is that there aren't that many long term pros participating in the Forum. Most of the members are relatively new to portraiture or are new at being a pro (as I am, having done this for less than three years). Of the couple of hundred active participants here I can think of only a dozen or so who have been focused on doing commissioned portraits for more than five years. (Someone else correct me if I'm wrong in this.)

However, to get an idea about your question of annual income you can take a look at all the artists represented on the main SOG site. (Most of those folks don't post here because they're busy painting -- which is what I should be doing right now!) Then take a look at the average prices. Assuming, working full time at it, that many of them complete ten or twelve portraits a year. (This is a number I have heard from various places.) Then the math starts to add up.

I just did a little informal survey, on the SOG page that lists artists "By Location and Fees." I went down the left column and wrote down the price range of the first ten artists who show pricing. Because I went down the left column, I got artists in different states. The average price of those ten artists (halfway between their listed high and low price) is $7,500. (I have three commissions on my waiting list that are priced higher than that so I know the figure is not out of line, and I'm still very new at this.)

At ten paintings completed per year that's total sales of $75,000. Assuming $10,000 to $20,000 annual expenses (which might include a new camera, a trip to one of the national conferences, etc.) it's well above your original $35,000 question.

I don't know if any of my fundamental assumptions in making that calculation are inherently flawed, but it seems to make sense to me. Someone jump in here and let me know if I'm way off base.

I'm not saying that every artist on the SOG site has $75,000 in commissions a year, or even most of the artists. (I certainly don't. I don't paint full time and I have given lots of discounts in the past to get the ball rolling. However I have six full price commissions in my waiting list now, so things are happening.) There are many portrait artists who have sales of a lot more than $75,000 a year, too.

It would seem, in any case, with these assumptions, that the "potential" is really there for the rest of us.

Hope that helps!