Transparency and honesty matter to me. I want you to know how I decide on prices for my artwork.

For original paintings, I use a straightforward formula. I assign myself an hourly wage for the time I put into a painting and add the cost of materials.

Currently, my pre-tax hourly wage for calculations is $20.

Here is an example for a painting that took 10 hours to create and was painted on hardboard that I had prepped:

($20 x 10 hours) + $15 (materials: 3 layers of gesso, hardboard, and acrylic paint) = $215

The prices of reproduction work such as prints, greeting cards, and stickers are based on common current market values for these items. I aim to offer fair, accessible pricing for reproductions.

Independent art studios like mine are small businesses. We pay a higher tax rate than employees of a company because we cover all of our own Social Security payments and business taxes/fees. The hourly wage I use accounts for this higher tax rate and will change with time based on inflation and the success of Golden Splash Studio. I am at an early stage in my career as a professional artist. If you see promise in my work, now is an excellent time to purchase original paintings. You can count on continued transparency and a reasonable pricing model as my business grows.

How do you determine prices for your artwork?