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Sylvia Evans

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Why oh why are artists...amateurs like me considered a soft touch, fair game or possibly stupid. A few   times this year I have had stuff in exhibitions...nothing  prestigious but local charities for fund raising .   I have sold and am happy to donate  a percentage to the organisation.   But paying the artist is low on the organisers list of things to do.   Not a great deal of money but it's mine. My rant for the morning....
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Gillian Cooke

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I have. Two paintings in an Open Exhibition at The Pier Arts Centre here in Stromness Orkney ( quite a prestigious Gallery) and their commission is 33.3% if you sell! It’s hard enough to price worth without have to factor in commission!!

Sylvia Evans

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Pricing work is a pain I quite agree Gillian,  plus taking into account the commission.   At least with a "proper" gallery you should have no problem actually being paid.  My rant was about non payment..though I have done some size five foot stamping and at least they have now made contact.  Will have to check actual payment.   I honestly think that organisations in this case a church , don't realise the time ,the effort and the cost of materials.  Hence my comment a Soft Touch.   
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Peter Smith

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Our art group take 10% of the sale price in our exhibition. I'm in the happy position of being the one who doles out the money so in the unlikely case of one of my pictures selling I'm in clover (!) but I always make sure our artists get paid as soon as possible, often on the same day. I suppose we're in a better position without a third party involved. I wouldn't support any organisation that is slow to pay, it's indefensible.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Lots of people see amateur artist as a different beast to professionals, I always take some finished paintings along when I’m running a workshop to use a demonstration but if anyone wants to buy one that’s fine . A couple of years ago I had some paintings that were mounted professionally but not in a frame all wrapped in cellophane to protect etc ,a lady who was attending kept picking up one of the paintings and admiring it . Towards the end she asked if the paintings were for sale , I ask which one and she pointed it out , I told her I wanted £45 for it and she looked quite blank at me and said but your a amateur artist surely £25 would be enough for your paintings. I tried to explain that it cost for the materials and the mounting etc and if I charge time as well it would cost a lot more. Unfortunately she could not see why I felt the need to charge so much as a amateur, I explained that the painting wasn’t not now  for sale and particularly to her she asked what I would do with it , my in polite answer was F - -xx bin it madam. 

Tessa Gwynne

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Oh Dixie, that would make me so mad! I love your answer, but still so annoying. I hope she went away and really thought about it! If people ask me how we work out prices, I have been known to ask ‘what would you do for £10 an hour?’ But that needs to go up now because the minimum wage has increased. 🤣 Grrrr 
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Peter Smith

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Good for you Paul!! Sylvia, I've got size 12 feet, if you want help with the stamping just let me know.................. Peter

Sylvia Evans

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Peter I did stamp and did get paid, Dixie that's exactly what I mean, people really don't have a clue.  Also I don't think they realise that comments like jerks are actually insulting. Yes Tessa the minimum wage is going up. 

Ellen Mooney

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Paul, that is so insulting. I even think that your original price of £45 was generous. 
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Peter Smith

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This might make you smile; we've been open today and busy with people but no one buying. This afternoon a chap with two children spent a long time in the exhibition and then came over to ask if we took cards. No, sorry, but there's a cash machine at the end of the arcade. Off he went to the machine and we anticipated selling a picture at last. When he came back he had one £10 note and bought a ceramic Christmas tree for £1.50! That's 15p towards group funds..............
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Now, you mustn't let this impact of sudden wealth go to your heads - get a grip.   Who the Hell uses a card to spend £1.50, anyway .... I think I might have found a use for that ceramic Christmas tree, which would easily have been worth your 15p profit...
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Peter Smith

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You do wonder don't you - Barclaycard would have charged more than that for the transaction. As it's costing me £4.50 a day just to park it would be nice to sell something a little more expensive! 
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