Tiny Artist first fair!

Good morning! I'm doing my first art fair next weekend and would love to get my bearings beforehand! As an artist, I really like small paintings. All of my paintings are until 5x7inches, with my newer paintings at 4x6. I've made true to scale, color, and quality prints of 4x6 paintings but I worry that they are so small that people won't want to purchase them for $16 each. (also, is $16 a weird price? I love this number) I put them in a 5x7 frame/mat and plastic wrap so you have an idea of what they would look like on your wall.

I just love small scale paintings, it's cute and delightful to me. I guess I'm getting anxious before the fair even starts. I should probably just wait and see! I have enough time that I could probably order larger prints, but my originals are 4x6 inches anyways!

Should I just focus on having a lot of inventory?

Have you seen artists with smaller paintings/work?

Here's a link to my instagram! These are more sketches though, not finished product. For that I'd look at my Etsy. Here's a specific example of the product I'm referencing.

Thank you guys for your feedback!

Replies

Heike Strobel May 25, 2018 at 11:46am

Hello Lydia,

I was on your Etsy site and I like your little paintings a lot.

I am just wondering if $16 for a print is'nt too much.

I sell a lot of double matted 5x7 ORIGINALS for $10.

The double mats are black and white and I got them long time ago at "clearbags.com" for less than a $ each.

I don't know where you will sell your work, I just hope for you that people have more money there than here in the South-West.

Have a great show!
DORI SMITH May 23, 2018 at 7:56pm

I have not seen many artists with only small work. I’m worried that if you are charging 16 dollars, you won’t sell enough to cover costs and make a profit. If you sold 50 of them, which to me is a lot of individuals who want to purchase your work on one weekend... 800 bucks... covering “all” costs... I just don’t see a profit even if the best case scenario plays out.

I guess you will know a lot more after a few shows. Maybe it will work out. That’s the biz we are in...
- Lydia House > DORI SMITH May 24, 2018 at 9:54am
  
  Hello! Those are for prints. My big concern is that my originals are too small to sell in general. I sold one at the last art fair. I priced originals at $68 for labor and materials. I think I'll just try to market myself as niche paintings for bathrooms and kids bedrooms.
Larry Berman May 23, 2018 at 2:23pm

Can't tell if your pricing is good without knowing how much an original at the same size sells for. But in general, especially when selling smaller reproductions, pricing with a discount for multiples works very well because people usually need more than one (think three) to fill a space.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
- Lydia House > Larry Berman May 24, 2018 at 9:56am
  
  I want to try 1 print for $15, 2 for $25, 3 for $35 and see if that works! Or has your experience been to limit the deals? Also - originals go for $68.
  - Larry Berman > Lydia House May 24, 2018 at 9:58am
    
    Then just price them $15 and $10 for each additional.
    
    Larry Berman
    - Lydia House > Larry Berman May 24, 2018 at 9:59am
      
      Brilliant! thank you so much for your help Larry! :)

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