What determines the true value of your art? Many artists believe they need to attain a certain level of skill or a certain number of exhibitions before their art becomes ‘valuable’. Others think that the price tag defines the value of an artwork. None of that is correct. There are many more factors that affect art value. In this post, we talk about what makes your art truly valuable – regardless of any ‘numbers’.
‘Music makes the ppl…‘ from my Headshots Collection.
Back in the era of da Vinci, Caravaggio, or Monet, the question of what determines the value of art was easy to answer. It was the materials used, the dimensions of the artwork, and the prominence of the artist.
Some of these factors still affect the value of art, but nowadays there are many more components that play a role in determining the market value of an artwork.
To just name one example, you’ve surely heard of NFT art selling for thousands and even millions of dollars.
Is it the materials used? No, because NFTs are digital art. Is it the dimensions of the artwork? No, because as it is digital, you can scale it up and down as you like. Is the prominence of the artist? That’s not the case either, because the artists selling their work online these days are not or haven’t been particularly famous before reaching million-dollar sales.
Related: 9 Best Software To Create NFT Art
So what is it that determines the true value of your art nowadays?
In short, one could say that art is valuable if it is inspirational, if its aesthetic beauty appeals to people, and if it conveys a message that lets people connect to the artwork emotionally.
Before we delve deeper into what determines the true value of your art, let’s have a look at the ‘conventional’ factors that affect art value.
What affects art value in general?
Some factors that affect the monetary value of art in the conventional sense are the artist’s career, their exhibition and sales history, and the size of the artwork. Other things that have an effect are the artist’s experience and reputation.
High-selling artists tend to get a lot of press coverage, they are talked about in the art world, and get exhibitions with important galleries.
Recognizability plays a role, too. One could also speak of branding. Art collectors seem to like consistency. Generally speaking, they are more likely to buy artworks that are representative of the style the artist is most acclaimed for.
However, when it comes to contemporary art, these factors have become secondary. Especially the size of an artwork and the materials used have become obsolete in determining the value of art because a lot of art is digital nowadays.
Related: Can Fine Art Be Digital? [Addressing The Digital Art Debate]
The current art market is interested in what’s hot and trending. Art lovers discover their favorite artists themselves on the internet, they follow them on social media and other sites, and reach out to the artists directly to purchase some of their pieces.
That’s why it is more important than ever for artists to have their own website in order to be found on the web. If you haven’t built your artist website yet, then it’s about time to do so now!
Two of the best and most easy-to-use website builders for artists are Squarespace and Wix. The sites have many visually appealing templates that allow you to create a beautiful portfolio and web shop. You don’t need any techy skills. All you need to do is fill the template with your content and you are good to go!
For a greater choice of options to build a website fast and easy, check out the best website builders for artists.
I built my entire website on WordPress using the OceanWP theme and the Elementor page builder. It is not as hard as you might think. I did it all on my own, without any coding skills. And if I can do it, you can do it, too! In this post I am showing you Here I’m showing you how to make an artist website with WordPress in 5 easy steps. Not yet convinced that you need a website? Here are 10 reasons why you should make a website for your art.
Not to forget to mention: one thing that does affect the value of contemporary digital art and photography is the number of editions.
This factor doesn’t affect the market value of original paintings, but in every area where reproductions are sold, the number of editions plays a part.
Generally speaking, high demand and a shortage of supply result in high prices. That means the fewer editions you offer of an artwork, the more expensive the price.
Prints that are not signed and not numbered generally sell at the lowest prices. To create more value for your customers, you can offer prints that are signed and/or numbered.
The most expensive prints are unique custom prints, of which you would sell one copy only. This can be a large-format giclée print that you hand-embellish and that’s only available once. A good place to have such prints done is Giclée Today.
Who gets to determine the value of art?
In the general run of things, art dealers, gallery owners, curators, and art columnists get to determine the value of art.
Art columnists write about an artist in the press and analyze their artwork. How much has been written about an artist greatly determines the market value of their artwork.
The opinions of curators and art dealers affect the market price, too. What are collectors and other artists saying about an artwork? The more popular and recognized an artwork is, the more expensive it becomes.
Last but not least, art value is also determined by the galleries that represent an artist and the exposure they get through exhibitions and art shows.
What is the value of art in society?
Another important factor that determines the true value of art is societal meaning. Art is a means of self-expression for the artist. It is how the artist communicates with the world. Art can pass on feelings, values, ideas, and concepts.
Every work of art shares a story, an emotion, and includes elements of the artist’s personality. That is the reason why art can evoke emotions in the viewer and contribute an understanding of the society to which the artist belongs. Art is also a testimonial to our history; artwork impacts history and history influences art.
Related: 9 Reasons Why We Need Art In Our Lives (Importance & Influence Of Art)
What determines the true value of your art?
The true value of your art cannot be determined by numbers like gallery exposure, press coverage, and the materials you used. What determines the true value of your art is its creativity and uniqueness and how it reflects your personality.
This so-called intrinsic value of art is the subjective or emotional value of your art. The viewers themselves get to determine the true value of your art to them. They decide how the artwork makes them feel, what sensations it evokes, and what story it tells to them.
In a nutshell, here is what determines the true value of your art and what does not!
What determines the true value of your art and what does not
The true value of your art is not about money.
Money is the last thing you should think about when making art. I dare to say that all art has the potential to make money, but it should never be your main motivation. If you plan on starting an art business, you eventually need to think about how much to charge for your work. But a price tag never determines the true value of your art.
The true value of your art is not about your skill level.
If art was about skill level, would that mean a beginner’s doesn’t have any value, or less value than the work of an experienced artist? Surely not. Art is valuable at all levels – and remember: even the greatest masters once started out as beginners. What is much more important than your current level of skill is your creativity, innovation, and the message you want to convey through your art. If your art is relatable to the viewer, people will find intrinsic value in your works.
The true value of your art is not about the equipment or material used.
It doesn’t matter whether you are using a high-end 32-inch display tablet and Photoshop or an entry-level drawing tablet and Krita to create art. Of course, a large museum-quality giclée print is more expensive than a photographic poster print. But at the end of the day, the materials you use don’t give your art more or less true value.
The true value of your art does not come from the exposure you get.
These days it is getting harder and harder to reach an audience online and in the ‘real world’. The sheer amount of images being shared every minute and restrictive algorithms on social media platforms make it more and more difficult to create exposure for your art. I’m always surprised when I discover new artists that only have a little following but create absolutely amazing artwork!
There are also many artists who don’t upload their art to social media anymore but prefer to use art sharing sites or their own little space on the web. All in all, you don’t need to worry too much about the ‘numbers’ because exposure doesn’t determine the true value of your art!
The true value of your art comes from the stories, memories, and experiences that it expresses.
Art is a language. It is a form of expression for the artist. Every artist tells a story through their work and weaves their experiences into it. When you learn about the meaning behind a piece of art, it takes on a new quality to the viewer. To make it easier for your audience to connect with your art, you can speak about your creative process and the meaning behind your artwork. The things that make your story unique and relatable are what creates the true value of your art.
- Learn more about the stories behind my art:
The true value of your art comes from how it reflects your personality and identity as an artist.
Over the centuries, there have been countless art movements and styles. These styles offered the artists an opportunity to explore the social and cultural conventions at that particular point in time, or rebel against them (as it was for example the case with lowbrow art), but also to learn something about themselves as artists.
Art cannot be detached from society. It is marked by the culture the artist lives in, and by the artist’s own personality and identity. As such, it also gives a window into what life looked like during the time the piece was created.
The true value of your art comes from making the viewer feel something.
Art can evoke emotions in the viewer. It can make you think differently and change your mind. Some people see the purpose of art in creating a reaction in the viewer – positive or negative. They say if art makes the viewer feel something, it has fulfilled its purpose.
So when you are figuring out what determines the true value of your art, also think about the following: how can your art make people feel something? How can it make someone change their way of thinking? How can it bring people together?
∗∗∗
As you can see, there are many factors that determine the true value of your art.
It’s easy to look at the numbers and be fooled into thinking that this defines the value of an artwork. But in reality, things are much more complex. You’ll have to look beyond the numbers and consider the artist’s intention, the meaning of the artwork, and the social and cultural context.
When you are trying to determine the true value of your art, start with the intrinsic factors relating to your work. What is the story behind your art? What did you intend to express through an artwork? How does it make the viewer feel? How do you yourself feel about the work?
After that, you can include the materials used and your skill level to determine the fair market value of an artwork.
One thing you should never do is think that your art is worthless, because you are just starting out, you are not a published artist, you don’t have any gallery representation, … fill in the blank.
If you are struggling with your worth as an artist and the value of your art, then check out my 8 tips on how to build creative confidence.
What determines the real value of art in your opinion? Please leave questions and comments below. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
I love the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great posts.
Thanks for dropping a comment, Stensland!