Can anyone tell me what would be the normal or average amount you should pay for a sketch done by one of the artists near the Sacre Coeur? They’re the guys who usually carry a large sketch pad on a large clipboard.
I’m planning on going back next March and would like to get one btu the last time I was there, they were trying to charge 50 euros.
Hi Carolina,
... the way we would go about determining a fair market price for a sketch is this: (1) write in your notes about the sought for sketch- (a)the general subject, (b) the medium [i.e. pencil, wash, etc.] (c) the dimensions of the sketch and (d) the quality of the ground [i.e. newsprint, cardboard, illustration board, high rag content sketch paper, frame -if any-, etc.] (e)the artist [i.e. famous name or unknown or student, etc.]
Then (2) with notes in hand visit several local L.A. art galleries, looking for sketches that match your wants. (3) when you find a work which is a good approximation of your sought after art, write down the price asked by the local gallery. Then DEDUCT from that price the probable cost resulting from middle-man handling, taxes, duties, shipping costs and retail profit (say, at least 15% additional for profit). FINALLY, you should have a price you know is fair market price. When in Paris, your plan should be to obtain your art for a price a few points below what you now believe is a fair market value in Paris.
... Don't hesitate to ask L.A. art professionals (including art dealers) questions along the way. Their experience is valuable. Happy Shopping! P
Whatever they are charging is the "normal or average" price. You already know that last time (whenever that was) they were charging 50 euros. Obviously you didn't feel that the sketch was worth that amount. Unfortunately, even if someone here told you that they "should" be charging 50 euros, there's nothing you can do but not buy it if they charge 70. You just have to decide if the sketch is worth the price to YOU. No one else can tell you that.
Here's my question: Did all those artists go to Paris to make a name for themselves in the art world, and are they happy doing caricatures of school kids on spring break? On the one hand it's not their dream life, but on the other hand, they are living in Paris, making a living, and we are not. Maybe they struggle to pay the rent, or maybe they take winters off and go to Greece because they make so much.
I agree with Nancy-if you like the painting and feel you can judge the quality-you have to decide if it's worth your money. But don't insult them by asking half off their asking price because you think they're trying to rip you off. I wish now that I'd bought something but I was on too tight a budget.
Nancy makes a good point-only you can decide if you like a particular piece of art and want to spend your money on it. As an artist, I find pricing my wares the most difficult part of my job. I don't find many folks who are really willing to pay for the time and materials that I have invested into making my product. The most frequently asked question I get is--"How long did it take you to make that?" The implication is that there is some arbitrary hourly rate that I should receive. This rate doesn't seem to include my educational experiences and costs as it does in other careers.
The last gallery that included my art kept 50% of the "retail" price. I have found that this varies from gallery to gallery but generally they keep 40-60% to cover their costs and make their profit. Sometimes I am happy to pay this (they are making sales and I can concentrate on production), and yet sometimes I wonder.
Carolina: A sketch for 50 euros that will always remind you of Paris on a particular day of a particular year, when you wore a certain dress and had a really good croque monsieur for lunch, and the sun was shining all day and your hair looked great ! Of course, it's worth it. You'd probably pay that in a flash for a new handbag.
If money is tight, just ask them if that's their best price. If they are firm but you really want it, buy it. Don't end up with the shuddabots. It makes a great memory.
I guess I am not clear on what you are looking for. If you are seeking a custom sketch (of you, or of a scene done while you watch) then 50E is probably appropriate. If you are referring to an "artist" sitting and sketching with pre-made sketches for sale, use some caution. Spend some time walking around and carefully looking at what is offered. Many watercolors for instance are decent quality black line prints that the artist has colored in with watercolors, maybe OK for 10 to 15E, but not 50E. Even pencil sketches can be hard to determine if it is a true sketch or an "enhanced" print. By looking at many of places, we did notice the same exact (down to a distinct line) "sketch" or watercolor offered. The best was that we happened on the same guy about 5 times over a couple days, always holding the same partially done sketch in the same state of completion, offering his "original" artworks for high dollar. Maybe I'm a skeptic, but we did not buy his stuff. We collected prints in many places, but were happy paying low dollar for good quality prints or hand tinted watercolors, the only significant dollars spent was on a watercolor from a gallery in Bruges.
Wow - Caroline asked a simple question and has gotten a lot of different answers. I think she was just trying to determine what a normal price is so that she is an informed buyer. Yet the responses seem to imply she is trying to rip someone off or not to shortchange the artist. To me this is no different that figuring out what a taxi fare is from Point A to B. The taxi driver in many a case is going to give you an inflated price and it is in your best interest to know before hand what the going rate is.
I don't understand how you can compare an artist to a taxi driver who uses a meter to determine the fare. Maybe the square inches of canvas or sketch paper ?
Arnold, I think I got the idea of what Carolina wanted from her comment that the artists were "trying to charge 50 euros". That implies that she thought that was too much. If that was an unacceptable price the last time, I suspect she'll find it at least as unacceptable now (it's unlikely to have gone lower, after all). I stand by my original answer: the "normal or average" price is whatever they are charging. If she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to buy it.
If you want a sketch from Sacre Coeur, then buy one that you like and is within your budget. I can't imagine (since I haven't been there) that all the sketches by all the artists are 50 euros. But my guess is that there are sketches that cost more and sketches that cost less. Paul illustrates really well about how to select a purchase by becoming an informed buyer.
Hey Carolina, maybe you can answer some of these questions and then folks can help you better. I was of the opinion you wanted a sketch done of YOU. Now I am not so sure. Were you looking for a picture of Paris? What would you pay for something similar in the States?
Carolina,
My niece got her portrait done by the pompidou museum and paid 40 euros for her charcoal sketch. She got to haggle a little and went artist to artist. Most charged 30 euros but their work wasn't as nice as this guy.
It took about 2 hours (give or take) and i must say, he did an excellent job!
He didn't provide a tube or something to carry it, and we never found an art store, so you may want to bring an art tube or something sturdy to protect your work.
Thank you all, I should have included more information.
I think Paul hit the nail, I just wanted to know what I should expect to pay for a sketch so I could have a general idea. I’m not familiar with art purchases or what it takes to create something like that, so I figured 50 euro was a bit much.
The sketches I was asking about are one color (grey) of people’s faces. They were done in about 15 minutes on plain drafting type paper about the size of 11” x 17” and mostly feature your face, hair and neck.
My original experience in 2007:
We had just turned the corner of the Sacre Coeur when we were approached by various men with large sketch boards all asking us if we would like to be drawn. We were able to say no to various men but there was a set of 3 men who were very charming and convinced us to stop for a few minutes. I from the start tried asking for the price but they would either change the conversation or would say not to worry. About 10-15 minutes later each one had a sketch, one of my husband, one of my 15 year old daughter, and one of me. The sketch of my daughter was very beautiful but looked nothing like her, the one of me was nice but a little odd, but my husband’s sketch was different, it was really well done. When it was time to pay, one of the men flipped the sketch pad over an on the back of the clipboard they had various prices crossed out that started at 150 euro going down to the final price 75 euro on the bottom. I told them I felt bad that I had wasted their time but I could not pay 75 for each sketch. We went back and forth and finally settled on 50 Euros, I told them I would buy the one sketch of my husband since it was truly amazing. One of the men turned to the “maestro” as they called him and once the maestro nodded his head they gave us all 3 sketched for the 50 Euros. The experience was nice because all 3 men were really charming and they talked to us all throughout the sketching but in reality only one sketch was good.
Ooops, sorry everyone, I meant to say that Arnold is the one who hit the nail, I think he got closer to understanding where I was coming from.
Michelle- That's great information, thank you, it gives me examples and an idea.
