Tips on Presentation and Pricing your Artwork

Photographing Your Work

Before framing the work, take well-lit, high quality photos of your artwork for the submission and selection process.  The photos of accepted works will be displayed in the online catalogue on the Warranwood Art Show website so ensure the images are clear and focused and correctly cropped, WITHOUT distracting backgrounds. 

For three-dimensional entries, a neutral, non-distracting background is essential and more than one image per entry is suggested to enhance viewing.

Framing Requirements and Presentation

Impress the judge by presenting your work in the best possible, professional manner.  Well-chosen framing and presentation can enhance an artwork and appeal to purchasers and conversely, poor presentation will make the greatest painting look unappealing.

Artwork should stand out with the framing and matting choices simply enhancing the image.  Chose a frame size that is appropriate, suits in colour and style and does not overpower the artwork.  Likewise, the matting serves to focus the view on the image so don’t use overbright or coloured mats that draw the eye away from the heart of the picture.  Mat size should be appropriate for the size of the picture.  Narrow borders can make a larger picture look unbalanced.

If you recycle your frames, ensure that the frame and mat are unmarked, the corner joins are secure and the glass is spotlessly clean, inside and out.  

Hanging should be secure with D-rings and wire or framing cord and positioned at least 10cm from the top of the frame at the apex, so that the wire and hook are not visible above the top of the frame.   This includes canvases without framing.

Consider using a professional picture framer who will be able to advise you and provide options to bring out the very best in your artwork.

Note:  unsuitably framed work and wet work will NOT be accepted on delivery and all fees will be forfeited.

Artwork must be signed on the front by the artist or appropriately labelled in the case of three-dimensional works. 

See further information about photographing and presentation at Frequently Asked Questions on Gallery 247.

Pricing Your Artwork

Artists spend much more than the cost of paints and materials when they produce a piece of art.  It is an individual creative process, where time, effort, artistic flair and artist’s reputation have an enormous influence on the selling price of the artwork. There are other costs to consider when determining the selling price at any art show and we recommend that artists consider the cost of materials, time to create and the cost of selling, when setting a price for artwork.

• Submission and Acceptance fees, say $15 per piece
• Commission, 25% on sales
• Cost to deliver and collect the work

An example:

$500.00   Advertised selling price
$125.00   Less sales commission 25%
$375.00
    15.00   Less entry fees
$350.00   Amount remitted to artist on sale of artwork

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