FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Prices vary depending on the complexity of a commission or the number of students taking lessons during a given time block. If there are many participants, I try to make my services more affordable by providing a sliding scale. For example, I recently charged an after-school program a lower per capita rate for a workshop so that it fit their budget. Private, individual lessons, on the other hand, are more expensive so that I can cover the cost of my time. For commissions, I generally charge $30/hour or a flat rate based on an estimate of the time involved, the material costs and the customer's needs. For paint and sips, I charge $18/person for 11X14 acrylic paintings and $23/person for 16X20 paintings because of the increased material cost. If a painting party is being financed by a single person, I try to give a discount because I know how expensive it can get for one individual to pay multiple per capita fees. I also offer a 10% discount to families who want lessons for more than one child. Normally, group lessons are $10/child and $15 for adults, with most supplies included, but again, class size determines cost/person. Art birthday parties start at $65 for a 2-hour party. Prices are subject to change.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
In general, people contact me by phone or e-message, we arrange a meeting and discuss the customer's needs and ideas to get a direction. If the customer is interested in lessons or workshops, I show them photos of student work or samples of pieces created during workshops. If the customer would like me to create custom art work, we often sit down, sketch out some ideas or share visual references such as photos of the subject of the art work. I then make an estimate and we find a figure that is fair for both parties.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in Fine Art from Mercyhust College (now a university) in Erie, PA and an MS in General Education Studies with a concentration in art from the State University of New York at Albany. I also have a permanent certificate to teach Visual Arts in New York State public schools. In 1981, I studied humanities in El Escorial, Spain and took a smattering of journalism courses while working for a national tabloid in South Florida in 1985. Otherwise, I have more than 20 years of on-the-job training working for newspapers and an ad agency.