I am attempting a life size reproduction of a Taoist cave fresco (china) and in researching colors, came across a genuine Chinese fresco up for auction, from the twelth century. The dealer emailed that it is expected to sell in the $25,000 to $45,000 range, and about five auction sessions ago, a boddhavista head, fragmented sold for $90,000. All in US$

So should I ask $10,000 for my piece:+

the attachment is the auction item

Picture did't work

here's the actual link, but it will probably expire soon

http://www.randelgallery.com/selections/fresco.htm

10K sounds like a nice and proper number, however pricing your work is relative to your own price history...

<<however pricing your work is relative to your own price history... >>

Uh oh, a case of beer and a bag of potato chips is my normal price. Will have to switch to plan "B" now!

><<however pricing your work is relative to your
>own price history... >>
>
>
>Uh oh, a case of beer and a bag of potato chips
>is my normal price. Will have to switch to plan
>"B" now!

Gary! You have a keg and sack of ripe idaho potatoes (not some processed stuff) coming! Do we have a deal?

Seriously, take the cost of materials and labor (mixing plaster, etc. based on a full rate) and triple it. Take the time to develop the cartoon, studies, prepwork and apply your usual rate to it then double that. Add those two numbers and an additional 20% (profit).
You got your base cost should be around $3-$4 big ones (USD). As far as I was told retail/wholesale does not apply to the artwork so the cost of the piece in the gallery - granted they take 30% (if you are a "big" guy) to 70% (if you are desperate) - I've heard of one gallery in Manhattan that are as greedy as to take 80% conducting 6-7 digit price tags for some of their artists.
Anyway after you add "gallery commission" you will be around 6-9K (pick a number) regardless selling through the gallery or from the studio.

"Commercial interruption" -
On a side line it all looks exciting in a theory but in reality we should keep our "chips comin'"
So how about my offer?

PS. It is not related directly, but i would appreciate your take on this
http://www.truefresco.com/dcforum/DCForumID61/2.html

Excellent advice as usual Ilia. A chinese repro fresco the size and detail in question I would not sell for less than $300-$400 ($US) and would be asking the full retail price $800 - $900. The only roadblock I have now is that I feel I have about 100 finished pieces, ranging in size and price range before I begin 'marketing' (I have some good ideas on this for Canada and Mexico). So for two galleries or 'shows', I really need 200 pieces. I am trying to recruit a friend to help in fresco reproductions and teaching (he has experience in both) but he feels that I (we) should make a only few pieces and see how they sell. I am saying that this brands you as an amateur (which I guess I really am!) and is not good retailing. I use the example if you go to a restaurant that makes the best, lets say hamburger, in town - people still want a menu and choice, you can't just have one item on the menu - even if it really is the best.

I know my situation is much different than yours, treating fresco as a fine craft more than a fine art, but what is your two rubles worth? (ps my friend is eastern european backgound, so you know the mindset).

>I have
>about 100 finished pieces, ranging in size and
>price range before I begin 'marketing' (I have
>some good ideas on this for Canada and Mexico).
>So for two galleries or 'shows', I really need
>200 pieces.

I knew you were holding out on us! Where are the pics?
Can we see them? The last one you posted about a year ago was a real treat!

on a side note - did you check a great place to gather fresco images at

http://www.truefresco.Net/home.shtml

we need some content there....

>I am trying to recruit a friend to
>help in fresco reproductions and teaching (he
>has experience in both) but he feels that I (we)
>should make a only few pieces and see how they
>sell.

...about recruitment... did you see new Discover Fresco Workshop for Children Outreach program at:
http://truefresco.com/children

we need to make this program international.
It is a great tool for a fresco artist to get seen by the community and "stand out from the crowd"

A mistype - I think I need at least 100 gallery saleable pieces to begin an effective marketing plan. My friend, predictably wants everything to be a roaring success then he might come aboard, maybe, and start to learn to paint again, maybe, if no one makes fun of him. Its tough on your own everyday (painting wise that is).

Heres a study I finished yesterday. I call it a study because it is a practice to do another. I ran out of time on this one. It is a detail of Merit, from Tiepolo's "Allegory of Merit, Accompanied by Nobility and Virtue" original painted 1757/58. My copy is appr 20" by 20" - about one third the proper scale.

Just a couple cans and a bag of Cheetos to own this one, but I'm getting there.

I can sense Ilia just itching to finish the obvious details on this one. I might just go in with the final details using potassium silicate fresco technique. It helps to spritz the dry fresco down with pure water before using the silicates, it breaks the surface tension and helps them suck in deep.

LAST EDITED ON 01-Sep-02 AT 11:31 PM (PST)
 
Finally!

We have a real discussion forming! Thank you, Gary, for initiating the beginning of the major function of our forum - interaction between fresco artists and discussing our own work and practices!

>>I can sense Ilia just itching to finish the obvious >>details on this one.

I like the face treatment - eyes and the bridge of the nose, i believe at this (working on the face) time you had plenty of painting time in plaster and was painting without concern for the time.
It would be helpful if you could post your cartoon for me to point out a few things/tips on how not to run out of time. Saving/organizing your time is in a very big part in the cartoon.

I suppose that it is a "wet" picture (taken before the fresco has gone through the colorchange)?
I am posting a pic as it should look in a "wet" state (at the end of this message).

You are right, I am "itching" but mostly for adding contrast to the picture. I have a study after the Masters that is similar in color so we can discuss a few things about the way of getting the fresco "into contrast". I can post a pic here and we can go through the details? - we should also doublepost in "Fresco Workshop Private Area" then.

>>I might just go in with the
>>final details using potassium silicate fresco >>technique. It helps to spritz the dry fresco down >>with pure water before using the silicates, it >>breaks the surface tension and helps them suck in >>deep

I would love to see the results - it should be the way-to-go for the secco. In fact it might be the "perfect" and needed replacement for the secco.

Thanks again!

China's the oldest age-old wall paintings is in the Longmen Grottoes.

I like paint about folk art such as batik paiting
http://www.gzlpw.com