Professional Practices Committee

Mission Statement

Research and educate members in matters of professional practices.

Professional practices in the Visual Arts

The purpose of this committee will be to prepare a comprehensive list of issues that artists need to address to function as professionals. Later, after we identify these issues, we will try to formulate documents that will guide artists to practice professionally. A small steering committees have been formed, but the meetings are open to all FMVA members. Meetings will be announced via email. If you cannot attend but have items you think need to be addressed, please send them to the Board of Directors (info@fmva.us). I believe that our status in the community will give us enough clout to make this work effectively.
Please Participate — Tim Ray

What is a Professional Artist?

No definition at present, See AIGA

Sales Tax Number.

Required

Income Tax Practices

• Very complex. Everchanging. See your accountant. However, some points to consider.
• Keep Records as a small business. Software suggestions.
• Further “Bullet Points” to be added by Janet Flom.
• Need for workshop or consultant suggested.
• Artist may deduct only cost of materials when donating work to a non-profit. Is this good or bad? Before you answer, consider how you record inventory. (Carl Oltvedt)

Sales, Pricing Etc.

Prices should be consistent from the buyer’s viewpoint. Ie. If you sell a work from your studio, it should be the same price as if you sell it from a gallery.

Realize that your prices establish part of the average price in Fargo Moorhead. If you sell a nice drawing of a duck for $5, it lowers the price for all duck art. Even if you are a rich retired faculty member, reasonable pricing is needed to keep prices at a level that can support working artists.

Pricing Methods.

1. time + materials
2. open market. What someone not compelled to buy will give you when you are not compelled to sell. Trial and error.
3. Similar work by an artist at a similar stage of development.

Warranties. Expressed implied.

Much discussion. If you say this is an oil painting on canvas, that is what it should be. (Honesty in advertising) May also apply to enhanced resumes.
Some agreement that being overly generous with clients leads to improving artist’s reputation.

Copyright

A similar problem to taxes.

It is best to refer to legal assistance. See Part IV Rights in AIGA. See Crawford.

Prints vs. Reproductions

Which is which? This section is necessary for clients to understand better what they are buying when terms such as “limited edition” and “original” are tossed around.

“What is an Original Print?” by Bill Wheeler
http://www.studio1617.com/prints.htm
Mr. Wheeler explains the difference between original and reproduction and defines the four main print categories of relief, intaglio, planography and stencil, plus mixed media prints and photomechanical processes.