You can have 50,000 followers and make almost no money. You can have 3,000 followers and make a full-time income. The difference isn't the number. It's whether people know exactly what you make, why it matters, and feel connected enough to you that buying from you feels obvious.
Brand scaling isn't about doing more. It's about being clearer. The artists who scale fastest are the ones who get ruthlessly specific about what they stand for, what they make, and who it's for. Then they repeat it until it sticks.
The problem
YOU'RE NOT
BROKE. YOU'RE
MISPRICED.
BROKE. YOU'RE
MISPRICED.
Most artists at your stage have the work. They have the audience. What they don't have is a clear system for turning that into predictable income. This pillar fixes that.
The artists who go full-time aren't always the most talented they're the ones who understand that their income has layers. Prints fund the lifestyle. Originals build the brand. Commissions provide reliable income on demand. Murals create the big cheques that buy real freedom.
Each revenue stream serves a different function. The mistake most artists make is treating all of them the same underpricing everything, selling reactively, and burning out trying to make volume work when one well-priced mural pays what 200 prints would.
Here's how to build the stack correctly.
Each revenue stream serves a different function. The mistake most artists make is treating all of them the same underpricing everything, selling reactively, and burning out trying to make volume work when one well-priced mural pays what 200 prints would.
Here's how to build the stack correctly.
Your income ladder
Prints
$30 – $200
Original Paintings
$300 – $5,000+
Commissions
$400 – $6,000+
Murals
$1,500 – $30,000+
The goal isn't to maximise every stream at once. Start by making one stream reliable. Then layer the next. Most full-time artists built their income over 12–18 months by locking in one revenue source at a time.
01 Revenue Stream
PRINTS &
REPRODUCTIONS
REPRODUCTIONS
The engine of passive income. Prints let your art earn while you sleep but only if you set them up correctly from day one.
WHY PRINTS FIRST
Prints are your lowest-friction entry point for buyers. Someone who loves your work but can't afford an original will buy a print. That transaction builds the relationship, gets your art on their wall, and turns them into someone who might buy an original in two years. Prints are not a lesser product they're a gateway.
The trap most artists fall into: selling prints so cheap they feel like giving work away, then resenting it. Prints need to be priced to feel like a quality product, not a consolation prize.
The trap most artists fall into: selling prints so cheap they feel like giving work away, then resenting it. Prints need to be priced to feel like a quality product, not a consolation prize.
Suggested price ranges prints
A4 / Small
$30–60
Entry point. Easy impulse buy.
A3 / Medium
$60–100
Sweet spot for most buyers.
A2 / Large
$100–160
Statement piece pricing.
A1 / XL
$160–220
Limited runs. Premium feel.
Pricing Formula Prints
Base price = Print cost × 4–6x markup
e.g. $12 print cost → sell at $50–$72
Limited edition bump = Base price × 1.3–1.5x
e.g. edition of 50 → add 30–50% to base price
e.g. $12 print cost → sell at $50–$72
Limited edition bump = Base price × 1.3–1.5x
e.g. edition of 50 → add 30–50% to base price
Limited editions change the psychology completely. "Open edition print for $40" feels like merch. "Edition of 30, signed and numbered, $75" feels like collecting. Same print. Different relationship with scarcity. Use editions to justify price and create urgency.
Where to sell prints
Getting started in order
01
Pick 3–5 of your strongest images
Don't launch with 40 prints. Start with your best work and see what sells. You can always expand.
02
Set up print-on-demand first
POD means no upfront cost, no storage, no shipping headaches. Use Mitch Revs POD for gallery-quality output with built-in margins.
03
Create scarcity where you can
Run a limited signed edition of your top seller alongside your open edition. Priced higher. Announced as limited. Sold out before next launch.
04
Announce to email list before Instagram
Your email subscribers get first access. This rewards loyalty, creates urgency, and trains people to stay on your list for early access.
02 Revenue Stream
ORIGINAL
PAINTINGS
PAINTINGS
Where your brand equity becomes real money. Original sales are the signal that separates artists from full-time artists.
PRICING ORIGINALS
$300 $5,000+
The hardest part isn't making the work. It's charging what it's worth.
Most artists underprice originals because they're pricing based on how long it took not what it delivers. A buyer isn't buying hours of labour. They're buying the only version of something that will ever exist. They're buying what the work does to a room. They're buying a piece of you.
That said, you do need a logical framework behind your pricing. Arbitrary high prices without brand to back them up won't sell. Here's how to get to a number you can defend and that buyers will accept.
That said, you do need a logical framework behind your pricing. Arbitrary high prices without brand to back them up won't sell. Here's how to get to a number you can defend and that buyers will accept.
Price by size baseline formula
Small (up to 30×30cm)
$300–600
Accessible entry. High sell-through.
Medium (30–60cm)
$600–1,500
Core of most artists' sales.
Large (60–100cm)
$1,500–3,000
Statement pieces. Slower to sell.
XL (100cm+)
$3,000–7,000+
Collectors. Corporate buyers.
The Size Formula (starting point)
Price = (Height + Width in cm) × your rate per cm
Start at $3–5/cm as an emerging artist. Raise as you grow.
Example: 60×80cm canvas
(60 + 80) × $4 = $560 base price
Add material costs on top. Round to a clean number.
Start at $3–5/cm as an emerging artist. Raise as you grow.
Example: 60×80cm canvas
(60 + 80) × $4 = $560 base price
Add material costs on top. Round to a clean number.
Raise prices incrementally, never drop them. Once you establish a price point, going lower signals desperation. Instead, create different tiers small works for accessibility, large works for ambition. Your price per cm rate should increase as your audience grows. A price increase is also content: "prices going up at the end of the month."
Price Anchoring
Always show your most expensive work first. Everything else feels more accessible next to it. Never lead with your cheapest piece.
Consistency Signal
Consistent pricing across your body of work signals professionalism. Buyers notice when similar-sized pieces are wildly different in price.
Scarcity & Urgency
"This is the only one" is the most powerful phrase in original art sales. An original is already scarce remind buyers of this explicitly.
Where to sell originals
03 Revenue Stream
COMMISSIONS:
RELIABLE INCOME
ON DEMAND
RELIABLE INCOME
ON DEMAND
A commission is a sale before you've made the work. Done right, it's the most reliable income stream an artist can build.
PRICING COMMISSIONS
$400 – $6,000+
You're not just selling art. You're selling a personal, one-of-a-kind service.
Commissions should cost more than equivalent-sized originals. You're creating to brief, handling revisions, managing a client relationship, and making something they can't get anywhere else. That premium is justified and clients who understand your work will pay it.
The key to a smooth commission process is setting clear expectations upfront, taking a deposit, and having a simple written agreement. The artists who hate commissions are usually the ones who skip this structure.
The key to a smooth commission process is setting clear expectations upfront, taking a deposit, and having a simple written agreement. The artists who hate commissions are usually the ones who skip this structure.
Commission pricing — 1.5x the equivalent original price
Small original at $400
$600
Commission equivalent (× 1.5)
Medium original at $900
$1,350
Commission equivalent (× 1.5)
Large original at $2,000
$3,000
Commission equivalent (× 1.5)
Rush timeline
+25–50%
On top of the commission price
Commission Pricing Formula
Commission price = Equivalent original price × 1.5
+ rush fee if applicable
+ commercial use fee if applicable (typically 2–3× base)
Deposit = 50% upfront (non-refundable)
Balance due on completion, before final file/delivery
+ rush fee if applicable
+ commercial use fee if applicable (typically 2–3× base)
Deposit = 50% upfront (non-refundable)
Balance due on completion, before final file/delivery
The 50% deposit rule is non-negotiable. It filters serious clients, covers your materials cost, and means you're never chasing payment. Any client who pushes back on a deposit is a client you don't want. The deposit protects both of you.
The commission process step by step
01
Intake form & brief
Collect size, style preference, reference images, timeline, and intended use in writing before you quote. Never quote blind.
02
Quote & agreement
Send a clear quote with price, timeline, number of revisions included, and payment terms. One page is enough. A written agreement protects both parties.
03
50% deposit to begin
Work starts when deposit clears. No exceptions. Use a payment link, not a bank transfer request.
04
WIP check-in (for larger work)
Share one progress photo at roughly 50% completion. This builds excitement and catches any major direction issues early before you've finished.
05
Final delivery & balance
Share the completed work. Balance is due before you ship or hand over the final high-res file. Package it beautifully it extends the experience.
Open commission slots strategically, not always. "Commissions open 3 spots only" creates urgency. "Commissions always available" signals desperation. Open a batch, fill it, close it, repeat. This also protects your time and creative work.
04 Revenue Stream
MURALS:
THE BIG
CHEQUES
THE BIG
CHEQUES
One mural can replace what would take months of print sales. But most artists dramatically underprice them or don't pursue them at all.
PRICING MURALS
$1,500 $30,000+
The mistake is thinking about murals as "big paintings." They're a commercial service.
Mural pricing terrifies most artists because the numbers feel big. But when you break it down systematically, it becomes straightforward and you stop leaving thousands on the table.
The key shift: you're not pricing by how long it takes you. You're pricing for the scale, the permanence, the commercial value to the client, and the fact that your name is on a wall for potentially decades. That's worth real money.
The key shift: you're not pricing by how long it takes you. You're pricing for the scale, the permanence, the commercial value to the client, and the fact that your name is on a wall for potentially decades. That's worth real money.
Mural pricing tiers by client type
Individual / residential
$1,500–5,000
Home feature walls. Personal spaces.
Small business
$3,000–10,000
Cafes, studios, boutiques.
Corporate / large commercial
$8,000–30,000+
Offices, hotels, large retail.
Public / government
$5,000–50,000+
Council, arts grants, landmarks.
Your sqm rate should grow with demand
Beginner
$80–$120/sqm
Building your portfolio. Learning at scale. Still charge for your time.
Established
$150–$250/sqm
Proven work, repeat clients, growing reputation.
In Demand
$300–$500+/sqm
Waitlist, strong brand, clients come to you.
Mural Pricing Calculator
If you work in sq feet, divide your cost per sqm by 10.764 to get your cost per sq foot.
Base price = Height (m) × Width (m) × Rate per m²
Example: 3m × 8m × $120/m² = $2,880
+ Travel fee: charged per km/mile or as a flat day rate
Never absorb travel. Always line-item it separately.
+ Revision fee: set a number of revisions included (e.g. 2)
Additional revisions billed at your hourly rate beyond that.
Final quote = (H × W × rate) + travel + revision allowance
Add 15–20% contingency for corporate clients. They expect it.
Minimum charge applies: 10 sqm regardless of wall size.
Example: 3m × 8m × $120/m² = $2,880
+ Travel fee: charged per km/mile or as a flat day rate
Never absorb travel. Always line-item it separately.
+ Revision fee: set a number of revisions included (e.g. 2)
Additional revisions billed at your hourly rate beyond that.
Final quote = (H × W × rate) + travel + revision allowance
Add 15–20% contingency for corporate clients. They expect it.
Minimum charge applies: 10 sqm regardless of wall size.
The mural quoting process
Phase 01
Initial enquiry call
15–20 min call or detailed email exchange. Understand the space (dimensions, surface, indoor/outdoor), their vision, timeline, and importantly their budget range. "Do you have a budget in mind?" is a question you must ask before you quote.
Phase 02
Site visit or photos
For larger jobs, a site visit is essential. You need to see the surface condition, access, natural light, and surroundings. Never quote a mural without seeing the wall even on photos. Bill for site visits on jobs over $5K.
Phase 03
Concept & quote
Provide a written quote with a concept sketch or mood board. Charge a design fee ($200–500) for this stage redeemable on the full job. This filters time-wasters and signals that your creative time has value before a brush touches a wall.
Phase 04
Agreement & deposit
50% deposit before any work begins. Written agreement covering scope, payment schedule, rights (do they have commercial usage rights?), and what happens if the scope changes. Scope creep on murals is real protect yourself.
Phase 05
Production & completion
Document everything as you work. Time-lapses, progress shots, before/after. This becomes content AND your portfolio for the next mural enquiry. Final 50% is due on completion, before you provide any high-res photography.
Corporate clients have bigger budgets and faster decisions. A café owner might haggle over $500. A corporate client with an office fitout has a budget line for art. Target businesses opening new locations, hotels, co-working spaces, and property developers. They need art, they pay for it, and they refer others.
Always charge a commercial use premium. If a business will use your mural in marketing, socials, or promotional materials that is a commercial use of your art. It's standard industry practice to charge an additional fee for this. A basic mural for a café to enjoy is one price. A mural a hotel will photograph for their website, ads, and press kit is another.
Across all streams
PRICING
PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
The price you put on your work is a statement about how you see it. Buyers read your confidence or lack of it directly from your numbers.
Pricing is not just maths. It's communication. Every number you set signals something to the buyer about your confidence, your market position, and the value they're about to receive. Here are the principles that apply across every revenue stream.
Odd Pricing Works
$475 reads as considered. $500 reads as round and arbitrary. Odd prices signal you've done the work to arrive at a specific number.
Never Discount Originals
Discounting originals devalues everything you've made. If work isn't selling, the answer is almost never a lower price it's a better audience or better presentation.
Bundle Instead of Discount
"Print + framing package" at a combined price feels like value. A 20% off sale feels like desperation. Same economics. Very different signal.
Announce Price Rises
Telling your audience "prices are increasing next month" creates urgency and positions the rise as a natural marker of your growing career. Do this once or twice a year.
Price Consistency
Your prices across platforms must be identical. Collectors research. Finding the same work cheaper somewhere else destroys trust permanently.
Price With Confidence
State prices without apology or justification. "This piece is $1,200" not "I know it's a lot but…" The qualifier signals you don't believe the price yourself.
Quick reference
YOUR
STACK
AT A GLANCE
STACK
AT A GLANCE
Stream 01
PRINTS
$30 – $220
Passive. POD. Limited editions. Email list first. Markup 4–6× cost.
Stream 02
ORIGINALS
$300 – $5,000+
Size formula. Never discount. Raise prices incrementally. Anchor high.
Stream 03
COMMISSIONS
$400 – $6,000+
Premium over originals. 50% deposit. Open in batches. Written agreement.
Stream 04
MURALS
$1,500 – $30,000+
Day rate + materials + extras. Design fee upfront. Commercial use premium. Document everything.
The order matters. Get prints running passively first. Then focus on originals to build collector relationships. Open commissions in batches for reliable monthly income. Pursue murals once you have a portfolio to show. Each stream funds the next one.