Size Matters

Even though I mostly paint I generally work on the small side. Most of my paintings are 12" X 16" and smaller. I've done a few 16" X 20" and a couple 18" X 24" and one 20" X 40". I just prefer to work smaller, also working large is hard on my shoulder. A large work can definitely make a big impact. Gregory Stocks' large landscapes definitely cause my jaw to drop.

In person, I believe size definitely matters. Big is impressive. Small is easy to overlook. However, online, small originals sell much more quickly than larger works. Thus, I work in a wide range of size for different audiences. When choosing a size purely for personal preference, I like 18x24, 20x24, 24x30. Larger than that can be difficult to manage in my small studio. I have to wait for warm weather and work outside.

I don' t have a studio so I prefer painting in small sizes 15x12, 9 x11, unless I get a specific request. I can go large in fact, last year, I painted four seasons on a thirty foot stockade fence haha.

50".

My fella hates it

I just do photography but try to put together shots that could cover the side of a barn when practical to do so, at the same resolution as an 8*10.

For any future gallery it makes it possible to have massive prints to wow people, have a really high starting price that makes smaller ones look cheaper and be able to license for virtually any size or application someone would want.

HUGE is my preference for painting...The bigger the better!

I have never asked, but I was wondering if some one that is doing art primarily for sale on the Internet if they were doing it in sizes that make if the most convenient for them to make a decent capture for the best file they can get.

For instance. The 13x19 flatbed scanner is very popular. Are people painting more pieces to fit that scanner bed then say 16 x 20s or 24 x 36 which used to be the two most popular ready made sizes?

I do know a couple of artist that are doing paintings just for sale on the Internet for people like Somerset and Greenwich Workshop and other publishers. It seems to me that Bev Doolittle's new piece included that in the pre release marketing piece.

I know for sure that a couple of artists have actually sat down and asked their publisher, okay, what do you think will sell and what size will it sell best in and then painted it to that size.

I paint landscapes, using a wide variety of mediums and in a wide range of sizes, ranging from 5" x 7" up to about five feet long. The medium and size depends on the painting I'm working on at the time. I don't paint in order to sell paintings on the internet (so far on this site I've sold some greeting cards and one print), but for myself, because I can't help it. I can't see myself not painting landscapes anymore, even if I never sell another painting or print again. So I just keep on painting and post my paintings online because a painting isn't really finished until someone besides the artist looks at it.

21 megapixels typically.

"For instance. The 13x19 flatbed scanner is very popular. Are people painting more pieces to fit that scanner bed then say 16 x 20s or 24 x 36 which used to be the two most popular ready made sizes?"

My scanner is just a 9x12. If my painting is larger than that I just take multiple scans and stitch them together. The size of the scanner really isn't a limitation.

I do love to paint big but have downsized significantly because of shipping costs and the issue of getting them from studio to exhibits. For now i generally paint 30x40" or 24x30". Easy to pack, carry and ship.

14"x 18" (three paintings just started). in the future I would prefer to paint 20" x 20". I am far away to exhibit or contact Gallery.

I'm beginning to do smaller paintings like 36 x 36 but my usual size is anywhere from 5 feet to 14 in height to 6 feet to over twenty feet in width. Because my paintings are large, one is usually seeing just a portion as a print on FAA.

When I painted on canvas, I generally made huge images but across three or four canvases... easier to move, store and hang that way. Now that I work almost entirely in digital, I just make sure the short side is always at least 5000px.

Big definitely attracts more of an audience at art shows and fairs, definitely draws a bigger crowd.

Then even if they don't buy your big staff they may look at your smaller stuff once attracted to your setup.

I usually set my stall out displaying 20" x !6' prints and a large panoramic, and have smaller stuff in browser racks at the front.

Lisa,

Impressive. Materials cost and storage would be a big issue at those sizes. Are they commissions or murals?

The largest print size available on FAA is a 108" canvas and 96" long for a regular print. If a customer has large walls, they need large artwork to fill it with. If you are able, it's nice to offer up to largest sizes and its more money also.

I do both. I love painting large, but currently don't have the space for it so I have been doing a lot of smaller works lately. I will be setting up a larger studio this spring and am looking forward to being able to do some large pieces again.

I must say, I'm a little surprised here.
Some of the sizes given are beyond what I expected.

Bonus Question: Do you maintain the same level of detail on a large piece that you would with a smaller one?
Can they be viewed up close with the same level of interest?

With my experience large paintings is very hard to sell either in my gallery shows or by myself.most of my paintings are watercolor I try to keep it not over 20"x28" because once over size the framing is very expensive. Smaller works sell well for me as most my older buyers has little wall spaces left The ones buy large paintings are usually are younger and wanted a large painting as feature for their home, few will buy more than two from me.. I often spent as much time on a small painting as the large one.

@David Randall, Yes, I've been commissioned, but I have an excellent job now which is why I've tried my hand at smaller works and online selling on FAA.

I started painting walls many years ago and of course materials are very different on walls than on canvas. Latex wall paint either oil or water based is used instead of acrylics or oil that is used for canvas'.

On large canvas I usually use acrylic paint and inks. And yes storage is a critical issue. I have a very large space to work in. Thankfully my entire family supports me in every way. I wouldn't even want to paint if the people around me with the real effort had decided not to support me as an artist. A lot of what I do is funded by others.

Of course every room in my home has a mural. Some ceilings are painted as well. The other day a plumber came in to do some work and asked me if he could see the entire house. I took him on a tour. He loved it and I get a lot of attention for my effort...not a lot of money but that is my own fault because I'm already doing very well and I refuse to market myself. I just can't stand other people and everyone knows I'm temperamental, stubborn and impatient. Everyone around me though is nice as pie so I'm very fortunate.