What Am I Worth? Putting a Price on My Art and Myself

What Am I Worth? Putting a Price on My Art and Myself

How do you put a value on something as personal as your art? Pricing my work has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced since stepping into the world of self-employment. Where do you even begin? Defining an hourly rate feels impossible, and what’s considered “fair” can feel like a moving target. I’ve been an artist all my life, but translating that into a number still feels daunting.

And to be honest: determining the value of my work is about more than just numbers, it’s tied to my sense of self-worth - something I’ve wrestled with for years. In many ways, the struggle to price my art mirrors my personal journey of healing—from the physical and emotional toll of a 15-year relationship with a narcissist. It might sound dramatic, but that experience profoundly shaped my ability to see my own value. After years of being made to feel small, I couldn’t even recognize my worth, let alone put a price on something I created.

Healing from that relationship has been a long, difficult process. Rebuilding myself, piece by piece, hasn’t been easy and learning to value myself, not just as an artist but as a person, has been a major part of that journey. The experience of surviving breast cancer only added to that transformation. It forced me to focus inward, to prioritize myself for the first time in years. And while it has left lasting effects, it has also made me stronger—mentally and now physically.

So, when I price my art, it’s about more than just the market or the time I’ve spent on a piece. It’s about honoring the journey I’ve been on—the passion, the growth, and the healing that has shaped me. My art is a reflection of that, and placing a value on it means recognizing my own worth. It’s not just about what I create; it’s about the person I’ve become in the process.

Self-Promotion in the dopamine culture

When it comes to selling my ceramics, I currently use Etsy as my platform of choice. It offers buyers a sense of security with its guarantees, which makes people feel safer shopping there than on some lesser-known e-commerce sites. Etsy also claims to help bring in customers, but I’ve found that self-promotion has been the most effective strategy. As an artist, promoting myself has become just as important as creating the work itself.

Thankfully, I have a background in graphic design and marketing, which gives me a slight edge in crafting eye-catching content. But even with those skills, there’s one major challenge—our collective attention span is shrinking. In fact, the average watch time spent on a content clip on my Instagram account is just 3.4 seconds before they scroll on to the next. I can’t even get 5 seconds! That’s the reality of the world we live in, where dopamine culture reigns supreme.

Remember the days before smart phones, when life moved at a slower pace? Back then, people took their time to enjoy things—reading a paperback book, eating a meal without checking their phone, speaking verses texting, or even having uninterrupted conversations. But as technology has evolved, so has our relationship with time. Everything is a quick hit—tweets, texts, emojis, and bite-sized videos. We’re constantly bombarded with fast content, and now our brains crave that instant rush of novelty. Squirrel!!

This is the world we’re trying to market in now. People love to see the process behind my ceramics, but how do you capture a project that takes 8-16 hours to complete in a video that holds their attention for less than five seconds? It’s a real puzzle. I spend more time than I’d like editing, trimming, and speeding up footage to create bite-sized versions of my work. The goal? To grab people’s attention before they move on to the next thing in their never-ending scroll.

It's frustrating, for sure. But mastering the art of quick-hit videos this fast culture has become part of the job. Self-promotion, in our world of dopamine hits and quick scrolls, is almost as intricate as the sculptures themselves.

Did you make it to the end? If you did, I thank you!

Why a New Chapter? A Brief Backstory

How do you define the chapters of your life? For me, they fall into big, pivotal moments:

CH 1: Childhood — Just trying to grow up and fit in.
CH 2: My Drinking Years — Yep, a solid decade of heavy drinking (wrap college in there too), ending in rehab.
CH 3: Career, Marriage — Corporate life and a 15-year relationship with a narcissist.
CH 4: Life After Cancer — A new beginning.

Chapter 4 began on February 6, 2023, when I was laid off during an 8% company-wide reduction in force (RIF) due to "economic uncertainty"—or maybe it was because of that pro golf sponsorship announced a month later. You decide. It was my second layoff in four years, and it made me question why I give my all to companies that barely notice. In today’s world of constant layoffs, does job security even exist? It hit me hard: and didn’t take long to realized once you're off payroll, it feels like you no longer exist.

Three weeks after the layoff, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was a double whammy. The last year was a tough battle, and I had a lot of time to think and allow myself to feel. And while it was easy to spiral (too much thinking can do that), my ceramics became my therapist as I fought through all the things I was facing, and finding my way through all the unknowns.

Cancer has changed me. It shattered the illusion of invincibility I once had and made me realize the true value of friendship, kindness, happiness, and prioritizing my physical and mental health. It’s brought me back to the present and reminded me to be grateful for every day.

These life events have completely reshaped my priorities. Career and money no longer matter the way they used to. My art—ceramics—has become more than a creative outlet; it’s my meditation, my healing process, my passion, and it’s where I belong.

With this clarity, I’ve decided to make my hobby my career, and in July 2024, I officially launched my ceramics business under the studio name of Yo! be nice. I’m now a full-time artist. And for the first time, I feel like I’m truly in charge of my life.

A New Chapter in My Life's Story

Blog, blog, blog, you need to blog! That’s what everyone says if you want to optimize your website and improve its success. “Just blog!” But seriously, about what? I’ve started so many blogs, each filled with a spark of ambition… and I finished none of them. Well, except that one time I accidentally posted something without realizing it. Oops. Another lesson learned.

So here I am again, staring at this blank page, thinking I need to get all "artsy fartsy," maybe talk about my sculptures and how the environment totally drives my creativity. I could say that I hug trees, dance with the wind, and dive into the seas for inspiration. Except, yeah—that’s not me.

Honestly, my creativity doesn’t come from long meditations in the forest. It comes from within. I follow my hands, I follow my heart, and inspiration finds me—often in unexpected places. That’s the real truth. It’s a blessing, one I’m incredibly grateful for, but also one that’s just… me. Nothing too grand. Just my reality.

So what have I decided to blog about? Well, it turns out I’m in the midst of a pretty big life shift. I’ve hit the “new chapter” button on my life story and it feels like I ought to share it. Maybe putting it out there will not only help me process, but maybe—just maybe—it’ll resonate with someone else.

You see, I walked away from a 6-figure corporate career to seek something more meaningful. Peace. Happiness. Health. A life that feels full instead of one that feels scripted (what brought me to this point, I will cover in later posts). And yeah, it’s terrifying and liberating all at once. So, I thought, why not talk about it? Why not let this blog be the space where I unpack it all, and together we will find out what happens next!

And here I am. Blogging about me. Just the thing an introvert wants to do—share their life with the world. But, hey, I’m giving it a shot. This could be fun, right?