The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

How to Stop Undercharging for Your Art (And Get Paid What You're Worth)

September 15, 2026·22 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/freeJoin us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.---In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist and muralist Pepa Ivanoff is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.Originally from Australia and now based in Costa Rica, Pepa has built an international career completing 343 murals around the world in just nine years. Along the way, she learned that treating art like a profession also means understanding exactly what your work costs to create and being willing to charge accordingly.In this episode, Pepa shares how undercharging led her to resent projects she should have enjoyed, what changed when she calculated the true costs behind her work, and why knowing your value helps you identify which clients and opportunities are actually worth pursuing.“If you're serious about being an artist, being compensated financially for that is something that you need to get really comfortable with.”— Pepa IvanoffTimestamps:00:00 Introduction01:38 Entre Palmeras - A Studio Canvas03:17 From Surfboards to Murals -  How It All Started04:48 Questioning the Myth That Art Isn't a Real Career07:25 Financial Freedom on Your Own Terms09:15 Saying No More Than Yes -  Evolving the Commission Practice11:15 The Bird of Paradise Mural - A Repeat Client12:09 Having the Money Conversation Early15:25 Getting Comfortable with the Money Conversation16:47 How She Discovered She Was Undercharging18:39 The Pilates Studio Mural -  A Client Who Became a Friend19:29 The Starving Artist Myth20:36 Final AdviceConnect with PepaWebsite: https://pepallama.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pepallama/Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:Mentoring:Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:https://professionalartist.com/applyMembership:Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/joinFree Letter:Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistacceleratorReady to take the next step in your art career?We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery……this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/freeIf you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

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