Is DD’s art work good enough to sell.

[themotherhoodproject]

NC for this as a regular user of MN and this is fairly outing but looking for peoples unbiased opinions.

DD is an A level Art student, it’s actually not where her love lies she is hoping to apply for BIMM’s university In Bristol to peruse music and she also does performing arts.

However she is very talented in her painting and blows me away weekly with her work, we have had a few extra special things from her (some of you might remember the snowman Christmas card, it seemed very popular) and lots of people on here saying that they would buy if able too.

Another few months have gone by and we just had another cracker of a card from her (a thank you card for a friend) and well I just think it’s wonderful and have said she should really think about taking on commissions.

We live in a very rural area so lots of horse and dog lovers and I honestly think she could make a bit of pocket money to put away for uni life or fritter away on gigs noodles and vinyl

Can I ask what people think, she is only a year into A level art and will have lots more of technique to learn but maybe £15 a painting she might have some takers?

Yes a bit confused there as OP states DD is an A level student………you aren’t graded by numbers at A level. So typo?

*that sponge you bought at the cake sale

presumably proceeds went to yours children’s school?*

Yep and we love a sponge cake. I'd buy because I LIKE it.

It's good, but I don't think exceptionally so. It's a little flat.

@themotherhoodproject

I think it's charming, and I'd say there are people who would like to buy a reasonably priced portrait of ponies or other pets. My neighbour has a gallery wall of her geckos and iguanas past and present that is very striking (she painted them herself in oils, inspired by the way they seemed to be posing on their rocks and logs).

I have a friend who does ink and watercolour pictures of people's houses from photographs, and presents them nicely (matted if desired) in frames she picks up at flea markets, thrift shops, etc., and sometimes refurbishes.

The frames are not expensive but make the art more finished and increase the price her customers are willing to pay. If your DD wants to do the pet portrait thing, she could add a certain amount for cheaply sourced frames if clients wanted them.

Thank you, great advice.

OP, I agree with @Comefromaway's advice to look further than BIMM.

Also with the advice to see if the tearoom would be willing to put up some of her art, with price stickers discreetly placed.

First off, I think it is fab! My compliments to your DD!

Secondly; I knew people would come on here and declare with absolute certainty that there was no possible way it was good enough to sell.

But here's the thing; go into any art gallery and you will, without exception, see art works that you think are fabulous and other artworks that you think are complete crap. At the same time, there will be other people present who think the pieces you love are awful and the pieces you think are crap, are amazing. Art is utterly subjective - people have so many different tastes. I've stood in art galleries watching people part with crazy money for something I think is no better than a 5 year old's scribble that might end up on my fridge. But it is their taste and for whatever reason, the art piece speaks to them.

There are many "amateur" artists who sell pieces on Etsy and/or take a few pieces to art/craft fairs etc... for fun, and someone sees something and just takes a like to it - so they buy it. An art piece could be the work of Picasso or it could be the work of a woman down the road who paints as a hobby; it doesn't matter if the artist is a "known professional" or a teen doing her A'levels - if I like and connect with an art piece for whatever reason, and I have the means to buy it, I will.

I paint as a hobby. Some of my paintings are relegated to the "paint over it and start again" pile... others are in frames on my wall and without my saying anything or a person even knowing of my hobby, they have commented on it assuming it was a professional piece that I bought. Would everyone like it? No - of course not. Would people want to buy it? Who knows - I've never tried to sell it. But the fact is that what people will buy in terms of artwork mostly comes down to a simple matter of whether or not they like it.

Your DD's painting of the horse is, to me, a great piece of work. Would I buy it? No - but not because I don't think it's any good, but because I have no real desire for a picture of any horse on my wall, so it wouldn't matter who painted it or what style it was, I wouldn't buy it. Another person might come along - see that painting and it might remind them of a horse they once loved - we don't know - paintings speak to people for all kinds of reasons.

I would tell your DD to keep pursuing her art, she will progress and develop her preferred styles, mediums, techniques etc... but I see no harm in putting a few pieces on Etsy or whatever and just see what happens - if she wishes to do so. There is no law that says pieces for sale have to be approved by the MN community or anyone else.

I'm no expert but it's a lovely painting. I'd be more than happy to pay for that if it was of my horse.

Thank you, much appreciated.

£15 for an original painting is a bargain. I’d buy one if I liked the subject. Go for it! I’d like a painting of my dog but don’t want to spend big money. I can send her a photo?? Only half joking. 😉

It's very, very hard to make decent money out of selling art.
£15 is not decent money, by a long shot.

She might have a go at developing a line of simple but effective Xmas/Birthday cards that would be quick and easy to do and that people would be willing to pay a few pounds for. My daughter drew amazing personalized cards that she could rattle off very quickly. I suggested she tried selling them but she wasn't interested.

*It's very, very hard to make decent money out of selling art.
£15 is not decent money, by a long shot. *

Luckily OP's daughter is a 6th Former who just wants a bit of extra cash.

Yes - if she is predicted a 9 she is doing GCSE.

I don’t know whose house that would look good in hanging on the wall tbh

No. Sorry. Not even close. It’s ok but I wouldn’t call that talented.

Honestly? No, she's not quite good enough yet although she's obviously got talent. I think the depth/texture of her painting needs more work - looking at the example, the hat is too 'flat', there's no texture, it's almost as though yellow paint has been splashed on the horse's forelock. The mane needs more definition, as does the eye.

yes i noticed that too

I don’t know whose house that would look good in hanging on the wall tbh

This thread is incredible.

I thought she was an A level student?

Yes. Easily (pun intended)

No. Sorry. Not even close. It’s ok but I wouldn’t call that talented.

😂👌🏼

I thought she was doing her A-levels?

I think the nose and mouth are observed beautifully. The mane in particular though looks like much less time has been spent on it. I think if she's just doing it for fun or because she loves it then it's certainly worth £15 - but that's very little money for 6 hours work.

She's a 17 year old kid and I think people are being very harsh and miserable on here. I think her friend is going to be blown away with the card, it's lovely.

I'd buy this one. Yes, I know it's Christmas themed. Yes, I'd still leave it up year round.

About 20 years ago my DG paid £150 for a portrait of her dogs. One had wonky eyes and the other looked like a sock puppet. Your daughters may not be perfect yet but I think she could still advertise. It'll also help her practice. £15 is too little though, especially for the time it takes.

I wonder if the OP is the artist in question! 😆