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Original poster

Is DD’s art work good enough to sell.

730 replies

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 08:23

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?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

InTheUpsideDownToday · 08/05/2024 17:28

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/05/2024 17:22

Good enough to sell is determined by whether people will buy, not in fact by experience, hours put into the work (I've sold things that have taken minutes, and for more than pieces that have taken days!), technique or anything else.

Do not under-sell though - she needs to make enough back to cover her materials, and she needs to use decent materials that will last so archival quality stuff, or she'll be selling pieces that will fade and deteriorate quickly!

If she is taking commissions, it is VERY easy to get sucked into a situation where you're working on a subject that doesn't float your boat, for a price that doesn't warrant the effort required and that inevitably leads to delays and angry customers and so on. Set fair prices to start with, only take on a couple of commissions at a time.

She MUST ensure that the copyright of any direct imagery used belongs to either her (she takes the photo) or the commissioner and so is theirs to give permission to use - photos they bought at an event taken by a pro photographer will generally NOT be ok to use (even if the commissioner thinks they are) and this is one way young artists get into trouble very quickly as pro photographers will defend their copyright ferociously (and rightly so).

So... whilst I can technically see faults in her work, it's by no means perfect, it also doesn't have to be - if she captures the spirit of the subject and this pleases buyers and they want to pay for it, it's all good. Practice is what any artist needs and you can only get that by doing it!

(I've been selling commissioned pet portraits in a variety of styles for over a decade, plus a variety of other art styles and mediums. Pieces of mine have sold in the UK, USA and Canada. So you know im not just talking idle conjecture here!)

Very helpful 😊

Goldenbear · 08/05/2024 17:29

LighthouseCat · 08/05/2024 17:25

I'm surprised at the comments too. I have a theory though that people who like and know about animal portraits would perhaps not find it to their liking or at a certain standard 🤷‍♀️ I love the painting as just a piece of lovely art. I wouldn't want it any sharper, defined, detailed or accurate. It has a gentle quirkiness to it. In fact I think this is the only painting of a horse I've ever liked.

Yes, I agree.

80s · 08/05/2024 17:36

Haven't read all the answers but I agree that individual pet portraits might not be very lucrative; she'd have to charge at least 12 pounds an hour, surely, or she might as well deliver newspapers instead, so at 6 hours people would be paying 70 quid a picture - and would thus want something that looks like it is worth 70 quid.

Maybe go down the Etsy route but sell cards and other prints. She could sell 20 prints of a picture on cards at 3.50 each and still get 70 pounds for the six hours it takes to paint it. And she could sell prints of pictures that take far less time to dash off.

Boomer55 · 08/05/2024 17:39

As a pet portrait, then I’d say she could earn money. Not sure about anything else.🙂

Goldenbear · 08/05/2024 17:39

Honestly OP, if I were you I would take some of these so called, ‘informed’ and well intended comments with a gigantic handful of salt- you only have to see certain names and their comments elsewhere on other threads to question their authenticity!

MILLYmo0se · 08/05/2024 17:45

Would selling packs of printed cards be an option for her? Could do it through local shops or family businesses leaving a basket of them on the counter or posters of them in post office, library etc to order through an Insta page, especially at Christmas, people like to buy local

Calliopespa · 08/05/2024 17:51

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 16:57

Calm down everyone, she is an A level student, I just got the creative stream grading system mixed up as 2 other DC sitting GCSE’s

It’s been a rough day or two on MN! All the crabbiest posters out in force!

I really like the horse and it has wonderful character.

I can certainly see it being the sort of thing to sell on gift/ greeting cards: it’s easily of the standard and it’s a nice neutral subject. If you are thinking as low as £15 I think I would go this card route as she can sell again and again from the same painting - admittedly probably a bit less than that a pack, but I can see the packs selling well, esp if she mixed with some other horse or pet designs.

As with all art, the subject needs to appeal to the buyer, and I really can’t see why this wouldn’t. You are right to be proud OP: some posters don’t have a nice word to put on their tongue.

Iaskedyouthrice · 08/05/2024 17:54

Fantastic post @alfagirl73 .
Oh @themotherhoodproject I knew that as soon as you put a picture up, declaring your daughter dared have an ounce of confidence in her work, that posters would be along to tear both you and her down. Can't have a young woman actually believing in herself now can we, put her back in her box please.
Some lovely supportive posts also, by lovely posters, even ones that don't agree she could sell. It's just a shame there's always the ones desperate to knock someone, especially a young woman, down.
I like the horse painting but I LOVE the christmas scene. That would make the perfect Christmas card and I would most definitely buy that.
She is very talented and is obviously very creative (I am not but wish I was). She will go far and I am glad she has a mum like you behind her, cheering her on.
I wish you and her well. 17 and already so talented, you must be very proud.

Mrsphilmiller · 08/05/2024 17:55

I think she’s very talented and I love the painting of the horse, a lot of detail and I can see the horse looks very sad 😔

tennesseewhiskey1 · 08/05/2024 17:57

It’s good but I wouldn’t pay money for that sorry.

Autumn1990 · 08/05/2024 17:57

I think if she’s canny about pricing she could sell her work. £15 is too low she would need to charge £50 or so for a pet portrait and I think as long as she has plenty of examples of her work so people can see what they are getting she would get customers. Not everyone has hundreds or more to spend on a pet portrait.
Could she paint greetings cards? Simple animals or landscapes or flowers so people get an original rather than a print for £4 ish House name or number signs or pictures of peoples houses or gardens.

SmudgeButt · 08/05/2024 17:58

See if there's an "arts week" near you and see what it takes for her to join in to that. Near us there's a portion of it where there's a big barn (literally) that's a display space and there's about 30 artists/crafts people displaying. Prices range from £10 to £1k or more. Some stuff is very amateur but others stuff is really interesting and professional. It would be great to see if she generated some interest with about 20 pictures ranging from quick sketches unframed for £10 to a commissioned portrait framed for £100 - 200. Or have some thing reproduced as cards - those will sell for £2 maybe. Must admit those are the things I usually buy because I like to take things home and look at them in detail. And, well not copy, but be inspired by. (budding artist for the last 20 years.)

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 17:58

If an OP suggests something their offspring has done is good it always seems to get posters backs up.

They line up to criticise.

And point out that " compared to blah and blah " they're not any good. ( And, so what?)
Wasn't the question.

OP was asking if you'd pay 15 quid for a local pet portrait and here come all the links to established, career, animal artists who charge ££££ and have been in business for years.

Talk about missing the point.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 18:01

Tall poppy syndrome.

Original poster

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 18:02

Thank you to all the lovely posters, I will pass onto DD.

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 08/05/2024 18:03

It's not bad. The yellow thing looks a bit odd and spoils it. Maybe pet commissions as other posters suggest. £15 Would be very cheap and she'd probably to get some business st that price.

FeetupTvon · 08/05/2024 18:03

It’s very good, what a talented daughter you have!

NotJohnMajor · 08/05/2024 18:04

She should give it a try - she won't know till she tries! Perhaps there is a local craft fair she could sell cards at? Puppies/kittens are always popular if she likes painting animals. I'm always on the look out for kitten/cat things to buy for my cat-loving family - tote bags/coasters/mugs etc. are all things art can be transferred onto for sale.

andthat · 08/05/2024 18:06

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 10:07

Thanks everyone, I’m in coms with DD and passing all your encouragement on. 😊

To clarify a few points DD does already have a part time job, she works in the local tea room and is also VERY keen to sell her work for extra practice and pocket money, she however isn’t expecting to make a living on it, just wondered if local people might be interested in a painting of their dog, horse, chicken or buy as a gift for someone else.

She is a Perf Arts, music and Art student and is well versed in the how tough her industry is, blunt criticism, failed gigs, audition knock backs, i don’t believe anyone could or should go down a creative route if they don’t have a thick skin.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow unfortunately you do come across as someone who is, at the least, unaware of how you make people feel around you. Children who show interest in creative subjects should be nourished and encouraged, there is difference between helpful critique and just being a dick and I don’t need to tell you which category people feel you’re in.

Edited

Well said OP.

Eastcoastie · 08/05/2024 18:06

I think for £15 a pet portrait that seems fine. The other links are for far more professional artists, those portraits will not be £15.

Id pay £15 for someone to paint my pet.

Also like the Christmas card and would buy a set of those if reasonably priced.

If she does set up some find of social media page or basic website to take orders and post them out then please DM me the link. I dont think etsy would be worth it, they take high fees and theres a lot of competition.

OneWildBiscuit · 08/05/2024 18:06

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 08:23

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.

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?

Absolutely! That's beautiful. I'd love a really nice portrait of my horse.

Heliss · 08/05/2024 18:08

It reminds me of the level of skill I had as a first year undergrad in Fine Art. I was a mature student though with no GCSE or A Levels and was a beginner apart from a general Foundation course.

I improved really fast with lots of practice, and was selling work by my 3rd year. I got a First.

I don't think your daughter should waste her time spending 6 hours for £15. She should paint what she enjoys, improve, and then move into doing commissions and charge a better amount.

MrMucker · 08/05/2024 18:12

She can paint well, yes. But that doesn't make it a good painting.
You'd need an interesting aspect with all the foreshortening involved, or an interesting composition.
It is really very well painted but the aspect suggests a static chess piece or limited artistic ability, and the composition is the same as a million other horsey pictures.
The nose and mouth and muzzle have beautiful colour work, so I'm guessing she can paint flowers really well!

ultraviolet4753 · 08/05/2024 18:13

I have bought several pet portraits for myself and as gifts, ranging from £40 to £150.
Sorry, but I wouldn't pay for this. Hopefully she can work on fur/skin texture for cat/dog portraits too.

I cannot draw at all, that's why I buy them! A portion always goes to an animal charity too, as the artists donate the portrait or some of the commission to a rescue auction.

Willmafrockfit · 08/05/2024 18:14

i dont see why she cant go for it,
advertise her services for people,
if they send in a photo of their pet and she can paint a picture from the photo

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