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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?

Is DD’s art work good enough to sell.
OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
GreyGoose1980 · 08/05/2024 19:19

I would love it if my toddler DD grew up to be able to paint like that. However as others have said I don’t think she’s quite at the standard to sell her work yet. I think the area around the horse’s muzzle is brilliant but other areas like the yellow ear cover lack definition. With her talent she may very well perfect her craft enough to go on to sell paintings though.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:19

Fine if she wants a a side hustle, but this has only a limited relationship to art making.

She wants a side hustle.

KomodoOhno · 08/05/2024 19:21

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 18:02

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

Op let her try and see where it goes. I'd definitely buy her Christmas cards. I'd much rather have pretty cards by a teen then buying from a shop.

CasadeCoca · 08/05/2024 19:25

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:19

Fine if she wants a a side hustle, but this has only a limited relationship to art making.

She wants a side hustle.

If she wants a side hustle she should go for it - she'd be producing painted souvenirs, essentially. That's a different set of aesthetic considerations to fine art.

TheSunHasGotItsHatOnHipHipHipHooray · 08/05/2024 19:27

There’s only one way to find out… Advertise! Have a look on Artfinder.com

its a lovely painting and your daughter is clearly very talented. Good luck to her.

GreekDogRescue · 08/05/2024 19:27

Wow. She is very talented OP, you must be very proud.

GreekDogRescue · 08/05/2024 19:28

I was thinking she could display some work on your local Next Door for pet portraits as a start.

BustyLee · 08/05/2024 19:29

She’s doing well. It must be nice to have a multitalented offspring. And it is so great to know that someone her age is so self motivated and committed. I love that she is also a budding entrepreneur. Good for her. And well done you.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:32

If she wants a side hustle she should go for it - she'd be producing painted souvenirs, essentially. That's a different set of aesthetic considerations to fine art.

Fine Art has never been mentioned.

I'm very attached to some of my souvenirs tbh but that's neither here nor there.

OP has always been really clear about why her daughter is interested in doing this.

Ilovepotato · 08/05/2024 19:32

If this is what your daughter is capable of at 17 she is going to be absolutely phenomenal as she gets more experience. I think £15 is definitely a saleable price - Maybe work on images which avoid unusual elements like the ear guards though as I didn’t know that’s what they were and also wondered why he horse had yellow ears! (But that itself didn’t put me off the painting, I thought it was quirky for it!)

Eieiom · 08/05/2024 19:33

She has talent, absolutely does.
Making cards/prints could be an option? Maybe local landmarks for local craft shops? Much less work and outlay once the design is finalised.

NotTidyAtAll · 08/05/2024 19:37

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?

Yes she’s good. Horses are notoriously difficult to paint. Why not try country fairs to start with, sell so,e ,and get some paid up front commissions for photographs

Toohot2trot · 08/05/2024 19:43

Well, I think its lovely and I would pay £15 for it, I would pay more if it was my horse

Hello38 · 08/05/2024 19:43

I wouldn't pay for it , but she has got some talent there which could improve . I for sure couldn't do anything like it .

CasadeCoca · 08/05/2024 19:44

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:32

If she wants a side hustle she should go for it - she'd be producing painted souvenirs, essentially. That's a different set of aesthetic considerations to fine art.

Fine Art has never been mentioned.

I'm very attached to some of my souvenirs tbh but that's neither here nor there.

OP has always been really clear about why her daughter is interested in doing this.

Sure, but most of this thread is about whether OP's DD is 'good enough', as though great aesthetic sensibilities are involved in reproducing pet photos.

I think my point is that questions about OP DD's potential as an artist have very little to do with whether she can reproduce an image of someone's alsatian.

EarthSight · 08/05/2024 19:48

Hi OP. I sell my work and have an excellent eye (can often draw something to the exact millimetre).

She definitely has potential and has years & years to refine and develop her skills further. The photo isn't great which doesn't show the picture at its best, but you can tell she's good by the way she's done the nose and the detail on the mouth.

The real test is if she can draw well freehand. A lot of people are able to paint or colour-in decently when they've used tracing, but without that, they fall flat.

With some polish and refinement, her work is worth at least £100, and that's the very minimum without framing She shouldn't sell herself short. The art world is a strange one and if people sell their work too cheaply, it can affect your reputation and people will associate you with getting discounts or freebies.

Also, if it's horses, think about the audience - they're not exactly poor and if they won multiple horses + land, they're usually wealthy. £15 is like 5p for them.

Also, £15 for even 1 hour of work is not in any way sustainable. I can't stress that enough. You have to think about framing, mounting, delivery, the time it takes to pack something, and the time spent talking to whoever's buying it.

She cannot start pricing her work based on a 'factory worker on an assembly line' model, whereby everything is prepared and laid out for her, she works solidly, stops, and that's it. Any artist who does this is destined to work themselves into the ground. She's not an assembly worker - she's the entire factory - including HR, marketing, customer service, procurement and finance.

SoupChicken · 08/05/2024 19:49

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:14

£15 for six hours work, and then to have customers nit pick and refuse to pay, I wouldn’t bother.

Are you at school?

And honestly yes it’s a good drawing, for an amateur, but it’s not good enough to charge for.

You forgot to add "In your opinion" @SoupChicken Quite a few posters on here have said they would pay for it.

I expect quite a few posters on here are of the ‘be kind’ variety and I’d be interested to see if they’d put their money where their mouths are…

Jellykat · 08/05/2024 19:50

She can but try, and she wont know until she does!

Love the Christmas themed drawing, she could get a run of those printed up to sell for sure.

As an aside, DS1 went to BIMM Bristol, its a great uni! hard to get into and i wish your DD all the best with her future application.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:51

*Sure, but most of this thread is about whether OP's DD is 'good enough', as though great aesthetic sensibilities are involved in reproducing pet photos.

I think my point is that questions about OP DD's potential as an artist have very little to do with whether she can reproduce an image of someone's alsatian.*

There's been a lot of talk about whether she's " good enough ". And lots of comparison to those who apparently are. Which is way over the line when the OP asked " would you buy this for 15 quid?

And I agree OP's potential as an artist never should have been up for discussion. Particularly as OP didn't ask, OP's daughter isn't considering it and 99.9% of people on here aren't qualified to say anyway.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 19:53

*Sure, but most of this thread is about whether OP's DD is 'good enough', as though great aesthetic sensibilities are involved in reproducing pet photos.

I think my point is that questions about OP DD's potential as an artist have very little to do with whether she can reproduce an image of someone's alsatian.**

( sorry - bold fail )

There's been a lot of talk about whether she's " good enough ". And lots of comparison to those who apparently are. Which is way over the line when the OP asked " would you buy this for 15 quid?

And I agree OP's potential as an artist never should have been up for discussion. Particularly as OP didn't ask, OP's daughter isn't considering it and 99.9% of people on here aren't qualified to say anyway.

Daisylookslost · 08/05/2024 19:56

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!
@WiddlinDiddlin agree with this!
OP I love your DD’s work It’s captured the spirt of the horse good on your DD! Sure she’s still learning and considering she’s in what year 1 AA is showing tremendous promise ❤️

DayDreamAllDay · 08/05/2024 20:00

I like it! I think you should try and sell. I reckon it would be a successful venture.

How lovely to have a talented DD.

Good luck!

Tinytigertail · 08/05/2024 20:06

She's definitely more talented than I am! but this does seem like fairly typical A Level art standard IMO.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/05/2024 20:07

expect quite a few posters on here are of the ‘be kind’ variety and I’d be interested to see if they’d put their money where their mouths are…

@SoupChicken

And quite a few of the total opposite.

Epidote · 08/05/2024 20:10

She can give it a try on demand. Someone said pet portraits, why not?