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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
Goldenbear · 09/05/2024 08:51

PuddlesPityParty · 09/05/2024 06:10

OP people are being deliberately obtuse on this thread - pay them no mind!

This OP, unfortunately nobody really knows the motivations of people posting on MN anymore.

OrlandointheWilderness · 09/05/2024 08:57

God best tell Munnings his pet facsimiles aren't required!! That's a shame, Whistlejacket is one of my favourites... 😂
Or any other artist to ever sell portraits of animals. When do you draw the line?! Leonardo Da Vinci used the grid method - do we discount his work as not art too?!

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 09:07

Sorry, " pet facsimile "

🤣

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 09/05/2024 09:19

OrlandointheWilderness · 09/05/2024 08:57

God best tell Munnings his pet facsimiles aren't required!! That's a shame, Whistlejacket is one of my favourites... 😂
Or any other artist to ever sell portraits of animals. When do you draw the line?! Leonardo Da Vinci used the grid method - do we discount his work as not art too?!

whispers

Munnings didn't paint whistlejacket, although I am sure he wishes he did.

Whistlejacket was painted by George Stubbs

beetforever · 09/05/2024 09:22

Since yesterday afternoon she’s had 7 orders from friends and family?

How did she rustle up that in an afternoon? had you messages family and friends alongside this thread?

CasadeCoca · 09/05/2024 09:23

OrlandointheWilderness · 09/05/2024 08:57

God best tell Munnings his pet facsimiles aren't required!! That's a shame, Whistlejacket is one of my favourites... 😂
Or any other artist to ever sell portraits of animals. When do you draw the line?! Leonardo Da Vinci used the grid method - do we discount his work as not art too?!

I think we have already established this is not the market OPs DD is entering. 😁

CasadeCoca · 09/05/2024 09:25

And I suspect their patrons were rather more discerning than the pet portrait market.

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 09:33

*Since yesterday afternoon she’s had 7 orders from friends and family?

How did she rustle up that in an afternoon? had you messages family and friends alongside this thread?*

@beetforever

Here with the joy as per. ☀️Have you heard of teens and social media?

Goldenbear · 09/05/2024 09:45

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 09:33

*Since yesterday afternoon she’s had 7 orders from friends and family?

How did she rustle up that in an afternoon? had you messages family and friends alongside this thread?*

@beetforever

Here with the joy as per. ☀️Have you heard of teens and social media?

Yes, baffling as to why posters care so much!

Roundandroundthegard3n · 09/05/2024 09:52

This thread is hilarious. Who even says facsimile these days? 😂

Peonies12 · 09/05/2024 09:56

Honestly, I wouldn’t buy that. But she could test the water with some commissions. Her decision though - stay out of it!

Roundandroundthegard3n · 09/05/2024 09:59

Mumsnet is so fucking weird.

Here's a teenage girl with some talent for art, i know, let's tear her down and stamp all over her for daring to think she's an artist or that people might like her work. She's still learning. Some people just have a very, very narrow minded view of what art is, and particularly hate other girls/women daring to think they're good at something. (Even if it is just making "pet facsimiles")

Newsflash - if you create art, you're an artist, regardless of how good other people think your art is. She could paint for herself and never show another living soul - she would still be an artist. It's ok for women to claim titles to themselves like artist if they want to. There isn't a minimum standard at which you can say you're an artist.

Why would anyone want to be so nasty about a teenage girl who enjoys being creative?

Bloody mad this place.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 09/05/2024 10:04

themotherhoodproject · 09/05/2024 08:06

OMG RTFT

She does have a part time waitressing job.

This is just a bit of pocket money to run alongside while working on her technique, building up a portfolio doing something she enjoys!!!

Well she should still value her work and price it accordingly.

If she is as good as you believe she will in future regret devaluing her work to get extra pocket money.

She should paint the pictures she wants to paint for practice using good materials and offer them at a fair price. If they don't sell store them carefully for the future.

Taking commissions will limit her and put unnecessary pressure on that will hinder her development. So she should sell finished works rather than seeking commissions.

My DH is a professional artist. In his 30s he sold some drawings he did for practice after finishing his GCSE aged 16. They fetched four figures each, and enabled him to give up the part time job. He was very glad he didn't sell them for pocket money then.

He regrets selling some of the cheap pictures he did when just starting out, either because they were good and he undervalued them or in some cases because they weren't good enough and are out there with his signature on.

Given that she has a job already she has no need to sell pictures unless people are prepared to pay a fair price for them, encourage her to have enough pride to price her time properly.

TheSunHasGotItsHatOnHipHipHipHooray · 09/05/2024 10:14

themotherhoodproject · 08/05/2024 20:14

Thanks everyone that’s DD had 3 orders and has taken on peoples advice and charging £20 for a a card size painting, she is absolutely delighted and that definitely pay for gig or two!!

For anyone who wondered we have given this lovely horses portrait to its owner and her reaction has really made our day, she cried and said it was the best present she has ever received.

That’s lovely OP. Such a thoughtful and generous thing to do. 🙂

Calliopespa · 09/05/2024 10:18

CasadeCoca · 09/05/2024 09:25

And I suspect their patrons were rather more discerning than the pet portrait market.

Oh this is just mean. Pet portraits are lovely things to have and pet owners can’t all afford to have it done by Richard Stone.

There are markets and markets and some are pitched more accessibly than others.

SabreIsMyFave · 09/05/2024 10:23

Angrymum22 · 08/05/2024 23:18

She gave up art at A level, chose a more lucrative use of her artistic skills ( as did her DM and myself).
For Op benefit her is one of her dog greetings cards, again she charges at least £50 because they are usually framed but they taker her about an hour to do.

She has developed her style post A level. She tries to catch the character rather than photographic accuracy, I hope she continues to draw for leisure but is more likely to be seen on a building site complete with hard hat and wellies bossy the contractors.

She was also a talented musician. I think art and music go hand in hand. We are a family of artists but none of us have become artists although we all rely on this ability to do our jobs.

I think your daughter is very talented OP, encourage her to develop her own style then see where it goes.

@Angrymum22 I can't work out from your post (sorry) who did this painting/drawing? It's wonderful! Smile

Is DD’s art work good enough to sell.
OrlandointheWilderness · 09/05/2024 10:29

@JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon oh of course it was, honestly! Blame the 2 hours sleep, I cannot believe I'd get my artists so muddled 😂
Balls! 😂

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 10:37

*Well she should still value her work and price it accordingly.

If she is as good as you believe she will in future regret devaluing her work to get extra pocket money.

She should paint the pictures she wants to paint for practice using good materials and offer them at a fair price. If they don't sell store them carefully for the future.

Taking commissions will limit her and put unnecessary pressure on that will hinder her development. So she should sell finished works rather than seeking commissions.

My DH is a professional artist. In his 30s he sold some drawings he did for practice after finishing his GCSE aged 16. They fetched four figures each, and enabled him to give up the part time job. He was very glad he didn't sell them for pocket money then.

He regrets selling some of the cheap pictures he did when just starting out, either because they were good and he undervalued them or in some cases because they weren't good enough and are out there with his signature on.

Given that she has a job already she has no need to sell pictures unless people are prepared to pay a fair price for them, encourage her to have enough pride to price her time properly.*

Point well and truly missed.

SabreIsMyFave · 09/05/2024 10:49

Roundandroundthegard3n · 09/05/2024 09:59

Mumsnet is so fucking weird.

Here's a teenage girl with some talent for art, i know, let's tear her down and stamp all over her for daring to think she's an artist or that people might like her work. She's still learning. Some people just have a very, very narrow minded view of what art is, and particularly hate other girls/women daring to think they're good at something. (Even if it is just making "pet facsimiles")

Newsflash - if you create art, you're an artist, regardless of how good other people think your art is. She could paint for herself and never show another living soul - she would still be an artist. It's ok for women to claim titles to themselves like artist if they want to. There isn't a minimum standard at which you can say you're an artist.

Why would anyone want to be so nasty about a teenage girl who enjoys being creative?

Bloody mad this place.

Calm down you'll give yourself a nosebleed.

OP asked what people thought, and people have given their views and opinions. Most have been kind. A few have given constructive criticism... @ArseInTheCoOpWindow may not have come across very well, (little bit abrupt!) but she was an art teacher, so she knows what she's talking about.

As for, 'anyone who produces a picture or drawing is an artist,' there may well be a grain of truth in that, but good luck trying to sell your work. Most people want proper top quality work, or something very unique. Some would argue that L.S. Lowry's paintings weren't very sophisticated, but he sold millions with his little 'matchstalk men.'

I am 5 ft 4 and slightly overweight, but I scrub up quite well. If I go and put a pretty dress on, and nice make up, and do my hair, and do some self timed photos, does that make me a model? Will people pay me for my photos, and pay me to model clothes for them because I scrubbed up OK? No. I can't just be a model just because I took some half decent posed photos, any more than anyone can 'just be an artist' because they rustled up a few drawings and paintings!

Whilst we need to nurture the talent and gifts of our children, we can't just blithely walk through life, telling them every single thing they do - and produce - is super brilliant, (and then get all huffy and butthurt when people disagree.) You are also setting them up for a fall, and to be laughed at and mocked.

I know a woman who has a 17 y.o. daughter who has produced 2 books, and has them on Amazon, and I have read both of them.

They are soooo bad! 😬 Bad grammar, spelling errors, inconsistencies in the story, one part where she says Stafford borders Wales, and similar mistakes. I would never say anything to her, (she would not listen anyway and would say I am 'jealous!') But these 2 books are poor. And others I have spoken to have said the same. But according to this woman, her daughter is a 'writer.' I think she has sold about 30 books!

It's like these parents who used to take their (teen and young adult) children on X factor, thinking they sounded like Celine Dion or Whitney Houston. The judges would tell them they weren't good enough, and had a long way to go, and they'd throw a tantrum and storm off the stage, and the parents would yell at the judges and tell them they don't know what they are talking about. I imagine the OP (and a few other posters here,) acting the same when they're told 'no!'

beetforever · 09/05/2024 11:01

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 09:33

*Since yesterday afternoon she’s had 7 orders from friends and family?

How did she rustle up that in an afternoon? had you messages family and friends alongside this thread?*

@beetforever

Here with the joy as per. ☀️Have you heard of teens and social media?

i must have missed the OP’s update where she says her DD posted the pic on social media and said she was available for orders, and her friends spoke to their families and friends and in the space of a few hours… 7 orders

beetforever · 09/05/2024 11:04

has anyone on this thread contacted the OP for an order out of interest?

fisherking1 · 09/05/2024 11:05

Why are you going to report the thread?

beetforever · 09/05/2024 11:05

fisherking1 · 09/05/2024 11:05

Why are you going to report the thread?

just chewing the fat

Catandsquirrel · 09/05/2024 11:14

Roundandroundthegard3n · 09/05/2024 09:59

Mumsnet is so fucking weird.

Here's a teenage girl with some talent for art, i know, let's tear her down and stamp all over her for daring to think she's an artist or that people might like her work. She's still learning. Some people just have a very, very narrow minded view of what art is, and particularly hate other girls/women daring to think they're good at something. (Even if it is just making "pet facsimiles")

Newsflash - if you create art, you're an artist, regardless of how good other people think your art is. She could paint for herself and never show another living soul - she would still be an artist. It's ok for women to claim titles to themselves like artist if they want to. There isn't a minimum standard at which you can say you're an artist.

Why would anyone want to be so nasty about a teenage girl who enjoys being creative?

Bloody mad this place.

I think it's been quite a kind thread overall. Most people have said something along the lines of 'she's very talented and that's a lovely painting but in my opinion, it isn't a to standard I would pay for or want to display yet'.

That's what the thread was asking. It's not about the specific price point, but about would people want the painting on their walls or to give it as a card. Bear in mind there is no sentimental attachment to the horse in the portrait or the artist.

sunglassesonthetable · 09/05/2024 11:16

i must have missed the OP’s update where she says her DD posted the pic on social media and said she was available for orders, and her friends spoke to their families and friends and in the space of a few hours… 7 orders

You didn't miss it. Because an itinerary of the day is not a requirement. Gutting for the conspiracists out there I know.

Do you use Snap Chat ? Or TikTok?