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?

I agree with this. £15 really is not much for a personal pet portrait. You accept the standard will not be the same as a professional artist, but you are not paying professional artist prices.

possibly

but given it’s all speculation that the DD suddenly uploaded the painting to her SM despite the OP not even hinting she had, we can’t really be sure what we’re debating actually is the scenario!

*against what?

my first post i said she obviously had taken and skill but i wouldn’t buy*

Give us break. You didn't.

and he’s out!

it been fun debating, and made a long hot wait pass much quicker than otherwise 🙏

clearly not with 7 orders coming in that very day! 🥳

but given it’s all speculation that the DD suddenly uploaded the painting to her SM despite the OP not even hinting she had, we can’t really be sure what we’re debating actually is the scenario!

Tbh I'm not speculating. I've got no reason not to believe OP. I don't think 7 from friend & family at £20 a pop is strange.

It's you that speculating.

clearly not with 7 orders coming in that very day! 🥳

Can't even leave without snark.

@beetforever what has annoyed you so much ?

I don't want to sound mean... But I don't think it's significantly any better than any other GCSE or A-Level art piece I've seen. I wouldn't buy it personally.

Patrons of fine art are different to patrons of pet memorabilia as this thread has evidenced. People who want a pet likeness above all else are motivated from a different place from people who want original art which says something meaningful about beauty or truth etc.

Wanting an attractive likeness of one's pet is wholly legitimate.

Guys we are up to 10!!! That’ £200 for DD and she is absolutely elated…

I’ve been working today but this thread has given me a good chuckle in my break.

@beetforever You ok hun?! You seem to have a quite an invested interest for someone that wasn’t that impressed. It’s ok you can move, the world will go on.

DD’s orders have been a mixture of FB (mine and lady who DD made the card for) and 3 from Snapchat, people in DD’s school who had seen my post.

Very outing now standing tall for all us pushy controlling…but mostly proud mums but DD’s younger sister both have quite big horsey Instagram accounts so I’m very excited to see what interest we get when we pop on there but I’ll hold off for a while till DD clears her feet with existing commissions.

As a conclusion to the question I asked in my OP, could DD sell her art, it turns out yes, yes she can!

Well done to her!!

@themotherhoodproject excellent news 😊

*Patrons of fine art are different to patrons of pet memorabilia as this thread has evidenced. People who want a pet likeness above all else are motivated from a different place from people who want original art which says something meaningful about beauty or truth etc.

Wanting an attractive likeness of one's pet is*

Throughout history Art is littered with images of people's pets. "Patrons of Art "have always wanted images of their animals. As have artists. I don't need an explanation of the difference thanks.

You are the one who used the words " more discerning" as a judgement. Yep and that was mean. And obviously more discerning very often means " more wealthy " because obviously I'd probably rather Hockney or Freud drew my dog ( and they've drawn/painted many ) than the kid down the road who costs £20. But you know, ££££.

Actually I'd go Craigie Aitchison as he often paints his Bedlington Terrier and I have one of those.

It appears that this painting enterprise was never anything more than a fun side hustle, and that was stated really clearly in the OP, but some posters are so intent on "pointing out" either that it's no good or how not to do it or that it's not Fine Art ( as if anyone cares ) for a discerning audience. It's unbelievable.

👏🏼 yay OP's girl.

Better get 🎨🖌️

Dear Lord, the poor girls got a few commissions for pet portraits from her doubtless enormous circle of mates (because that's how teenagers roll) not an invitation from the Pope to repaint the bleedin' Sistine Chapel! Not hard to believe, at all.

Well done her @themotherhoodproject

I care because I think OP's DD is potentially creating interesting work, but is being criticised for things like faithfully reproducing the exact length of a horse's nose. (Of course pets appear in fine art but not with the motivation of creating facsimiles).

Very early on in the thread and myself and other posters suggested that there was little point in asking strangers on MN - all the DD had to do was upload a drawing or two on her social media and ask if anyone was interested! Which she's done, hence the result.

I also said that while I wouldn't pay for this art from a stranger, I would, for a low price, to support a mate. Again, certain PP were 😱 at the prospect but looking at the number of commissions received , I'm not the only one.

@sunglassesonthetable Had quite a go at me actually for my stating my opinions on this becoming a bigger, regular side gig, which IMO would be a bit harder seeing the quality of other work out there. After all, at £20 and 6 hours of work she's making below minimum wage.

But that's not related to the original question, which is 'can this be sold for £15' (or £20* which is the most I was prepared to pay). And the answer is clearly that it can....

Job done 😂😂😂

Of course pets appear in fine art but not with the motivation of creating facsimiles).

Well I disagree but now's not the time or place.

Christ, I'm cringing on behalf of the posters who have gone on and on on this thread. A lighthearted thread that should have been about celebrating a 17 year olds talent (whether sellable or not!). Imagine sat getting so worked up about that. That's what it all boils down to isn't it? Someone who has a talented child.

Lighthearted ? Are you joking?

Have you seen some of the replies about a teenager's painting enterprise?

You'd think OP was trying to get the horse picture into the Venice Biennale ( and pretending it had been accepted )

Great news OP, but I hope you've got all the required legal bits and bobs in place if your DD is now taking commissions rather than just selling to family.

It will be even more vital if you end up moving onto Instagram and selling online. There's a whole host of legal obligations you'll need to make sure you're complying with.

It's not difficult but can be a bit time-consuming to set up but once it's done, it's done.

With all due respect, the op did ask whether her dd’s art was good enough to sell, so she was seeking people’s opinion, and that’s is what she got, both positive and negative.

She could have just posted a ‘look how good my dd’s paintings are - proud mum’ post, rather than asking a question. I think she would have got different responses.

I have @sunglassesonthetable .
Yeah @Riverlee that's not what I was talking about.
Edited to remove a stray question mark.