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 would pay for something of a similar quality of, say, my dog or a favourite tree or something like that. It could work really well as commissioned birthday or Christmas presents.

Fear often looks like love, when they are scared to say anything else.

She’s done a lot better than I could do, but I don’t think it’s sellable good yet

ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Your user name fits perfectly!

I thinks it’s more that she’s been badly taught than lacks talent. I have a friend who paints horses for a living. She was on Sky arts animal portraits artist of the year.

You're kidding? No way there's another artist in the world who is better than the op's teenage daughter!?

Wow. Mind blown.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

This thread!

They would plead to be in my class. Come to me when other teachers upset them.

You have no idea. You weren’t there.

Nobody cares.

It's brilliant for her age. I'd be very proud.
As a way to make money I think she'll find it much easier and quicker to work in a pub/ restaurant/ all the usual ways.
I wouldn't push her to sell as you're risking losing her enjoyment.

As a horse lover it's rare to see people get the proportions right and a lovely eye placing too. This looks like a kind horse. I absolutely think if she polished some of the the finishing bits she could get pictures like this done as small prints or cards for local shops. For one painting you can then sell many times over. I always buy cards at fairs and things as I can't impulse buy a big painting but would rather buy cards from someone directly instead of Asda etc.

I wonder what you say to yourself when you look in the mirror?
As it is there are well liked teachers at my son's school - they all sound nicer than the picture you are painting, pardon the pun, of yourself!

I think it is lovely and would be very proud if my daughter produced it.

I buy art in a variety of styles. I wouldn't pay for that picture but that's not to see there might not be others she could sell.

On another note, please do encourage her to look beyond BIMM. Some people do well there but they don't have the best reputation, partly because they are becoming so big and corporate.

Tell her to consider places like Waterbear (Brighton or Sheffield), LIPA or Leeds.

I would be so proud if my dc created that.

I wouldn't buy art of that quality though.

Turning a hobby into a business is a sure fire way to kill the passion for it though.

Does she want to do pet portraits?
Maybe once she finds her niche she needs to promote her art and see if she can get commissions. It's a saturated market.

My youngest sells commissions ranging from £45-100 . They have a large portfolio and over 100k following on discord/deviant art. It's not consistent work but they can accept or decline depending on if they feel like it.

Might be a good side project while studying

I have often found some teachers to be emotionally stunted as they never actually leave the school environment and don't develop good people skills with actual adults. You seem a good example of this 😳

It’s really good. I would expect to pay £100-£300 for that.

Do it in a smart way - eg. Do not market it as an art but unique bespoke (personalized) gift with special meanings

Hi OP,

My sibling is an amazing artist and from when younger (maybe a little older than your DD) attempted to make a living from pretty much any kind of art you can imagine - pet portraits, human portraits, greeting cards, wall mural commissions, watercolour landscapes, jewellery, t-shirt prints, everything! It is very, very hard to make money in art unless you get some kind of big break or find a unique niche.

Your DD's art is great and I'm sure at £15 she would find someone who would be willing to buy her work... but is it really worth it for six hours of her time? Plus once money is changing hands (however little!) buyers will feel they have the right to criticise or to demand certain things are changed etc. In the end my sib decided it was more hassle and stress than the financial reward was worth. They're now a very successful tattooist which seems to be where most of the money lies in mainstream/realist art!

If I were your DD I would keep this as a lovely hobby and a way to make people presents, but would avoid trying to use it as a money making endeavour. I know my sibling used to end up near tears regularly with the frustration and it nearly ruined their passion for art at some points.

I really like it. It's decent.

Would she consider doing my cat for me?! If so, please PM me

I know someone who sells pet art and I wouldn't say she makes an actual sustainable living from it as she has a high earning DH but she does have commissions and does cards etc which she sells at markets.

And hers are no better or worse than your DD's.

Has your DD considered setting up a business painting murals on walls/kids bedrooms etc?

You don't have to be Renoir to do that kind of thing but it seems very popular around my way.

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.

OP, no matter what strangers on the internet say the only way you'll know for sure is to actually offer her work for sale.
Why not start with 'family and friends' as PP say? What's she got to lose?

I wouldn't pay even £15 to a stranger on FB , but I would to encourage a friend/family member. As long as they didn't expect me to display it. My arty friends were much better than this at 16 with shading, dimension, their own style etc all very clear.

The important thing here is she wants to do it.

Also bear in mind that AI can create much better realistic paintings/drawings from a photo , than anybody else. She needs a signature style

I think there is something a little off with texture/shine/reflection and possibly proportion slightly, that she could improve to make the work more "professional". It looks a little dull and basic. (I'm being very critical here, I would be delighted and very impressed with myself if I could paint anything half as good as this!)

But the main thing that will make her work sellable is either commissioning (eg pet portraits) or adding some style/flair, something that gives her work a bit of flavour/interest beyond (in this instance) just being a good approximation of a horse.

Right now I would say it is not good enough to buy but that is not to say that it isn't still very good or that noone would buy it.

Teachers at school tried telling my dh that he would never make a living from music. I'd love them to see our lifestyle now!

I think she's done an amazing job. The horse's eye really captures my attention. As another poster said it looks like a kind horse. Bravo 🙌