Who is right? 52 yr old v 16 yr old daughter

[Jazjoke]

Can you lovely people help?

My 16 yr old daughter has recently finished her gcse's and loves art as well as being academic

She draws in a modern style and is interested in gender neutral, same sex, modern styles/ tattoos

I have suggested that she set up an Etsy shop having some of her art printed on greeting cards as there seems to be a real gap in the market

She has a lack of belief anybody would purchase

I have merged some quick snaps taken on phone ( so not best quality) so you can see

A quick opinion would be much appreciated

I would love her to follow her dreams, but if I am way off happy to be told and will direct her to more traditional sat job ( she will be doing Alevels in Sept)

Any opinions welcome - thanks

I can’t give you any advice as an artist or any technicalities of art as I know nothing!

I can give you advice as someone that has brought art on Etsy.

I wouldn’t buy this art as I am not interested in the style. It’s not really to my taste, although in saying that I do quite like the third picture it has something about it that would make me click and view it.

I would say that there is quite a lot of artists at a similar level on Etsy and think you should encourage her to keep going and to find her own style not just what her teacher at school has shown her.

She clearly has a talent that would be such a waste to not develop!

I think she should try as many different styles and topics as possible.

Maybe try Etsy in a year or so when she has developed her own style and is more confident and practiced in her artwork.

Please do tell her that her pictures are very good.

I really like the one of the girl kissing guys cheek as another PP said. I'd buy that from Etsy. She's nothing to lose

Take Banksy or Warhole, a lot of people would call it mediocre, or simple, but it is art, and very popular. You could say, Banksy was at GCSE level or even younger, but his work is famous, there are people out there who will love your dd work. Encourage her, don't get her hopes up high, but support her in what she wants to do.

Sorry don't normally post so don't know how to tag people to say thanks - but the advice is really helpful
She is quite mature, and can be seen in mosh pit at Marilyn Manson/ Prodigy/ Nine Inch Nails concerts - she has been going since she was11 so seen quite a lot!
She has her own minds/ own interests and we are happy with that
We v def don't have a plan for her - just a Mum trying to be encouraging tonight
Prob miss sold her, just a wobbly moment, normally quite confident in who she is
Her world is not one I know - hence what now seems to be lame advice ( fine with being told this)
Some of your suggestions have been so helpful - thanks

Thatchersgold these are amazing
My world is SEND so truly appreciate the challenges your daughter faces and this type of achievement

Oh gosh Thatchers, my dd11 who has ASD, learning difficulties and is in SS loves Anime, and to draw it. She loves Studio Ghibli, and I was thinking later on of her selling some of her art the internet. She is very good bless her. Your dd art is very good btw.

Thanks Jaz, that means a lot. She finds the outside world so difficult (she can’t even pay for something in a shop), so her drawing is a bit of an escape for her. I’m encouraging her all I can as I think she’d have a happy life if she can make a living from it.

She has talent but it’s really difficult to sell greeting cared. I sell my art and also tried greeting cards. The cards didn’t sell but the art did. It’s really difficult to sell on Etsy. It’s getting seen that’s the problem because there is so much on there. I sell a lot on eBay and do really well. I also have a friend who has tried selling greeting cards whiteout much success. She needs to try and find something unique that people will buy

OP can you post some of her different art? Maybe some of the nature you said about?

Pictures aside, does she have to do 4 A levels next year?
That will stretch her very thinly and her art, her confidence and in turn how she feels about art and herself could suffer.

Honestly she would be better with 3 A levels and a part time job where she can be flexible with hours. Care home or similar.

Thanks Aeroflot! Dd’s Bedroom is like a shrine to all things Japanese, and she’s recently started dressing in fairy kei style, the next thing is she wants her hair dyed pink and lilac . Wish she knew someone in real life into the same stuff as she’s convinced she’s the only one into that kind of thing. Best of luck to your dd.

Something like society6 is likely to be better than Etsy. No outlay then and no products to actually produce, they will just print phone covers, cushions, mugs etc. with the artwork you supply and sell direct.

Thatcher's I work in education and see the damage the system can do for kids with ASD, so realise the enormity of her challenges and how confusing having a true gift like your daughter has, with the flip of her unable to buy an item in a shop. For different reasons ( health) my daughter was limitations to what she can do, so like you am trying to encourage her to follow her interests and hopefully she will find a way in life where she can be happy and healthy - it's a long life hopefully, being happy has to be a priority
Sure your daughter and mine will find their way- may not be conventional but we are fine with that, as prob like you, her journey till here hasn't been conventional either

Banksy and Warhole are neither mediocre nor simple art!!! Especially Warhole. Blimey.

they are the kind of thing i would buy one mugs or a tshirt rather than a postcard/greetings card. but she has talent, it has to be worth a go!

Oh my goodness Thatchers your dd sounds like mine, her bedroom is also a shrine to things Studio Ghibli and Anima, she sounds like dd so much. Sorry to hyjack your thread Jaz Though dd art is not as good as your dd, it is a work in progress, and how she expresses herself, as she is not able to express herself in other more mainstream ways.

Yes like your dd, she cannot buy things in a shop, or be as independent as her peers, and can be isolated because of her ASD

Well frog, art is subjective, and some might view it as that actually. It is not everyone's cup of tea. Some people have said that they would buy op dd art, that they really like it, some do not. It is like Tracey Emins unmade bed, that won the Turner prize, for me it was bloody awful, and not art at all, but for some people it is.

She has a talent but it does look like a GCSE portfolio. If she loves what she is doing, perhaps encourage her to try an Art foundation course.

No worries
Nice to hear of like minded Mums supporting their girls
DD currently planning on dyeing her long hair blue after Prom and already has books of tattoo designs she is planning on
Nice to hear of girls having strong sense of who they are

@ThatchersCold, where in the country do you live? There is an annual anime expo in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and there will now also be one in Liverpool. Look up Sunnycon Anime Expo. I'm sure she'd meet plenty of like-minded people if she went to either of these. The Newcastle one is this weekend, so a bit short notice but the Liverpool one is later this year.

W

Etsy can be difficult to get started on and I think is more clothing/accessories focused.

Personally, I would look into social media such as instagram and tumblr- I follow a few artists on tumblr who make money (I'm not sure how much) doing commissions. If she is comfortable drawing fantasy style art there is a market for people who want drawings of D&D characters or covers for their novels and the like. It sounds bit niche but I see people charge 20-30$ for them!

If she can build up a following, then this could transfer well to an etsy shop in the future.

I do think there is more of a market for art with a bit of a purpose as well- so perhaps a calendar based around the zodiac or with themed picture for each month. I have also seen some people do very well selling tarot decks they have designed, but this is obviously hard work.

It does take time to build up a following, but she is as talented as people I see doing this successfully, so could definitely give it a go!

Tattoo designs is another area she could get commissions from.

@thatcherscold your daughter's pictures are utterly amazing, and I WOULD buy them! She could have a career in drawing for comics.

That IS a gifted child.

Sorry @jazjoke, but as someone who works in an industry that deals with stuff like this, I'm afraid your daughter isn't gifted. She is quite good and has a bit of a talent for art, but not really any more than any other 14-16 y.o who does art at school.

From what you have posted, there is nothing special about her pictures.

The difference between thatcherscolds daughter's pics and your daughters pics is phenomenal.

You kind of seem a little bit like a pushy mom who thinks her daughter sounds like Mariah Carey, and wants to push her onto talent shows, when she sounds like every unknown other girl singer.

Pushing her to try to sell her wares is a bad move. She really isn't good enough. I don't anyone who would buy her work.

Sorry if I offend you. I'm just being honest.