Not sure whether portrait is a joke or not

[CallMeAChopper]

My friend is a hobby artist and does portraits for £30 each. She’s good at what she does but a) admits that there are some people sfe just can’t draw and b) has a dark sense of humour and messes around sometimes

My daughter is 2 years old and when you ask her to smile she bares all teeth and looks angry, it’s very funny but as a result all of her photos look like she’s growling at the camera. I asked my friend if she would do a portrait of me and DD as a Christmas present to my mum. Obviously I’m paying her.

She kept sending me updates but only of “my” part, all the photos had DD either covered up or cut off the photo. Anyway she’s now sent me the finished full version and asked whether I’m happy with it. It’s bloody hideous! She’s done a spot on version of me but DD looks like the girl from the exorcist! I know she was doing her growl face on the photo but the drawing seems to have exaggerated it and made her look really grotesque - I mean it literally looks like the cover of a horror movie.

Problem is I don’t know whether she’s joking or not!! If I laugh and tell her “good joke” and she didn’t do it on purpose it’s going to really upset her! But I can’t accept it like it is. I literally gasped when I saw it and then burst out laughing.

How on earth do I find out whether she’s joking or not without upsetting her if she isn’t?

@MoiraNotRuby

The only way to see if it is a joke, but not offend your friend if it isn't, has to be by criticising your DD, and not your friend. 'OMG you have captured DD perfectly but how have I never noticed how angry she looks, I'm going to have to teach her how to smile properly '

I like this idea -

I’ve just sent her a message saying “thank you, really wish I could get DD to smile though, she looks possessed (both in the photo and the drawing! Lol”

Will see what she says 😬

As you're paying her I think you need to treat it like a business transaction and tell her that you are not happy with your daughter's portrait.

Amateur art is always shit, that’s why it’s amateur. £30 for a portrait is so ridiculously cheap, you’ve got what you’ve paid for.

I think that’s the best message you could have written.

Well i guess if you pay up and play along she will reveal the real one if it is a joke? Does it look like the photo you provided?

As a side note my dd used to do this at this age, everyone thought it was hilarious but i found it frustrating i could never get a nice picture with a proper smile. I honestly look back at pictures now and I love the 'smiles' she pulled. If it wasn't a joke you could always keep it and look back and laugh in the future.

That's a great message op

The thing is although the portrait of me is great, it doesn’t seem quite finished compared to her other work - it seems a bit rushed so I’m really hoping this is a joke one she did and she has another one ready to reveal 😂

If it is a joke can we see it?

Good message there

Seems like quite a nasty joke to play.

It'll be interesting to see what she says.

However, given that you gave her a picture with DD 'grinning' then it's not really that surprising that's what she drew if you didn't discuss changing it.

If she's done it in good faith I'd pay her & put it away for the future when it will seem cute and if you want one with DD looking less possessed, supply her with a suitable photo, even if she draws from the original of you both, just was DD's face on the second photo AND talk to her about 'you' not looking completed.

Make sure she's not on a tight schedule to get it to you.

This could still end up in the daily mail without a picture.

@flyingant

I'd say thanks, pay up then put it in the bin and put it down to experience.

Yep, exactly that.

However, given that you gave her a picture with DD 'grinning' then it's not really that surprising that's what she drew if you didn't discuss changing it

She drew what you'd given her, did you ask her to change it?

Aw let us see please.

I reckon she's winding you up.

I think you pay her, put it away and bring it out again for DDs wedding! The growling "say cheese" face is common in toddlers and honestly seems funnier once they are past it.

You gave her a growl photo, but she was meant to make her smile? It's on you, I'm afraid, you can't complain.

When she reveals to you that it is in fact a joke, then you can post the picture

Can you mark up the picture on your phone with DAILY MAIL SUCKS written all over it or something and post it for us all? Please!!

If you gave her a photo of your daughter to work from that you weren’t happy with, then it’s on you.

An artist can copy a photo, but can’t just try to imagine what the subjects would look like with a different expression, and put that on the paper - she’s not magic!

If you want it changed, send her another headshot and ask if she can do one of you in the original pose, and your daughter from the new one.

Hope it is a joke

I hope it's a joke!

Stop asking your dd to smile!!

In all seriousness the artists that I know wouldn't spend time doing a joke piece of work. They get paid little enough as it is to be able to add additional time on.

Today 09:01 flyingant

I'd say thanks, pay up then put it in the bin and put it down to experience“

Yep, this.

I'd quietly bin the monstrosity portrait, never mention it again and get something else for your mum. Thankfully there's still plenty of time.

I am BEGGING you to post the picture. Please! PleasePleasePlease! Has anyone got anything we can barter on the thread in an effort to persuade @CallMeAChopper?

I have a deeply unflattering pic DS drew in my 39th birthday card - will share that if you post it?