Daisies - is this ‘commercial’ enough to sell?

[DraughtyWindow]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently taken up painting again and am trying to put together a portfolio to submit to galleries. Not sure whether this is ‘commercial’ enough to sell...? It’s currently unframed. I picked some daisies from my pony’s field, arranged them and painted them on a whim. It’s not actually a painting I’d hang in my own house, so I’m not sure if anyone else would either. So I’m just asking if you could imagine it hanging in anyone’s house?

Not sure what the current ‘trends’ are either - having looked at galleries, there’s a massive selection.

I mainly paint horses in soft pastel, oil, gouache or acrylic and one gallery has suggested I just stick to this subject. But there are already so many excellent equestrian artists in this area I’m a bit .

My confidence is rock bottom. But I do need to earn extra money to pay vets bills for pony!

Thoughts appreciated. TIA

I think it’s beautiful.

It's lovely and you are very talented.

It's not something I would have in my house though, not because there is anything wrong with it, it's just not my style.

I would buy it if I could afford it!!

I love it!

It's beautiful! You're very skilled. I really love botanical drawings and have a collection of Victorian watercolours of ferns framed in my bedroom. But my taste is probably quite old fashioned despite being in my mid twenties.

Have you thought about offering personalised portraits of people's horses on etsy or similar? A lot of my horsey friends have bought portraits of their horses and their houses are choc full of horsey art works - so it must be a good seller as a subject.

I agree it is beautiful

You definitely are talented and I think you should ask the galleries if certain themes sell well - in case that helps?

I think it's fab but also I can't picture where I would put it in my home so wouldn't buy it.

It wouldn't go in my house becuase I like really striking vibrant colours but I certainly wouldn't think it looked out of place in someone else's home! You're very good, what about local shops that feature artists on a sale or return basis

Paint what you like to paint and your enthusiasm will shine through! I think it's lovely and can see it in a frame.

That’s really lovely. I would buy that! Particularly if it is small - A4 or less

That is beautiful! You are very talented. Have you thought of making your artwork into other products, such as mugs, coasters, etc? I have seen the work of an artist who paints hares (can't remember the name), and she has the same print on all sorts of products.

I think it's lovely OP

It's lovely and you're very talented. I agree with others, though, that the style might not go with contemporary decor. Have you thought about greetings cards? Don't think there's much money in it, though!
There does seem to be a market for proper botanical artists - and you're not far off!

Where do you live? I wonder if any stately home/eco-site would be interested in paintings of local wild flowers? Or a mini-florilegium from their garden?
Good luck. And don't give up.

Gosh. Thank you everyone for your comments, I really appreciate your input - it’s really, really useful. Art is very subjective so I don’t mind if people wouldn’t buy it, let alone hang it! (I wouldn’t! Which makes me wonder why the hell I painted it in the first place?! )

Here are 2 more. I don’t seem to have one ‘style’. I think galleries want artists that are instantly recognisable from their work?

Commissions of horses and pets I find difficult as I’m provided with photo’s that are either too small or out of focus. Apart from my phone, I don’t have a fancy camera. The pony painting I did recently was from a professional shoot of our pony 3 years ago.

I’ll take on board all your suggestions though as I don’t want to poo-poo ideas I’ve not yet tried. (I’m in the SE by the way).

The zebra is from an image I found on the web - probably can’t sell that as I’ve found a) someone else has also painted it and b) I’m thinking the photograph is copyrighted! D’oh

What shall I paint next? Which style do you prefer? Please help! I need inspiration from you lovely people.

I think the painting of your pony as fabulous. You are very talented.
What do you like painting the most? I also wondered about greeting cards. The picture of the daisies is a little bland but still lovely and I do appreciate it was done on the spur of the moment.
I love flowers but I would prefer something with more colour.

Ozimandiusking Thank you. I hope DD likes it too as it’s for her birthday on Friday!

Yes, I certainly agree with the daisies being a bit wishy-washy. I spent most of my younger years working in watercolour and have only recently ventured into oils. They always terrified me but in a lot of respects, I find them easier than acrylic as they take ages to dry.

I’m most comfortable painting horses. Probably because I’ve always had them and am therefore familiar with their bones and muscles etc. I’m actually useless at drawing people.

I think I might do some research into the greeting card idea. Many thanks for your input.

The daisies are beautiful.

The zebra is stunning.

The pony is the best!

Wow - you’re very talented. I’m sure there will be a market for your art.

I do bits n bobs of interior design and I love using prints of butterfly’s / dragonflies & botanical prints - I would say they are quite popular also. It’s quite trendy to hang say 3, 4 or 6 prints of similar but slightly differing botanical paintings/ prints. I have a triptych of different butterflies in my own home and often use this method to create impact. That zebra is amazing - I would do him from different angles with different coloured backgrounds also. Would look fab in a more modern home.

If my DD's christening gifts are anything to go by, that Daisy painting will be snapped up by a godparent to a wee Daisy!

I love all 3. You are so talented . I probably wouldn't buy the daisies for myself but I have a friend who I might have bought it for. I would definitely buy the zebra. The horse I would commission a portrait like that of one of my animals, but probably not buy out of a gallery as a portrait of a random person's horse as beautiful as it is.

I would hang the daisies in my home! Love the equine paintings too. You're very talented

I only buy and display very modern abstract art but despite it not being my thing I can see you have enormous talent.
Horses are incredibly hard to paint and draw and I’ve seen so many pictures over the years that are just not quite right and thus really unsettling to look at.
But I have stared at yours and it’s perfect.

How about doing a series of drawings that reflect the area you are in? I think buyers and galleries like a story behind the paintings.
So if you can say these daisies are from X woods and the horse lives in Y pasture and here are some butterflies from Z etc etc and treat it like a local exploration then I can see them selling.

All 3 are great, the daisys are lovely, but my favourite is the zebra, it's fantastic. The pony is also great! I would ask you to do one of my pony but he's ancient and is getting very friendly with the vet in his old age so I'm broke at the moment.

for some unknown reason I can never open pictures on posts on here but I would say if you are a talented artist why don't you look at getting some made as gift cards or bookmarks or prints to sell at craft fayres or through Etsy etc.