Pet portraits - brutally honest opinions needed

[Brokkoli]

I have little confidence and have been selling pet portraits for £35 each. Buyers always say they’re happy with them but my lack of confidence tells me they’re just being nice

Would love to do it as more of a business rather than a hobby.

im thick skinned, please be honest

They're really good and you are massively undercharging.

The current state of the cat 😂

Do A3 and charge a lot more

Seriously, pay yourself by the hour OP. You're mugging yourself off a bit. Keep it up.

They’re so good! The one with the collar on (Labrador?) is the best but I don’t think the photos of the other two were the best to begin with, they’re too dark.

They're brilliant especially the a3 one, you'd need to be charging a lot more to cover your time cost though.

What do you mean when you say you can't figure out how to use Etsy?

Love the cat 😄

Awww they're gorgeous @Brokkoli I LOVE the way you have captured the gorgeous loving look in their eyes! Carry on. You're gifted.

Do you have a pic of the cat that you're using for reference?

Here she is, now deceased unfortunately

Love them.
Would totally love you to have a bash at doing my cat.
Charge more, but maybe a discounted rate for mumsnetters?

@Brokkoli My portrait up thread is on A3, it cost me £180 (and that was at a slightly reduced rate, I think he usually charges around £220 for that size).

Charge a LOT more!!!!!!

Did you study art OP? I would really love to be able to draw and was thinking of trying to learn. I have no natural aptitude for it, I would be totally starting from scratch.

Lovely charge more!

The first dog is amazing!!

They are gorgeous, op, and you should definitely charge a lot more!

I'd pay you to do a portrait of my baby lol

You are very talented and seriously underestimating the value of your time and your talent.

You are very good but so under valuing yourself, these should be in the £200-250 price range!

I’d pay a lot more for one of my dearly departed girl

@Brokkoli - sorry but you really need to sell these for FAR more. Are they framed or what? What medium? Mounted or just as is? They are very well done and are far too cheap at that price! Many people would happily pay a lot more for these lovely portraits.

£250 easily

Incredible! Are you on Etsy? I’d love one of my darling dog who left this world last summer 🥹

The shading is beautiful…have some faith in yourself!

You could definitely make a business from this and are undercharging.

I was expecting a child’s doggy doodle! These are incredible! You have a talent, OP! Do you do colours or just black/white/grey? Fabulous 🙂

HI OP.
Before Covid, I used to organise large Fine Art events.

Your work is lovely - great skill. I think your prices are too cheap. (When something is too cheap, modern people, rather than being grateful, are so materialistic and money-driven that the don't value that thing. Either that or they are suspicious of anything that is too cheap. I had one artist who did pet portraits for £200 a time and another who did them for £50 because they loved doing it and didn't need the money. The cheaper ones were actually better! The problem with that is that is is cheapening your work and effort. Don't be fooled by the amateur/professional dichotomy either. Don't say it's a hobby. Your work speaks for itself. With pet portraits though, it's whether you can capture the exact likeness of that particular animal. Know what I mean? We can't tell you that without seeing photos of the pets with the art to compare. But your talent is very obvious. Good luck.