If you were going to pay for custom art...

[Princesca]

If you were going to pay for custom artwork, what kind of artwork would you be most interested in? (i.e. portraits of pets/loved ones, random still lives to go specifically with your existing decor, Disney-inspired art, etc...)

Or if you have occasionally or often bought art, what type of art appeals to you most? Can be digital as well... like digital art put on bags, etc.

 

[Kennywood]

Original comic page art by legendary comic artists:

• Steve Ditko
• Jack Kirby
• Neal Adams
• Alex Ross
• Will Eisner
• Mart Nodell
• Joe Kubert
• Gil Kane
• Wayne Boring
• Frank Frazetta

 

[Princesca]

Original comic page art by legendary comic artists:

• Steve Ditko
• Jack Kirby
• Neal Adams
• Alex Ross
• Will Eisner
• Mart Nodell
• Joe Kubert
• Gil Kane
• Wayne Boring
• Frank Frazetta

Would you ever pay to have custom comic art made specifically for you? I'm basically trying to get an idea of where a non-famous artist would do well to concentrate their efforts.

 

[Kennywood]

With the exception of Alex Ross, all of the artists I've listed are dead, so I would be limited in buying only their existing artwork. As for Alex Ross, I would buy his artwork done for comics or graphic novels.

I think my wife, though, would love to have an original Thomas Kincade painting.

 

[Smugpugmug]

A few years ago, I paid an artist to draw a custom desktop wallpaper of my dogs. One of the dogs has since passed away, but I still use the background as a way to remember her. If I were to commission someone for art, I would try to support smaller artists. I follow a few on Twitter that I would love to request art from but many of them are very busy.

 

[Princesca]

A few years ago, I paid an artist to draw a custom desktop wallpaper of my dogs. One of the dogs has since passed away, but I still use the background as a way to remember her. If I were to commission someone for art, I would try to support smaller artists. I follow a few on Twitter that I would love to request art from but many of them are very busy.

This is super helpful, thanks! I'm trying to encourage my wife to create art... she's so talented... but I think she's overwhelmed about how best to get started. So making a Twitter/Insta to feature her art would be a good idea!

 

[_19disnA]

Sounds like you are trying to start a business. Are you planning to do this via the internet (i.e. where someone sends you a photograph) or expect the person/pet/etc. to be there live for you to paint/draw? I think using the internet to paint/draw from photos would permit more potential customers to make use of your service.

Perhaps there are websites focused around artwork that have a wider audience of potential customers. She might look around to see if they want new artists. Social media is one option but might be more hit/miss about actually finding customers who want to pay for such artwork.

 

[Smugpugmug]

This is super helpful, thanks! I'm trying to encourage my wife to create art... she's so talented... but I think she's overwhelmed about how best to get started. So making a Twitter/Insta to feature her art would be a good idea!

Oh, yeah I would definitely recommend that your wife make a Twitter account. Many of the artists I follow say that the majority of the people that commission them come from Twitter. Twitter is a big marketing platform for smaller artists.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I have a piece that is a copy of a favorite photo of my children, another of a beloved dog and the rest are just images I find soothing and beautiful. These are custom from artists I know well but am aware of lots of money being offered for custom work.

If you are looking to start up a cottage industry business I's say the money is in for customer pets and loved ones. Artists can sell if they are willing to create what a customer wants, and this is why most of the artists I know don't bother selling it because they want to make things to make themselves happy. It's important for her to settle in what sort of artist she is, it will save you both a ton of aggravation . Also it's important to say it's ok to just make your own world beautiful, it is brutal to have things rejected based on taste and nearly impossible to not take it personally - so be prepared.

 

[Princesca]

Sounds like you are trying to start a business. Are you planning to do this via the internet (i.e. where someone sends you a photograph) or expect the person/pet/etc. to be there live for you to paint/draw? I think using the internet to paint/draw from photos would permit more potential customers to make use of your service.

Perhaps there are websites focused around artwork that have a wider audience of potential customers. She might look around to see if they want new artists. Social media is one option but might be more hit/miss about actually finding customers who want to pay for such artwork.

Yes, it would all be virtual. We have a toddler, so going to extended in-person sessions won't work for her.

 

[Princesca]

Thanks for all this good feedback! I've also been trying to get her to churn out some designs that she can upload to sites like RedBubble and get some passive income from. She did this one image that was so clever, and it was just a pencil sketch, and I've been encouraging her to ink it and upload it awhile now. I know of at least ten people just off-hand who would buy it on something like a bookbag or a notebook.

 

[mrodgers]

What would I buy artwork wise? I would definitely spend tens of thousands on a painting that looks no different than when my daughter at 4 years old spilled her paints on her posterboard.

Sarcasm aside, I would never pay big money for artwork. I see prints and such in stores that I find appealing, landscapes, then look and no, I'm not paying $50 for it either.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would encourage her, but I would keep expectations very low.

No one does art online and gets rich.

Since I am intimately aware with selling digital sketches online, I'd keep yearly income expectations in the mid-to-high 3 digit area, especially in the beginning...aka, you'd make much more at a PT minimum wage job, but you'll probably enjoy the activity and work flexibility more in the art world...

It's gonna take years of effort to make this "pay off"...normally, it's just pocket money...

 

[Princesca]

I would encourage her, but I would keep expectations very low.

No one does art online and gets rich.

Since I am intimately aware with selling digital sketches online, I'd keep yearly income expectations in the mid-to-high 3 digit area, especially in the beginning...aka, you'd make much more at a PT minimum wage job, but you'll probably enjoy the activity and work flexibility more in the art world...

It's gonna take years of effort to make this "pay off"...normally, it's just pocket money...

Yep - that's all we're looking for right now. She's a SAHP and just looking for a way to bring in some 'fun money' working as she can from home. Also, this is an opportunity to build a stronger portfolio.

 

[_19disnA]

I know of at least ten people just off-hand who would buy it on something like a bookbag or a notebook.

Selling artwork to companies who imprint various consumer goods (i.e. t-shirts, bookbags, etc.) seems like a different route then sketching/painting a one-time portrait of someone or their animal. Since you probably aren't in the imprinting business, it seems like selling the artwork to a company who is already in that business makes more sense.

Something a peson does as a hobby may/may not pan out into a viable business.

 

[Princesca]

Selling artwork to companies who imprint various consumer goods (i.e. t-shirts, bookbags, etc.) seems like a different route then sketching/painting a one-time portrait of someone or their animal. Since you probably aren't in the imprinting business, it seems like selling the artwork to a company who is already in that business makes more sense.

Something a peson does as a hobby may/may not pan out into a viable business.

Yes - she is looking at generating passive income, however small, by designing artwork that's uploaded to sites like RedBubble, where they do the printing etc for you and you get a small fee.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm an artist, well, I *used* to be one by trade, and I'm trying to get a portfolio together to upload to a site like Zazzle. I have found while doing some very loose research that things that are very graphic and striking have the best chance of being used for mugs and prints and things like that, and that if you want to broaden out I think that still life and landscapes that people can hang in their homes is the way to go. Especially if it goes with most decor. I plan to do some research into what's trendy when I'm ready to get started, but also to what's timeless.

 

[Princesca]

I'm an artist, well, I *used* to be one by trade, and I'm trying to get a portfolio together to upload to a site like Zazzle. I have found while doing some very loose research that things that are very graphic and striking have the best chance of being used for mugs and prints and things like that, and that if you want to broaden out I think that still life and landscapes that people can hang in their homes is the way to go. Especially if it goes with most decor. I plan to do some research into what's trendy when I'm ready to get started, but also to what's timeless.

Thank you!! This is helpful

 

[Stratman50th]

My daughter is an amazing artist. She's done portraits of dogs for people. She would get $150-$175. She's also a huge Disney fan so has done a bunch of Disney art. Unfortunately she does nothing at all commercially, just for herself and to trade with other artists. She won't even do the animal portraits now just to pick up a few extra bucks. Sad....

 

[_19disnA]

Trading among friends is no problem. However, you can run into issues if you try to draw/sell versions of copyright images for profit.