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

[mjkacmom]

I have custom paintings of my house, same with my parents. I forgot some of them when I had an estate sale of their home through a company, I was sad they were purchased.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I’ve bought quite a bit of custom art through sites like Etsy and Zazzle. Nothing terribly expensive. Off the top of my head, I’ve requested custom pieces made of pets, wedding venues, homes, and travel destinations in the form of paintings, digital prints, keepsake boxes, ornaments, wall decor, cake toppers, etc. Lots of different things for both myself and to gift to others.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm basically trying to get an idea of where a non-famous artist would do well to concentrate their efforts.

If I was hiring a painting done, I would want someone to use separate photos of various pets I've had and make one painting of all of them grouped together, as if we'd had them at the same time.

I like idea for uploading her art to sites that put it on things like bags and mugs too. - Cute sayings with decorative elements might go over well.

 

[nancipants]

I commissioned artwork of my husband's D&D character for Christmas. He was shocked and loved it.

 

[Princesca]

I commissioned artwork of my husband's D&D character for Christmas. He was shocked and loved it.

I think this is the type of thing my wife would LOVE doing. She used to do this sort of thing back when she was a teenager over DeviantArt. One of the first gifts she gave me was a sketch of our RP characters. Hopelessly nerdy but I cherish it.

But she's also done still life and portraits and things like that, so I'm trying to help her narrow down the best place to cast her line. OTOH, it will be better for her if it's what she loves drawing the most. I imagine that will drive quantity, even if not $.

 

[nancipants]

I think this is the type of thing my wife would LOVE doing. She used to do this sort of thing back when she was a teenager over DeviantArt. One of the first gifts she gave me was a sketch of our RP characters. Hopelessly nerdy but I cherish it.

But she's also done still life and portraits and things like that, so I'm trying to help her narrow down the best place to cast her line. OTOH, it will be better for her if it's what she loves drawing the most. I imagine that will drive quantity, even if not $.

The person I commissioned from has an instagram and she posts mostly fanart (MCU, Star Wars, Rings of Power, etc.). I saw someone share a piece and loved it. They built up a following from their fanart and have commissions open as well. I think she also got some professional gigs.

 

[unrequited23]

We joke about commissioning a portrait of our dog looking regal in a fancy military uniform sorta like portraits from the 1700's.

Back in college, a friend would do commissions to fund her comic book. The pinup style anthropomorphic animals were her most lucrative projects.

 

[Princesca]

We joke about commissioning a portrait of our dog looking regal in a fancy military uniform sorta like portraits from the 1700's.

Back in college, a friend would do commissions to fund her comic book. The pinup style anthropomorphic animals were her most lucrative projects.

I have heard that there's a lot of money to be made in that kind of art! I never would have guessed it.

 

[HannaBelle]

I am a potter as my side hustle and participate in 3 art festivals a year. I have purchased work from numerous artists at festivals we attend, but also when vacationing. We love to buy art while on vacation as a souvenir and as gifts.

Photographs
Watercolors
Art Prints
Paintings
Encaustics
Decorative Pottery
Functional Pottery
Jewelry
Custom Art from Etsy
Custom Art from Zazzle
Furniture

I am sure there is other stuff that I am not thinking of at the moment.

Etsy is an easy platform to get started. Videos of the process engage your customer more than still photographs.

I sell to pay for my habit.

You have talked a lot about what you want her to do and what you are recommending. What does she want?

Creating art is very personal and there is certain amount of rejection that comes with putting yourself out there. Lots of people use art as their "therapy" and don't necessarily want to share it or sell it or make it public. Sometimes our loved ones think we can just whip something up on demand and it just does not work that way. (I am speaking from my personal experiences.) I do not like to take on commissions because then it feels like a job. I don't want my pottery to be a job, I want it to bring me joy.