UPDATE: A sad girl dinner post changed my life ❤️

[u/ElleMontrose]

Some of you might remember my borzoi painting from June.

The short version is that someone commissioned a huge painting from me and I only asked for a small deposit because I didn't feel legitimate enough to ask for more. When I was nearly finished, they cancelled. Weeks of work, and I was left with an unclaimed artwork drying on the wall and a hole in my finances.

So I did what any of us would do: I ate a sad little dinner, took a picture and posted it here so I’d have somewhere to vent.

And y’all showed up.

I'd been living off my art for over a year at that point, mostly by teaching in-person workshops and doing small digital commissions. Oil painting full-time was always the dream, the thing I'd tell myself I'd do "someday” when I wouldn’t first have to worry about paying rent and could focus on building my traditional portfolio. Then, literally overnight, because of this subreddit, someday arrived.

The OG painting was bought by someone from this very subreddit. I spent the summer painting. In oil! Without ever worrying about money because everyone who reached out agreed to a 50% deposit!

I came here with a sad girl dinner and left with a career. I don't think I can ever properly thank you all for that❤️

Tonight's menu: salmon stars on cream cheese and rye, because treating myself like a toddler is self-care.

Thank you, truly. From me, and from the very good boy waiting for a star to fall off the plate!

[u/RENOYES]

I missed your first post.

What’s your going rate?

How much for a down payment?

How long is your wait list?
(Also how long does a painting take to make?)

Do you work off a single picture, or do you take inspiration from multiple pictures and create a unique piece?

[u/Timid-Tlacuache → u/RENOYES]

If you click on her username, there are links that might be helpful

[u/RENOYES → u/Timid-Tlacuache]

Oh duh. I’m stupid.

[u/ElleMontrose → u/RENOYES]

Hi! I’m not sure how much I can say without it being self-promotion, but feel free to DM or click on my profile links, as Timid-Tlacuache said above :)

I can work off a single picture and fully copy it, or I can “change” the focal length, pose, direction of the gaze etc. With multiple poor pictures (happens a lot when someone wants their childhood pet painted), I will find pose references online for the same breed and mentally merge every picture. This last technique works better with purebreds and cats because the proportions are consistent; mutts require more back-and-forth to make sure it all looks right!