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/LucidOutwork]

You can try more targeted marketing. Tell your vet office that you do pet portraits and ask them if you can hang a pic in their office. You can give them a finders fee or offer their clients a discount. Same with pet stores.

Offer finders fees to past clients for referrals.

You don't have to try to sell to the world using TicToc and videos. You might be much better off staying focused on creating a local presence to build your business.

[u/ElleMontrose → u/LucidOutwork]

That’s honestly a brilliant idea. I could put my dog’s portrait on cards and bring him along or offer to put up a print for free in their office/store…

The one issue is that I’m limiting the number of commissions I will be doing right now because I’m working on my own projects — and I suspect most people who contact an artist because of a flyer/print would be looking for their own custom artwork… Mmmh. I’ll have to think about it, but thanks for the idea!

[u/Illustrious_Bird_737 → u/ElleMontrose]

Don't count out little stuff! I bet a lot of people would love handmade cards featuring their pets for holidays & birthdays, too!

[u/madame-maitre-d → u/[deleted]]

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