Frank Sinatra

Hello everyone!

My name is Kelly, I am 28 years old and this is my first post. My "job" has nothing to do with art, unfortunately!

I've attached a drawing in hopes of receiving some useful feedback. It was done in plain old pencil.

I decided the other evening to set up a website (www.members.tripod.com/portraitsbykelly1) advertising my services, (I literally set up this website in an evening so it needs a lot of work!) in order to gain some practice. I also had flyers and business cards made up, which I am in the process of handing out door-to-door.

I have a great dilemma in that I currently have a very good, well paying job, but am struggling with not having an artistic outlet. I draw portraits (just in plain old pencil!) in my spare time.

I sincerely appreciate any critique you may be able to offer me!

[Jeanine Jackson]

OK, this is fantastic drawing!

I would suggest some formal training before quitting your day job or direct marketing yourself. In addition to developing your impressive skill, you will learn much about the business of art and where you see yourself in it.

Know your target and get armed to hit it.

[Tom Martinez]

Welcome Kelly!

That's a very good reproduction of Frank; I agree with Jeanine to a point. You have mastered the ability to capture a likeness with the common pencil, which is good. You may want to graduate from the common pencil to other tools of that medium or to color.

I'm not so sure about formal training. I've learned more in these forums than I have ever learned in formal training. You can only learn from those who have done it or who are doing it. However, you will still have to learn more to make money at it. Pencil drawings are at the low end of saleable art. Friends, relatives and neighbors will purchase some, but they will not spend a hundred dollars for them. You will end up working like a dog to reproduce something that will sell for less than fifty dollars.

Don't give up your day job until what you are making with your art far exceeds what you make at your day job, and it's coming in at a steady pace.

To learn more about selling art, may I suggest going to www.senkarikstuff.com to purchase the book "The Mystery of Making It." It is worth its weight in gold for information about this business. Good luck!