The Portrait Market

Judson Eneas · 02-21-2009, 08:49 PM

This Great Depression that has hit which is going to put half of The United States on the street; how badly has it affected and will it negatively affect the portrait painting market?

Debra Jones · 02-22-2009, 07:13 PM

I gave up the day job in June. Didn't make a penny in 4 months. In October, I geared up my animal portraits hard and constantly. I caught up with my bills and am paying things ahead. I got tired of waiting for the "Right people" to find me and listened to who was asking and what they were asking for. My sphere of influence is a much better place to start than trying to homestead in unknown territory.

I said yes to every opportunity, set out to make a lot of my own, and this is where they led.

I paint small and constantly and find I do a lot more promoting than producing, but the production is way up. Painting on spec is better for my soul, and it turns out, not hurting my pocketbook. BASICALLY I priced down by making my art smaller. The RATE is the same but the minis are selling much better.

Tammy Nielsen · 02-24-2009, 12:33 PM

Hi Debra,
Do you have some samples of your minis? I do minis too. Pets and portraits. Would love to see some of what you're doing. Thanks Tammy

Debra Jones · 02-24-2009, 12:47 PM

I started a blog and have a very good run at it. 95% are 5x7" watercolors.
http://dog-a-dayartblog.blogspot.com/

Carol Norton · 02-24-2009, 01:33 PM

Debra, your dogs from the park are fabulous.

Do you shoot the photos at the park and give the owners your card to contact you? (Don't worry, I don't plan to go to Scottsdale to do this, but not a bad idea for down my way!)

Debra Jones · 02-24-2009, 01:48 PM

I just have my camera with me. I shoot anywhere and anything. I tell people what I do and they can give me their info.

I don't start a commission unless they order it. I have my blog on my card and let them contact me. IF they see a dog on the blog they want to buy, it is the same price. I try to NOT paint a dog I know who the owner is, in case they do want to commission something. Often they will want a larger piece, so why undersell myself! If they are interested I don't give them the possibility of lifting the piece from the site.

I try to practice on as many different breeds as possible so if they ask, I can show them one. I don't really sell. They would kick me out of the park if I did. I make myself available and if they ask, I tell them.

John Crowther · 11-10-2013, 05:10 PM

Hello Debra,

I'm a long-time member here, but missed this thread when it appeared 4 years ago! I'd be interested to know how this is working out for you now. I looked at your blog (spectacular work, by the way!) and saw that you're still actively pursuing the pet paintings. I do pet paintings from time to time on commissions that come to me, but mainly oils, and have not pushed it aggressively since it is not cost effective for me. I can see where watercolor makes a lot more sense. I have one quick question - just a minor curiosity really - why 5x7 as opposed to slightly larger, 6x9 say? It seems to me that the labor and materials would come to about the same and the client might see it as a better deal. Or, it could be priced higher, perhaps $125. Again, just curious. And again, I love your work, the stylishness and the way you capture the dogs' personality and vitality.

John C

Debra Jones · 11-10-2013, 08:50 PM

Thanks for this John.
I have missed SOG actually. Nice to come back.

5x7" is actually a loss leader.

You are absolutely right. It is about the same energy for a 6x8". Not noticeably less than an 8x10. The demos, which I have in four standard 5x7" presentation albums, go with me whenever I paint in public. I put them in and out of frames, try to have a well rounded stable of breeds etc. When I was painting on site, I found I could nearly finish a pretty loose one before the sun set (right after work in the Winter is the best time to be seen at a dog park painting) and I was building my dog-a-day blog.

I donate and feature that size only for Christmas and giving holidays. It is not generally offered except as a gift or gift certificate. I donate a lot to pet charities and demonstrate LARGER. In the early days winners always upgraded with the value of the donation going toward the piece. I have lain off donating but for one or two rescue groups, but a glitch in the economy started having people redeem the certificate for the smaller size.

I have found my pricing by the inch model is the easiest for me. Hard or easy, I adjust better to the value up front. I may like the piece and work harder, but the finished output is always going to be what it is.

I tend to offer starting prices at 8x10" and only even offer smaller ones to repeat clients or discounts for rescues.

It is a good, stable income. I have disrespected it recently trying harder to do larger scale and "important" work... with much less success. Kind of dumb to give up on a market that is paying the bills. Although I have successfully raised my prices a good 15% and find I am getting MORE business. Is the economy picking up??

Richard Budig · 11-11-2013, 11:57 AM

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Richard Budig · 11-11-2013, 11:59 AM

Deb . . . I am curious why you work in so many mediums . . . oil, water, pastel, etc. Nothing wrong with that . . . good for you. I ask because some years ago, I was trying to keep up with pastel and charcoal as well as oil, but over time, I gravitated to oil until I finally quit the others. Again, very nice work. Oh, by the way, if you don't mind telling, what do you charge per inch, or how did you come to that. I ask because I finally went to that, too. I got so tired of looking at various sizes of my work and trying to come up with a price. One might be smaller, but one I'd put in a lot of time . . . well, you know . . . making it up as I went along. The per inch thing isn't so bad. At least, it's consistent.