So I’m gonna be posting this on the acrylic painting subreddit, entrepreneur subreddit, and the small business one, because I have a small business in creating acrylic painting pieces for my Etsy shop. So, I sell my original acrylic paintings on Etsy. I do all different kinds, whatever speaks to me that day I guess, from landscapes, to cartoons, to festive art. And sometimes my family offers to buy one, or suggests I do a specific painting for them. Almost every single time I’ve done it for a family member, they’ve lowballed me.

For example, I created a very intricate piece for my father of a snowy scene, a church in the background, a truck driving by, trees everywhere, and tons of tiny little details that he SPECIFICALLY asked for. This is the biggest, and most detailed piece I’ve ever done for somebody, and it’s a commission. So I put my all into this piece, it took me 3-4 days and lots of material. When I messaged him and told him the piece was finished and sent him a photo he immediately called me. His words were something along the lines of, “Hi hunny, just let me know how much you’re charging me for it, I know you won’t charge me out my ass because I’m your dad.” And then continues on with “How much do you usually charge for your paintings?” That’s when I began telling him how it depends, because it’s my biggest canvas, (not huge but still my biggest canvas at 11x14.) has lots of little detail, and it took me 4 days. He then replied asking me if “40-45 dollars is good.” No, that’s not good. For what I’ve created, I would ask a random stranger for around 65-70. & My father is not the only family member to do so. It’s so extremely hard for me to sell to my family when this is what they do everytime. They somehow make me feel bad for charging what I believe my time, material, effort, and money is worth. And it fucking sucks. Am I alone?

  • willslater99@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    So…

    1. Always confirm price before doing the work. Family, friends, strangers, doesn’t matter, always agree before you lift a finger.
    2. Your family have no idea what art is worth, let alone what yours is worth. You shouldn’t expect them to. I also paint and although I don’t do it as a business, I occasionally sell some of my pieces just to clear space. I literally just list them on fb marketplace and say ‘make me an offer’. I’ve sold A3 paintings for £1 and I sold an a4 once for £200. Art is extremely subjective. It’s foolish to assume your family will have a clue.
    3. Twenty bucks difference isn’t a big deal. If I was in the same situation I would have made that concession for my dad, but I also wouldn’t have got in that situation, I’d have confirmed price before (see point 1.)
    4. Family are the worst customers. Always. My business is a marketing agency, as a part of that I get asked if I can build a website now and then. I’ve built websites for free for family and friends who asked for more than my clients who pay thousands. Now when someone asks about a website, I recommend Wix. No one values your skillset less than the people who were around when you wear shitting your pants and getting it wiped for you. Family will never perceive you as the professional you want to be. It’s not even them being mean, it’s just natural.
    5. Rule of diminishing returns. If you’d spent two days less on that piece, your dad still would have said 40-45 dollars, because the tiny details that make it just right to an artist are the things most common people don’t care about. His price wasn’t reflective of your skillset, probably just a guess from a man who doesn’t much value art and thought he was being nice.