Pencil Portrait, any money to be made there?

OCELOTL · #1 08-28-2012, 06:32 PM

Hello WC, long time lurker and poster of very few posts!

So I've been drawing comics for close to 20 years now and as fun as it still is, I still like to dabble in other formats, one being pencil portraits. I haven't drawn in that style in about 10-15 years, but got started on one just as a warm up to my regular drawing and I ended up spending the whole time on the portrait instead of my regular work. So, since drawing for me is fun, but a business I'm wondering what the current status of this style of work is like out there on the internets. I know that a few years back, the stuff was selling like hotcakes on places like ebay. $150 for 8x10 seemed to be the norm. Now it seems like you cant sell them for more than $25-45. What have you're experiences been like? Is there a better place to sell/promote yourself? Is $25 the new going rate?

This was the piece that started it for me....

Thanks,
Gabe

OCELOTL · #2 08-31-2012, 05:19 PM

So, ummm, no advise?

**Greg Long** · #3 08-31-2012, 05:29 PM

I don't work in pencil, nor am I in the US, so cannot comment, your post however has had over 100 views. Sadly I don't think we have many members working in pencil or doing pencil portraits.
The economy is making it difficult to garner sales for most at the moment though.

Diane Cutter · #4 08-31-2012, 05:37 PM

Ah, so sorry no one has written anything yet. Unfortunately I don't do portraits but maybe some of those who do pet portraits might have some suggestions. The art market, right now, is a tough sell.

Diane

mariposa-art · #5 08-31-2012, 06:24 PM

I have sold many pencil portraits in my day, but nowadays there are a lot of people doing pencil portraits. You will be competing with all of them. That's not to say that you can't sell your work, however. Good luck!

Erica Shipley · #6 08-31-2012, 07:06 PM

I was commissioned to do a portrait this past winter and it went well but its hard to compete especially with the more colorful painters. I get a lot of people saying they like my drawings and ask if I can paint the same thing because they just saw an oil painting somewhere by someone else and want one like that.....

ElizaLeahy · #7 08-31-2012, 09:16 PM

It's hard to sell any art at the moment, especially on ebay

OCELOTL · #8 08-31-2012, 09:17 PM

Thanks for the responses, I figured as much. Just wanted to hear some other voices reaffirming my thoughts. It's welcoming.

So guess I'll just keep doing it just for "fun" or as warm-ups.

Gabe

kraemouse · #9 09-02-2012, 03:30 PM

I do pencil portraits, but I never sell them. That being said, I find I have friends and family badgering me to draw them all the time. I always say no, because I dislike drawing for anyone other than myself (too much pressure for me) .. but you might consider showing the people you know what you can do.. its worth a shot if you're going to be drawing anyway! Maybe some of them would be willing to throw ya a few bucks

Bringer · #10 09-02-2012, 03:48 PM

Hi Gabe,

Skeeping your question and suggesting something else.
I don't know what you're doing in terms of comics, but have you tried - if you don't want to hold to them - to sell your comic originals?

I believe there's a good market for it.

Several comic artists use Kickstarter to help them with their projects and even earn some money, like for insteance offering a comic page where the hero will be the person who contributes, or even a whole story.

Here's an example: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...by-occupy-wall

José

OCELOTL · #11 09-04-2012, 03:20 PM

Thanks kraemouse, I seem to only know cheap people, so no dice there

. But I will draw people I know, namely my boys.

José, thanks for the idea, I have sold a few of my originals in the past as well as doing original commissions on ebay, but that has dried up quite a bit. It seems the only money to be made on ebay for comic commissions is Wonder Woman in, ummm un-Wonder Woman like positions. That's a line I wont cross. As to Kickstarter, I've got a story in mind, but just want to do other styles of art. I still do freelance comics quite a bit, so I'm not lacking in doing comic work per se, just want to stretch artistically.

RobinZ · #12 09-05-2012, 06:29 AM

I sell colored pencil portraits. There is a lot of competition and you need to work to sell them. Or at least I do. I haven't sold many pet portraits on ebay.

But what's the worst that can happen if you list htem there at your price? You don't pay til you sell for the first 50.

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