Do You Have Family Members Who Could Care Less About Your Art?

I'm not "friends" with any of my relatives on facebook. But, like and unlike van Gogh, my older brother loves my work - he just won't pay for it - and he has quite a collection - a couple that I gave him and all of those that my mother had. Then I have a younger brother - he cares less a lot less. I think just total disinterest.

Family members and friends should never be considered a potential audience. They don't usually support because they think you are talented, but because they love you. But most of the time, they will ask for free stuff.

Only one member of my family supports my work. As far as friends are concerned, only two have ever bought anything from me.

Don't count on them, it's a waste of time.

My parents are no longer alive but all my family is very interested in my work and are very supportive. They have a great appreciation for the arts; music, ballet, opera, etc. I was very fortunate that way. My dad was an architect and loved photography!

Jessica, my husband passed away suddenly and he was also an architect and a photographer... interesting! We travelled the world together and we went shooting together. It wasn't until he passed away 10 years ago, that I decided to take my photography to the next level! My dad would have loved my work, because he was an artist, but he died suddenly as well way before I became serious with photography. He was an amazing artist by hand. Wish he were here today.

I'm pretty sure my sister could care less about my photography. A lot less, actually, as she seems pretty interested in it.

Although I don't think that is what you were actually asking

its not really a matter of care or not. i don't care about their lives or hobbies, and its the same with mine, unless they need something.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I think they care in the sense of being encouraging, but not in the sense of propping up my sales with their money. That's OK, however, since I'm not their best customer either.

The younger generation is generally focused on themselves. I remember being the same way! It's not a bad thing. Just the way of the world. I have artists in my family, and we do support each other. Not sure what would happen if we didn't share this in common. Sorry you are feeling disappointed, but having confidence in yourself and your work is worth a lot.

Ok, so let's get this straight.

Exactly what do we expect from our family members? That they support us financially? My personal answer would be no, I'm an adult, I'm way beyond the point in life where I expect parents / siblings to support me.

So where does that leave me as an artist?

*If* my family wants to buy some of my art, and pay money for it, they know how to find my FAA website. If they want my art for free, they know how to ask politely for art for their birthday & Xmas presents. When they no longer have wall space that they actually affirmatively want to devote to my art, they know how to ask for something else for their gifts. Not complicated, I can figure it out when they don't want more of my art.

When I need money, I get a job where someone other than my family pays me to work for them. If the job that comes with the paycheck is making art, great. If not, the job with the paycheck is doing something else.

My family's not cutting the paycheck. That's not complicated, or difficult to understand either.

Sorry for the plain language in your face tell it as it is way of presenting this, but this really is how life works as I understand it. No tears or drama if my family doesn't want to support me by buying my art. Purely and simply, they're not obligated to support me, and whether I'm trying to be an artist or not is irrelevant.

I'm sorry Diana, that would be hard.

While my family does support me, I tend to wrap all their gifts in hand made wrapping paper that has something that I love about them on the wrap. It's just sloppy brush strokes on thin paper and varnish to create the wrap, but they seem to love my wrapping paper.

I also tend to take a great deal of interest in my family, neighbors and friends...how they feel, what they value most, what they want in life...yadda, yadda, so that usually leads to a sale or demand for my work within my small sphere of influence.

I have had friends that have zero interest, or they show no interest and that is fine. I usually think of the situation as them not wanting to take advantage of me, or they simply have a different taste in art.

For many years I thought my husband and son had no interest. Then one day I asked my husband if I could talk to an attorney to ensure my sisters and one brother get all my work after I pass, and guess what? Suddenly there was this massive interest in my work.

I think if you want people to love your work, you must engage them...and not in a nagging or feel sorry for me sort of way, but at least constantly share your ideas and ask for ideas about what they like. Also if they don't have photography on their walls, it's just not what they're interested in. I always ask my sister's to critique me and boy do they ever critique my work often demanding changes to what I've done.

By the way, I suppose you know your work is fabulous, but let me just say it again and again...Your photography is Soooo very gorgeous.

Not sure the question was weather they buy our work or not but rather if they are interested in it or not.

Most of my family couldn't care less, none of them do art, or care about art, and yes it would be nice if they would share it on social media, more eyes on the work.

TL Mair

Lots of people don't care about art. Some of them happen to be family members.

No worries, it takes all kinds to make a world.

When you're doing art, engage with people who like art. The rest of the world will take care of itself, and if it doesn't need art to be happy, that's fine. I have friends who will actually pay money to go golfing. I consider golfing to be a form of torture, I'm definitely not paying good money to go golfing. Especially if it's money I could use to buy art supplies instead. So guess what... most of them figure out soon enough not to try to go golfing with me. We find other areas of interest in common to share.

My parents and sister show a great deal of interest in my work. My dad was an artist and my sister is a painter. I have some friends who are supportive and some who aren't. It doesn't really matter to me. I just do my thing either way.

I never realized the kids do not tune in. That is okay. I am there for them not the other way around.

The kids also have never bought me a Christmas present.

My family is very supportive as are the family friends and the extended family. I think all of them understood my struggles before entering the art world and all of them are happy for me.

My dad rarely gives out compliments on my work. His opinions are strong and often wrong, so he falls back to looking a bit from time to time and not saying much. Recently he said my new series shows I am getting more creative. I appreciated hearing that.

Dave

I don't expect my family members to buy my work. But I have asked for their support, in the form of sharing my work on social media when they see it cross their feeds. My little brother does, every time, and my mother does. My little brother's mother in law does. My twin brother and two sisters do not. For whatever reason. It bugs me that they don't, considering it takes only a fraction of a second to hit "Share" and could mean a sale for me if the right person sees it. But I'm not going to lose sleep over it, and I'll remember it when the time comes and they need my support in some way. Karma is a bitch.

Well, my Mom wanted me to be an artist, so she was very supportive. She also was a creative person and won awards on her quilting and other items she made.
Some of my family is supportive and I am grateful for any help they give me, such as setting up at shows, hauling my art around, sending cards with my art on them, building displays and easels, shelves, cabinets, etc. One of my sons made pottery and helped me at shows, too.

I have one family member that became enraged and yelled at me on the phone for over an hour, when I got my first check for licensing my art to a company, back in the 90s. She said I had "no integrity" and called me "evil" and "not a true artist" so I stopped talking to her. Now, 20 some years later, she claims that "never happened." She was probably jealous, not sure. If she had ever apologized, I would have accepted it, but since she continues to deny it, I can only not interact with her in any way, sad as that is.

I think my work turns most normal people off, definitely including my family :)


—————
Joseph Westrupp
bestilled.com

I didn't think Diana was talking about family supporting our work financially. She meant family who is interested in what we do.
So sorry Diana for all you went through!
I would be very disappointed if my family wasn't interested in my artwork. I would just expect that. But all families are different.

My parents believed in me...they put me through 4 years of college and I took care of the 5th.
My aunt believed in me and got me my first art job that paid .
My brother helped me do my first outdoor show and bought me materials to work.
My kids are two of my biggest fans.....and would gladly take any painting I send their way.
My former husband had no clue but he did approve building an art studio onto our home.
He probably didn't believe in me as much as he believed every gallery owner who promised to make us rich and famous.
Silly man.

My mother, husband and two sons care but that is it. I have six siblings who could care less. As long as I believe in myself and my talent, that is all that matters anyhow.

His opinions are strong and often wrong

DB, anyone who disagrees with you must be wrong, lol!

No support here from family. With the exception of my brother, who is also a photographer. Basically I was always told I couldn't do it and to get a real job. I finally quit listening to them. Now that I've distanced myself from that negative mindset others were bestowing upon me {via comments, and/or total lack of interest in what I do, usually paired with rolling eyes if I said anything about my art :) }, I make a living doing what I love. Life is good now. :)

My birth family encourage my regular art and is not informed of erotic art. However, they do not share my regular art on social media, which does irk.

My family of friends supports all of my art and shares on social media. These kindred spirits get it and we are creative in various ways

Jessica,

My answer touched upon both. If people don't support, they won't buy. But even if they support, like in the case of family members, chances are that they will do it out of love and not because they believe in you.

That's why it's important not to count on family and friends for real support (the one that will help pay your bills). Compliments are wonderful, but at the end of the day, if you want to make a living, this is definitely the wrong audience.

It's funny how so many of you have supportive parents.

My parents are hard to please. They look at my work which is plastered all over their 10,000 square foot home and shake their heads at it. Not only do they not like my art, they wish I wouldn't put it on their walls, but at least in their late eighties, they have stopped fighting with me over it. I need no encouragement, I'm imposing my art into their world.

Peggy,

If the world would let me away with that I'd be the first to be amazed.

My dad is a highly competent man, but not in the arts. That is what I am saying.

Dave

It is actually an interesting question. I often wonder what will happen to my paintings after I die, morbid as that is. I have a series on wine paintings and a series of coffee painting. I doubt the religious side of the family will end up with those, since it is against their religion. What then will happen to them? Estate sale? Will they have them destroyed? That may sound like a strange end, but when I was young, my parents burned some of my books. (Is this getting too close to being a religious discussion? I'll stop here).

I think about these things often. It is a common topic in my journal.

By the way, my family owns plenty of my other paintings, all of which I've given to them no charge. In that sense, they are supportive.

David, I would gladly inherit them!!!

Lisa, LOL! I'll write you into my will!

David, ha! Their walls are supporting your art ( and their roofs! )

It's an interesting question, David. My brother passed away last fall a month after being diagnosed with many forms of cancer. He was a painter and he was concerned that his paintings would end up on the street. We had all of his paintings shipped out to my sister's place but she hasn't had the heart to even look through them yet. There was one in particular that he wanted me to have so I'll pick it up one day. I have another one of his paintings hanging in my kitchen...it's nice to be reminded of him.

My dad's paintings are throughout their house and he also has about 30 of them lined up along their basement walls. He doesn't care at all what happens to them after he's gone.

Peggy,

It sounds like you come from a long line of artists, a whole family of talent.

Thanks, David. My sister joined FAA fairly recently, so if I may brag about her work, here she is: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/cindy-collins.html

Oh, and btw, getting back to the topic, both my sister and my parents recently purchased some of my work and didn't ask for a discount either. :-)

I checking this out now Peggy.

David, lol. I love your work!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh1gxtvfMuw

I agree with Lisa, David...wonderful work! I wanted to have a closer look but your public collections are password-protected for some reason.

I would say that I am lucky that for the most part my family is very supportive of me. They tell me all the time how much they love my art. My husband is probably my biggest fan and he puts up with the neglect that he gets while I am off in my own little world painting. My sisters have shared my work on social media. Everybody in my immediate family owns a few of my originals (mostly gifts) and a few Aunts have actually commissioned me. My Uncle's girlfriend has commissioned me numerous times, and has shared my art enough that her family members have also commissioned me. Of course I do not expect commissions from family, as not many have money to spend on things like art, but it is a nice bonus that it has happened.

My mom knew from a very young age that I wanted to do art, and for the most part was happy about it but always warned me to get a "real" job because artist's don't make money until after they die lol. As I have gotten older she has loosened up about that a bit (though it's probably because I do have a day job lol) But she has always told me that she loved my art.

Lisa,

Cool video, but also a little creepy because it has so many paintings of my ex-wife in it - LOL. Where did you find that?

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words about my art. I am one humble artist in a sea of amazing artists on FAA.

My family enjoys seeing what I have created, i don't expect them To buy from me. I have four friends who have purchased art. My dad was a great portrait artist and I treasure the portraits he did if my kids whn they were young. I have painted for immediate family when they have requested a certain image.

Doesn't everyone?

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

I have a daughter living in Boston that not only buys my work but displays it all over her office wall where she works.
She also promotes my work to everyone she meets and gives out more of my business cards than I do.

I tell people I have a field office in Boston ;-)

Gotta put that girl on my payroll,.......what payroll???

The rest of my family,...just as you said Diana,...could care less.

Sorry David, didn't mean to bring forward something from the past.

No worries. The past is the past. It was interesting to see a video of my old pieces. I've come a long way since then.

All of my family members have passed on and although no one was privy to the photography I do now they certainly were supportive in all the artistic avenues I was involved in.

My family couldn't care less and tried to discourage me as a teenager. I wish I hadn't listened. I later started my painting and art work again but always had a camera.

My family I grew up with teased me for my imagination relentlessly. Sarcastic humor. Some jokes were continued on for thirty years. They also were very critical. My dad was super critical. I have managed to turn it around and use the criticism in my favor. At first, it made me be a perfectionist and want to do hyper realism because they thought that was the only real art and only a real artist does that, but I have changes that to impressionism because I like the unexpected and need to not be a perfectionist. Besides that, I think impressionism is more moody.
So, in two ways their criticism actually turned for good.
They are still critical and know hardly anything about art. Their view is extremely narrow and stifling to my creativity so I don't really share that part of my life with them. In fact, they aren't really a part of my life at all.
It's a really good thing that I am a free-spirit and didn't let them hold me down. However, it took years for me to come full circle.
I often wonder what it would have been like to have proper support from them.

It is a completely different story when it comes to my husband and kids. They are supportive and I am supportive of them.

The majority of my friends and family are very supportive, which is great. However they are also the people who's judgement as far as what's "good" I trust the least. Friends and family are much more likely to tell you what they think you want to hear.

This is so funny to run across this thread...I sometimes think about how little "likes" I get from my family. Every once in a while. They do not take it seriously I guess. Even so, it is my go-to as gifts. I have made so many sales on FAA, but mostly to myself! I can't worry about whether I get a like or not, but I keep thinking that if the tables were turned, I would be all over it.

My children (boy/girl twins) are both very supportive. They both share my facebook posts and show my artwork to friends. They don't purchase, but when they have an occasion for a gift they always request custom art. Last year for Christmas I made Steel Steed for my daughter and Rasta Lion for my son.

My mom on the other hand, usually cocks her head to the side, wrinkles her eyebrows up and says "what is it?"

My parents have never taken any of my art seriously. But my brother is as interested in my work as I am in his; he is probably the only family member that lives close that is interested.

I come from an area where most are not versed in the art scene, so I don't expect them to be my best customers. People in my area are more into bargains. Although my family has always supported me and my work very much, even bought some. My extended family, cousins are the ones that bother me about my art. They have never bought anything, never will, but all they want to talk about at family functions is how much they love my work and that I should post my website on Facebook so they can buy some. Same exact conversation everytime I see them. I could care less if they ever buy a thing, just don't play that card everytime you see me.​

My family members grew up as kids learning that complimenting people is not a good thing to do. This applies to everything in life, and not just art. They for some reason feel that if they compliment someone for something "they will grow a big head". It is a real "no-no". It is interesting that the ones who do "NOT compliment, are the ones that are looking for compliments themselves.

I never expect friends or family to buy anything, although a few have.

I do expect the ones hounding me on social media to share their particular businesses, causes, events to do likewise for me, but that doesn't seem to follow.

My mom is a pretty good cheerleader, but other than her, I'd say the rest of my family isn't too interested. As other people pointed out, certainly not interested enough to buy any of my work. My kids think I'm a great artist, but they're only 9 and 15. ; )

Valerie,
My kids loved bringing friends home after school,go right to the art studio and see what I had painted.
They are now 37 and 40 and I can promise you, once a fan, always a fan!!