Approached About Oil Painting on My 4-Year Old Daughter...

I can only speak for myself and my children, but like you I would not want someone paiting my child if I couldn't have the painting. You always run the risk of her selling it to someone else and I wouldn't like that. Just my personal opinion. If she is willing to discuss pricing with you and do something small enough that you could afford or would want to have then go for it, but if not I think I would walk away with the compliment and nothing more. Good luck.

I say go for it! It could be really exciting to have a nice portrait of your daughter painted, even if you do not buy it. If you could time travel and have Mary Cassatt paint your child wouldn't you jump at the chance? As far as her making a profit off of your daughter, I don't think that is a fair assesment. Art supplies are very expensive and talent is priceless! Plus she will be putting MANY hours of work into the project. IF she manages to sell the painting (which may never happen anyway) she will not really make much of a profit off of it. I think it would be best if you could see some of her other work and decide if you like her style, that would be more important to me than the money issue. And make sure that when the painting is finished that you and your daughter will get a chance to look at it and maybe take some pictures of it. What does your daughter think of the idea? Her opinion should be considered as well.

Ok, ok ok, you SOOOOO don't want your daughter painted. There wouldn't be anything in it for you unless you want, and can afford the painting. Her comment that a painting "could go for $2500" shows she has no clients. If she said, her paintings "go for that" then she has an artist's website and you can view her work and decide if you can afford her work. If you don't want the painting, then I recommend not letting her use your daughter to model. For the record, no one will buy the painting of your daughter. People don't want expensive paintings of strangers from unknown artists.

I'm a painter (when I have time for it-rare these days), with press and shows and people ask me to paint their kids all the time, but they don't have a budget that accounts for the materials, child care and hours it takes to complete one. My commissioned pieces are usually from strangers referred to my site by an artist's network who collect art and do go for between $1200 and $6000 depending on size. Anyone who wants a good painting for $50-$300 should go to an art or craft fair to get one. You don't sound like a collector and are resenting the painter for wanting to paint your daughter and possibly profit from it, yet you don't want to pay a lot. Just thank her for the compliment and decline. If you let her know you are not interested in buying it, I doubt she'll press you to actually spend time painting your daughter if her real goal is to sell it to you.

I would let my kids model for good artists because it's such an honor to have them want to do it. I wouldn't mind if they ended up in a piece in a gallery, it would be an honor. My friend just got a piece in the Smithsonian Portrait Competition and uses many different kids for his amazing work blended into scenes. (she's right, paintings of kids smiling as if for photo are horrid) But it's a whole different mind set than what you have. If you want to direct someone on how to paint your child, find a portrait artist who is into that. An accomplished painter will want to do a piece that reflects her style and enhances her portfolio (this bodes better for artists with a body of work and fans). You will want control. Not a good match! Decline!

Or tell her what you would "charge" to let your child be painted, and specify how you would allow her to use the piece (sell it or not) and see if she stays interested.

I've modeled for painters before.

There are 4 ways to model for painting:

- Physically there. Paid by the hour (sitting is the phrase). Including breaks.

- Stills / photo shoot. Paid by flat rate, the hour, or in trade (photos), or combo.

- Film. Ditto stills.

- Touch (I did this for a blind painter. Check out http://bramblitt.net/, as well as for a few sculptors). Paid flat rate or by the hour.

ALL of these can, of course, be given away for free. Its your time. You never HAVE to charge for it. I used to pose for friends all the time. My only demand = a warm flat. I'm not stripping down under 80 degrees.

NONE of these include rights to the work (painting or sculpture), products of the work (photos taken then, prints made later, etc.), unless otherwise agreed upon.

One of the paintings I reeeeeally wanted and almost!! was able to buy. Que sera, I have a print of it instead. But only because the artist makes and sells prints. Many dont. It devalues a painting to make prints of it. At least MOST paintings (can't devalue a degas, Picasso, etc., but anyone in a lower eschelon? Totally lowers the value of the original. From the 2500 price tag, that tells me its highly unlikely that she makes prints).
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What it sounds like, to me, is that lady wants a free model.

Which is FINE. Lots of people model for free on purpose. Even more model for free unwittingly. (As in have their photo taken while they're out and about, or get seen by an artist with a really good visual memory).

But it places you under NO obligation to say 'yes'.

She may be amenable to a deal. You'll have your daughter do a sitting for up to x hours, in exchange for y. Copies of photos... (Which will NOT be good quality 9:10... Painters will be looking for line/form/moments, not keeper shots), print of finished piece, photo of finished piece, $250, whatever.

She may not be amenable.

Know what you want. Know what you'd be willing to accept. Ask.

It sounds like you would be open to a nice portrait of your child. Go to a portrait studio and have a good photo done rather than getting tangled with this.

When she calls back, see how she responds to this: "You mentioned selling the painting for as much as $2,500 which tells me you're in the art market so this is a business. In that case, my daughter could possibly be your model but you would need to pay us a modeling fee and we would need a signed, legal contract." If she's a real pro she will engage on that and discuss it with you, but if she's just wanting to use your kid as a model for free -- she'll balk.

I bet she balks.

Nothing wrong in what she's asking, actually -- and she has no obligation to give you the painting, by the way. But it sounds like she's a sort-of professional who wants to do the work and sell it but doesn't want to do the business side of working with models as professionals too.

My father is an artist, so i do understand what she is asking. If you are not wanting your daughter to be a model, that is ok. Have you googled her? Does she have a website? The children that my father has painted are family or he has been asked to paint for commission. She may need models to start her career. You dont have to say yes. If she is reputable, i am with Amy J., i would consider it an honor :)

Personally, for me, for a no name artist who is not offering to pay for a modeling session, I'd say no. I don't have that kind of time to give away as a favor. She is simply asking to use your daughter as a model (for free it sounds like), to build up her body of work. She clearly is not interested in giving away her work for free or at a discount. She is pricing her work based on what it is worth to her. I truly believe that she is not trying to rope you into buying it or she would not have given you that figure. Which by the way is a legitimate price point for original work if she is talented.

There are only three reasons to agree to do this: She's going to pay for the modeling session, you are going to do her this favor, or you are flattered that she wants to use your child as her inspiration model, though you will never own the original. I have a friend who was flattered to be asked to work as a model for a famous artist. She posed for photos and was paid. However, she just thought it was cool to be his inspiration and has the catalog of his paintings for which she was the model.

It sounds like you are not interested in having your daughter model. But if you are intrigued by the idea, perhaps you could offer that she will model if the artist agrees to scan the painting and give you a giclee print at cost. Assuming she scans her work and has a printer . While not all artist run prints, giclee prints allow you to print one at a time. As an artist myself I do this often and so do many of my artist friends and acquaintances. Since artists own the rights to their images no matter who purchases the original, scanning original work is always in the best interest of the artist, though cost prohibitive.

FYI it is still very possible to sell art at that price point and still have it be a hobby. She likely does not produce and sell but a few a year.

eta: I'm sure laws differ per state, but where I live, models do not get royalties as one posted suggested.

I have a lot of experience with this. I have a ton of artist friends and I am involved in the art community. Here's a good way to make this work. First off, this is a total honor. She'll probably make an amazing painting of your daughter. $2500 is a fair value if you consider the time and materials involved. Paint is expensive! So, I would allow her to photograph your child in the correct pose and lighting and then I would request that you get a professional print of the final painting. Since you can't afford the original, a print is the next best thing. They are still lovely and it would be an amazing keepsake. We have several prints from our artist friends. We also worked a trade deal for two originals. Would she be open to a trade agreement? In our case we had video game systems that the painter wanted for his son. haha.

In my 20's I modeled for a children's book illustration and I received an original watercolor painting from that artist. He also gave me several copies of the book when it came out.

So, you are right that you should get something. I would request either a print or an original of a cheaper medium like watercolor (if she does that) OR both. :)

If this was her way of trying to get parents to buy artwork, she would do a small pencil portrait (or something cheaper for her) and charge $100. Lots of parents would jump at that. This doesn't sound even close to that kind of situation.

I would go for it.

Your daughter would have to get paid royalties for her part in the picture. Not sure how much that would be, but I would guess at least 10% of the retail sale of the painting. This "art" might be her intellectual property but your daughter is her inspiration and her reason for doing this.

yeah...it sounds to me like she is looking for a free model. in that case, i'd pass.

funny. my niece has the same coloring as your daughter - and people always go ga-ga over her. she was approached to be in a low-budget local movie, even.

Well, it sounds like she wants your daughter to model for her, and therefore your daughter should be paid for her services.
I wouldn't have a problem with one of my kids earning some money as a model, but of course, not all kids are ready to sit and pose at that age.
It's really up to YOU as the mom to decide what you're comfortable with, and of course you need to decide whether or not your daughter is even capable or willing to do this job.
(Trust me, it IS a job. I have a nephew who professionally modeled as a young boy and it ended up being more work and hassle than it was worth.)

Oh good grief, she is being cagey on purpose.
The painting is not yours, she is just painting a child, and wants to use your child for it.
She is NOT painting the painting... for you.
She is painting the painting, for herself, for her own use.
Then, whatever she does with the painting, is up to her.
It is not, yours. Nor is she even trying to get YOU to buy it.
She just wants to also use your daughter as a model.
She is full of it.
This is a "hobby" of hers???
Yet, she sells these paintings. So, she must have a business license????
IF you do NOT want her to sell a painting/picture of your daughter...then the answer is: DO NOT LET HER PAINT your daughter.
Simple.

Then, if she works off of snapshots, who then gets to "keep" that snapshot of your daughter, that you provide to her? Or, is SHE also going to take the snapshot of your daughter, too, for her painting????

Again, this is HER painting. Not yours.
But it will be your daughter, that is painted.
And no, you do not have a say in it, per how SHE does paintings.
BUT this is a child, and she would need your permission to do it, I guess.
There is nothing in it, for you. If you allow her to paint your daughter.
And, she IS a "business." She is, painting and selling, paintings... and she sells her paintings somehow and somewhere. Or perhaps even online. Which some "artists" do.
Once a person makes $600 or over in any income, they have to claim it on their taxes. Even if you are a babysitter.

Again, I personally, would NOT have my daughter painted.
The woman sounds cagey and I would not trust her.

Then, make sure that she or her sister, does not take any photos of your daughter themselves, because then, the woman could paint your daughter. Even if you do not provide the woman with a photo yourself.

Bottom line is: you do not want her to sell the painting to someone else, because it is a picture of your daughter. Then, you also do not know, IF you want or can buy it yourself. Due to the cost, which the woman will not specify.
Then, you do not even know, what her paintings are worth because, there is no way to estimate the value of her paintings.
And you don't know what she even does with her paintings, if she sells them or just keeps all her paintings just accumulating in some storage since she claims to be a "hobbyist" at it, or if she shows them at art shows or at sidewalk flea market type places and sells them there.

I would think if she used your daughter as a model and then sold the painting to someone else, you should get some money out of the deal!

If you are not comfortable with it, just say no, you don't owe her anything.

If you agree to do this, get something in writing that she will pay you a flat fee or a percentage of what she makes off the painting. Your daughter sounds gorgeous, this could be a nice side gig for her, but you will need to be her agent!

I might stall a little longer and ask to see what other works she has done, and then stall a bit more and ask to speak to her other subjects/parents and see what they say about the experience.

I suppose she could go ahead and snap a pict with her phone when you weren't looking and do what ever she wanted, but i hope that the fact that she asked tells you she wouldn't.

or give her a price range. like what can she do for $100?

Like most people said, she wants a free model. Your daughter is the one who has to pose for the snapshots, so ask her if she wants to do that and make it clear to her it's a serious job. If your daughter wants to do it then I would tell the lady if your daughter has to pose for photos, then she deserves compensation. I think $250 is reasonable if she plans on getting $2,500 for the painting. If she's willing to pay it fine, if not, no hard feelings. Let your daughter pick out something she wants with the money and put the rest in her savings account.