Most artists through the ages have shared what works and doesn't work for them.  Aspiring artists study the work of others to learn and improve their own work.  We stand on the shoulders of the ones who came before.  I like to share anything I learn, figure out, or stumble upon so that I may help others as I've been helped.

     The image above is a painting work-in-process I started yesterday.  I'm working from a photo of an adorable baby Chihuahua.  The photo has the Chi with a downturned mouth and sad eyes, which made me want to cry.

     As I sketched in the features, I hesitated.  Will folks want to cry when they look a piece of art?  My instinct tells me, they may go Awwwh and smile sadly, but will they want to take it home? I did some research.

     I found an article online from an English painter about which animals paintings had been his most successful through the years.  You can read the article by click the above.
​
Paint Happy Animals
     The artist listed the animals and wrote some insights about reasons people were drawn to some paintings and not others.  In particular, he mentioned that paintings of apes were among his most successful.  However, he wrote, photos of apes and monkeys tend to have forlorn, melancholy  expressions.

     His experience had been that, although avid collectors ask for "monkey" paintings (they request "monkeys" but they mean "apes"), they did not buy paintings depicting sad expressions.  He suggested taking "poetic license" and alter the expression to look happy, or at least neutral.

     Using other reference photos, I'm working on getting that expression "right" on the above piece.  I'm not there yet.  He said it was easy to do.  I haven't found that to be the case so far.  I'll update later and you be the judge if I was successful or not.

   Thanks for reading!  Please like, share or comment below.
​

From what I've observed at art shows and online sales, the following seem to be the primary buying motivators (at least for women):

• Pretty
• Color
• Subject matter that
• Touches the heart

Pretty appeals to women.  Now, it's true, beauty is in the eye of the behold, but we all know pretty when we see it.  What makes something pretty? Whether it's a face, a room, a painting, a car, etc., the "elements of design" of the object observed is pretty if it obeys most, if not all, of the "principles of design".  I'll do a post on these "elements and principles" next.  Bottom line: Pretty sells.

People buy color. Some colors are more popular than others. Some color  combinations are currently in style while some colors never go out of style.  Blue has always been the most universally popular color.  Pink and gray combination was popular  a little while ago.  Gray is still hot, but turquoise and mustard seem to be having a moment 
Study current trends, recent past trends, and popular colors when choosing your color palette.  I know, this is cravenly commercial.  But, come on, everybody just wants to sell, right?
If you're going to a show, have as many color choices as you can to increase sales.  Some people specialize in one color palette and there's merit in that.  In this case, make sure the show you're going to has a BIG attendance. Otherwise, I think it's best to have a variety of colors, with special emphasis on current tends.  And lots of blue.

Know someone who collects owls?  They can't pass one up.  Live on the beach?  Beachy scenes, critters, and objects are your decorating choices.  People are drawn to certain themes, objects, or animals and they buy them (if they're pretty and the right color. See above.)  Studying online shopping sites and catalogues will give you lots of clues as to what people are buying.  For easy sales, paint stuff people are collecting.

Whether people are collecting or not, if your art touches their heart, they can't resist it.  Animals, children, and certain scenes pull at the heart strings and is something they'll want to take it home with them or give as a gift. Paint what people love or in such a way as to make them love it.

There you have it.  My little take on making what sells.  Now, go make some art.