Seriously Considering my own Aviation Art Business

[Urchin]

It's to bad my lovely MS Paint artwork is no longer around to be enjoyed.

[agefhx]

Why not carve your most awesome drawings in wood, brass, aluminum, plastics or whatever, except hard metal.

 Get this program here:
http://www.peasley.com/photo_carvings.htm

 Then get one of these fine machines from Canada here:
http://www.larkencnc.com/cam24/index.shtml

 There are many different benchtop cnc machines but this one has a stand alone program and a large cutting area.

If you wanna cut your drawings in steel or other metals, get a plasma cutter like torchmate.

You have a talent, open up your customer base.

[RedDg]

Thanks to everyone who replied.  For the most part (including friends and family) I have received posititve feedback.  For those who contacted me privately I hope I've answered your questions and look forward to hearing from you.

BTW, these weren't necessarily the pictures I was hoping to market.  Was just giving an example of what I managed to get on canvas in the last 5 years or so.  A funny stiry about just how new I am to this:  All the above pictures were drawn with either pencil, charcoal, or pastel chalk --  All on canvases that I bought.  Only when I was finished with them all did I realize that the canvases were made for acrylic paint:rolleyes:

Ah well, but in the end it gave the pictures a grainy look that I liked.  I will look into the great suggestions made and let you know how it goes.  See you in the skies.

[Curval]

The first rule of a successful business is to sell.

You have an offer to buy above yet you did not respond.

Weird.

[RedDg]

Curval,

email sent.  Sorry for the delay, and look forward to hearing from you.

RedDog

[dsrtrat]

Red,

Nice work!!! I love aviation art. I have been dabbling in it for a couple years and have even tossed around the idea of selling it myself.

Prints can be pricey, but a quality print only has to sell a certain number before the rest is profit. Next yo have to consider ditribution method. You can't charge for a pic then fold it into an envelope.

Someone mentioned doing special request for people. That is fine, but remember you will have to recover your costs from 1 paiting. I have a tendancy to spend hours sometimes hundreds on paintings and woul be making next to nothing or selling them for a ton hehe.

I have done some paintings for friends and have 3 works published in books. This Xmas I did a pic for Busher. His wife comissioned me behind his back and bought him an airbrushed colour plate of a spitIX with his personal call letters on the side like a wingCO would have.

Anyhow, be sure to enjoy your art.

[guttboy]

Thunder!!!!!!!!

Is that an original????  Did you do it????  How much????

That is so realistic I have even asked my wife to allow it over our mantle in the living room!!!!!

LOL GREAT PIC...

RedDg....great artwork...what did you do in the AF?  Im active duty at Kirtland Afb...flying MC130s.

Regards

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by RedDg


I’ve never studied art, nor care particularly about art history.  

If you draw like that and have never studied or even taken any type of art class, you've got a natural talent and you shouldn't keep it hidden from the rest of us.

Of course the only mark against you is that there isn't a P-38 in any of those images you posted.


Ack-Ack

[rshubert]

Redd, my wife has been a professional artist and art teacher since long before we were married.  You have a wonderful talent, and I like your work.  Develop it, learn, and don't get discouraged.  Recognition for an artist is hard to come by, with loads of competition out there.

BUT, keep your day job. If it weren't for my work, my wife would be on welfare.  She wins awards, gets ribbons in shows, and is admired by her peers, but art doesn't sell for anything like the cost of production, if you factor in the artist's labor.  My wife's work sells in the 2000-5000 dollar area, but each painting takes a couple of months to complete.  Do the math.  Starvation wages.

Leslie's suggestions, and many others, are all good.  We haven't had a lot of luck on the internet, but that's not necessarily going to be your experience.  I think aviation art may be more popular (at least within a small community of clients) than is traditional still life, figures, and landscapes.  The print market sure looks good, and I would look in WINGS, AVIATION HISTORY or AIRPOWER at the ads by the big names.  I am surprised how much they ask for (soemtimes) obviously flawed compositions.

[RedDg]

Guttboy,

Thanks for the kind words, and you bet it's an original.  Hangs in my son's bedroom.  I knew from day one that he would be my little wingman in future simming exploits:D  

Meanwhile, my daughter was due to be born May 27th and hasn't come out yet.  She already has her daddy's stubbornness.

When I was active duty I was a 491X1, 3C0X1 Communications/Computer Systems Operator.  I did everthing from Base Telephone Operator to Small Computer Repair, Networking, Mainframes, etc.  I dreamed of being a pilot but astigmatism kept me out.  

I know a few folks who are out your way....Kirtland AFB

but it's a dry heat

and belated thank you on this passing Memorial Day.

[Furball]

dsrtrat hasnt posted the link to his paintings, so i will! here you go :

http://www.geocities.com/hornets418/pics

love the hurri IID one, the spit at the bottom is the one he did for busher.

[SlapShot]

Originally posted by Furball
dsrtrat hasnt posted the link to his paintings, so i will! here you go :

http://www.geocities.com/hornets418/pics

love the hurri IID one, the spit at the bottom is the one he did for busher.

That desert scene is fantastic work !!! You really get a sense of motion in the picture.