the engine just gleams

I was asked the other day if I would make a piece of art for a coworker. I am hesitant to do these sorts of things for multiple reasons, but the main reason is ultimately how undervalued my efforts are, and how appalling other people’s taste in art is. I am not saying this to be a snob, I hate kitsch and really have no desire to draw or paint a picture of someone’s beloved pet.
This client had asked if I was willing to create something for her, something I personally find whorish but I was willing to do this because I wanted the opportunity to make money and start the process of getting a “name”.
We discussed the content, which I was agreeable to, the size and then price, which is where my frustration began. I advised this young lady that a picture done in graphite of three dogs on separate pieces of 24X36 paper would cost her two hundred American dollars. I explained it would have been large figures on their own paper, and would not be framed. I expected a reasonable discussion, but when she told me she would be willing to pay as much as twenty dollars I politely declined, informing her that the price she mentioned would not even cover the paper I was going to buy.
In no way was the price she mentioned reasonable, and it’s incredibly insulting to think that any work I would be willing to perform is essentially considered to be disposable. Art cost money, and I think these people who tell me they want to give me such a crummy figure think I am doing it for “fun”. Yes, making art is “fun” but I want my efforts to be appreciated with a fair value attached to them. I would ultimately like to be able to live off the fruits of my artistic endeavors, so sorry twenty bucks would never quite cut it.