Original Art

 

How I work with a client on commissioned work.

 

Have you ever been looking for some image that goes with an idea you have but can’t find the right print or existing photograph you want?

 

Consider commissioning an original piece of artwork.  

 

Yes, lots of artists like doing things they think of but we also enjoy the task of a challenge of doing work for others.

 

I recently did a commissioned piece.  The client and I both enjoyed the experience.  

 

I thought I would give an example of how this works. 

 

The beginning discussion starts with a scope of a project.  The client and I had this conversation about how they had been wanting something for a specific area of their home.   We talked about the content they were looking for. Things in the image they wanted emphasized and the size of the work.

 

We discussed a price.  He understood that he would be able to direct parts of the project but not the whole thing.  At some point he would have to trust my experience and knowledge as an artist.

 

He gave me the non-refundable deposit and I started to work.  I drew up 3 rough sketches of ideas. When I sent it to him, I reminded him that none of these needed to be the project.  But they were a series of images for different jumping off points. They were catalyst for discussion to find the image wanted.  The beginning of the dialogue. In the sketch phase things are extremely fluid and negotiable. So the main painting involved a figure.  So I sketched out three completely different poses with different body features.

 

When he came back he was able to say, I like this pose and this aspect of this pose.  Could the hair of the body move this way and feature this aspect?   

 

I said sure,  and a couple weeks later I came back with one sketch.  He liked it but wanted the arms to come back down and a change in hair length.  In couple weeks, I came back with two more sketches. He liked the pose and we discussed things further and then a month later I came back with a 6th sketch.  He liked everything about it except one thing.  

 

We removed that and then the painting started.  

 

That is when the ride for him began.