Asking for a commission
Someone contacted me about visiting my studio, along with visiting Mineral King to find the cabin where her dad spent time as a child. I put her in touch with the current owner of the cabin, and then let her know that I accept commissions and can draw the cabin for her to give to her dad.
Gathering photos, making sketches
She was very happy with that idea, so she sent a few photos, the current cabin owner sent more, and I took a few too. Then I worked up different sketches for her to choose from. She chose A, and asked that I draw it 11×14″ instead of the original 9×12″ size chosen.
Beginning the drawing
I had a day without many interruptions, a day to just park in my studio and draw. That has become a real treat in November, consistently my busiest month.
Instead of printing out photos or ordering good quality prints from Shutterfly, I chose to work from the photos on my laptop. That is now a regular method; it is a real bonus to be able to greatly enlarge a photo for the details.
After a full day at the drawing table, this is what I had.
Taking artistic license
There is a bit of artistic license being taken here, with permission from my customer, of course. In the olden days, I felt bound by reality, enslaved by the photos, and handcuffed by indecision when I ventured away from exactly what was there in person and appeared in the photographs. These days I feel a lot more freedom. Is it because of needing and learning to make things up with oil painting? Is it because I have so much more experience? (I’m kind of old-ish, being well ensconced in the S’s.)
Whatever the reason, the process is enjoyable and challenging. It makes me feel like a real artist instead of a copy machine.
Calendars
2023, Mineral King HIKES, still available here: Calendars
To see the back of the calendar, you will need to click/tap on the link.
2 Comments
I’m trying to figure out which cabin this is from the small image you provided. I know it’s not a “west side story” but maybe if you show more detail in future blogs as your commission progresses, I’ll be able to figure it out!
P.S. Those “preliminary sketches” look completed to me, and good enough to sell!
Sharon, because this is the WWW I will just say here that it is across the creek from me. Thank you for your kind words, and I keep those little sketches little because they are just a bunch of organized scribbling.
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