Signed, Sealed, Delivered. . .

. . . it’s yours!

Some artists don’t like to do commission work. Maybe they don’t like to eat, either. Or maybe they aren’t very good at understanding what other people want. Maybe they are rebellious adolescents trapped in the bodies of adults.

I like commissions.

It is a fun challenge to make a visual representation from a person’s verbal description. It is very gratifying to have a happy customer at the end of a job. It is a wonderful thing to have a sale without all the will-she-won’t-she.

During the Three Rivers Artists Studio Tour Ten, several folks asked me to paint specific things for them. As a California artist, naturally I was thrilled to receive confirmation that California poppies and giant Sequoias are always a popular subject.

These poppies were unfinished, sitting on the easel, looking like little butterflies when Amy spotted them. She asked if she could buy it before it was completed. I think I said, “Um, sure!” (Hopefully I was more polished that that.) This was painted from a photograph that my very generous mailman brought to me; he’s just thoughtful like that.

Christine asked me if I thought I could get inspired to paint a Sequoia in the snow. I said, “I’m always inspired if someone wants something.” (Hopefully I was a little more polished than that.) I went through my photos, picked one, and happily dove in, well inspired and eager to do my best for Christine. She now has it and is very happy.

That’s the goal of commissions in my little business.

Committing Commissions

 

This is not a commission. It is a do-over. I painted this when I was new to oil painting, and recently I figured out how to do it better. I painted right over the top, so I didn’t have to figure out any shapes or placement.  (Three Rivers is gorgeous in the spring. I know I keep saying that. But, really, the unemployment is terribly high, the air is nasty in the fall, and we are all fat, so don’t move here, ‘kay?)

This sequoia oil painting has better detail than the previous view. Why am I painting a sequoia in the snow when it is spring? Because CS wants it! And this California artist accepts commissions in oil. Pencil too.

Committing more Commissions

I painted three pomegranates for a nice lady of impeccable taste that came to my studio during Studio Tour Ten. She asked for one, and I painted three so that she would have choices and I would have more to sell at the Redbud Festival.

I also began this sequoia in snow for someone else. This is 2 layers of paint. A third layer is coming with more detail.

And this is the beginning of a new experience for me – painting in oil from a pencil drawing! I am purposely not looking for the reference photos, because I want to stay true to the drawing. That is what the customers requested, so that is what I will deliver!

Notice the California poppies in the background. They now have another layer of brilliant color on their little butterfly-like petals.

Isn’t this California artist-like? Sequoias, pomegranates, poppies. I like it here. 😎 (But you’d probably hate it because  there is no Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Maybe that’s why we’re all fat.)

Peeking into the painting studio and eavesdropping on conversations

Um, would you paint something  just for me?

You betcha! I’d be happy to paint something for you! What did you have in mind?

How about a pomegranate?

How about 3 of them? Then you can decide which one you like best.

Would you ever be willing to paint a sequoia in the snow, say, 8×10″?

Would you be willing to buy it when it was finished? If yes, then yes.

What about doing an 18×24″ oil painting from your pencil drawing of  “Redwood & Dogwood“?

I’d love to do that for you! What a great idea, you brilliant patron of the arts!

If you finish that 6×18″ painting of poppies, I’ll buy it.

Really? I knew that one was a great idea. (Thanks to my mailman for bringing me the photo!)

 

If you were to commission me to paint something for you, what would you request?

Wise Up

I regularly read Michael Hyatt‘s blog. He addresses many topics, and words fail me when trying to describe his blog. Business? Publishing? Marketing? Being a better human? Life? All of the above!
Recently he wrote on the difference between a wise person and a foolish one. The definition of being wise came down to 3 things:

  1. Listens without being defensive.
  2. Accepts responsibility without blame.
  3. Changes without delay.

It occurred to me that in my quest to be a better artist, this is my method to learn and improve. I show my drawings to my students or friends and ask them to tell me honestly what they think. If they are new to the process of drawing and critiquing,  they are a bit reluctant to speak the truth. If they have known me awhile, they just let it fly without fear!

I appreciate the honesty so much. I depend on their unbiased opinions, their innate good sense, their experience, their wisdom.

Then, I usually follow their suggestions.

This is not to toot my own horn about my great wisdom. We are all wise in some areas and foolish in others. I’d be foolish to think myself capable of producing my best work without input. I just wanted to share my method of processing feedback in order to improve.

Here is a recent example of a piece that got some great feedback from my students. I listened, I accepted, I changed.

Odd Job, continued

Yesterday’s interview continues as our interviewer investigates the meaning of redwoods on redwood.

So, California Artist who has redwoods on redwood, what is the deal?

No deal. It’s a commission. It is unusual, so I’m calling it an “odd job”.

Who commissions stuff like this?

Someone who loves redwoods.

Come on!! What’s the deal?

The redwoods have been burned into the wood so they are recessed. The customer has asked me to paint in the recessed area.

How’s it going?

Not too well. The oil paint isn’t looking like much. It appears to be soaking into the wood, or maybe it is just too transparent to show on top of the charcoal. It is also too wood-grain-ish for my brushes.

What are you going to do?

I’ve put a layer of white acrylic paint as a base coat and will see how the paint shows on that. When it dries, I’ll try oil paint over that, and then you can continue the interview.

But you haven’t told us what these things are for!

Gotta keep you coming back to read the blog, don’t I?

Odd Jobs

Oh-oh, here comes that interviewer again.

Hey California Artist, what are those?

They are Giant Sequoias, aka Big Trees, or for those Rangers out there, they are Redwoods.

Yes, I can see that, but that doesn’t look like canvas to me on that easel.

Me either.

So what is it?

Redwood. Those are redwoods on redwood.

Are you kidding??

Now don’t get your knickers in a twist – it is salvaged wood, not savaged trees.

But what is it?

Keep your shirt on – more will be revealed.

Winery? Mountain? Vineyard?

Remember seeing this sketch a few weeks ago? It was the preliminary step to beginning the commissioned pencil drawing of a winery.

After drawing for awhile, it is helpful to stick it to the wall and study it at a distance further than 8″. You can see the size in comparison to the 10″ square barn painting above it.

Is it a winery drawing? It looks like a mountain picture to me. Wait, I thought it was supposed to be a vineyard. It is all fitting for a California artist, doncha think?

More will be revealed. Stay tuned!