The agreement with my customer M was that I would try to capture a likeness in her Dad’s face. If I was unable to do that, we would understand and accept that this job is beyond my ability. It is EXACTLY the kind of drawing job that I have struggled with for many years, and finally decided to stop accepting commissions for.
BUT, M is my friend and a great communicator, and I want to please her. I also like testing myself from time to time to see if I have improved.
Attempt # 3 was a reject.
Attempt #4 was a reject.
Attempt #5 was sent to M with this: “If this one isn’t right, then I am crying “uncle”, accepting the fact that this is beyond my ability, and throwing in the towel. (Jeopardy music in the background as the drawing awaits its fate. . .)”
I recognized that I was falling into the trap of trying to do the impossible. I thought that I had chosen a large enough piece of paper to include the whole scene with faces large enough to draw, but I was wrong. The most minute change, a slight dab of the eraser, half a pencil point width change, using HB instead H or H instead of 3H (those are pencil hardness/darkness indicators), a vague variation in paper texture. . . all I am doing is tickling the paper and hoping something works.
So, for once in my career of accepting challenges that are beyond my ability to execute well in a manner that pleases the customer, I am willing to quit on this one and STOP SAYING YES TO THESE TYPES OF COMMISSIONS.
Nope. Didn’t look like M’s dad. Bye-bye, drawing.
P.S. M, it is not your fault. It is mine for saying yes when I knew better. Thank you for your patience and for the opportunity to try one more time and then finally accept reality.
See? I have tried and tried and tried with these tiny faces in the past:
More Can’t See ‘Ems This one worked because the customer didn’t know the people personally.
Custom Pencil Drawings Another one where the customer said a likeness wasn’t necessary.
P.S. I didn’t cry. It is just a figure of speech. Thank you for your concern.
3 Comments
There’s no shame in admitting there are some things that are beyond your talent to do. None at all! The danger comes from those who don’t realize their abilities don’t match up to the task at hand (e.g. those poor kids whose auditions for American Idol are dismal). Continue to do what you do best (cabins! landscapes! Sawtooth!) and have pride that there are things you do well and people appreciate!
Thank you, Sharon! M was very gracious about it all because she is a gracious lady. And it was a good learning experience to share with my students, a good chance to develop a bit more humility, and hopefully, a good chance to tell my readers that I won’t be accepting portrait commissions. It also cemented my confidence that I am on the right path with the subjects I normally draw and paint.
Yes! A learning experience that taught you what you do well, and what you let others do well (who can’t do what you do well). Well!
Now, get crackin’ on that inventory for Silver City, et. al. Memorial Day will be here before you know it! And then . . . it’s “FLING WIDE THE GATES!”
Comments are closed for this article!