[Previous entry: "Pink Cheeks"] [Next entry: "Juneau Ice Field Trek"]
08/01/2006: "Whose commission is it anyway?"
Commissions are tricky. I've been fortunate in the past but recently I was asked to do recreations (in my style) of 2 paintings originally done by *other* artists. That isn't something I would ever do. Sure, I (like every other artist) have incorporated imagery from other artists' work into my own, but never like that. No way.
After explaining why it wouldn't work the collector was great...he hadn't understood but said he'd look through photos he'd taken and that he was still interested in me doing a couple of paintings for him.
I was happy that he was still interested but the two photos he sent next (the pose in the first and the thigh-high black stiletto boots in the second), made me uncomfortable. I paint figures in nature but they're not intended to be salacious.
I wrote him back that the images were not compatible with my style but I felt badly about it. What are collectors’ expectations when commissioning an artist? I think it’s understandable for them to be confused as some artists you can tell what you want and they paint it for you. I don't (and never would) work that way. To do so would go against every ounce of artistic integrity in my soul.
I will admit that picking up two rather nice sized commissions right now would be hugely beneficial to my wallet but perhaps this isn't meant to be. Do any of you do commissions and if so, what would your own policies be on these two instances?
In other news, I had a Eureka moment at work today. I came up with a rather ingenious solution to a problem that many who had come before me had attempted but failed. Today I shared my implementation strategy with the Provost and she was incredibly impressed, she said "I love the way you think lady"...wow...I was on cloud 9 all day after that. It’s amazing to get something *tangible* accomplished, especially something that required a lot of coordination and that many people said would never happen. BooYah!