Second thoughts on Commission Work

So commission work is harder than most because you are not painitng for yourself but for others. It adds to the strain the need to produce something that fulfils the request. Ocassionally you get it wrong and maybe you have to do more than one painting to get something you like and the commissionee likes. But hey what a buzz when they tell you they like it.

Commissions Should we or Should we Not

It has always seemed a good thing to offer to carry out commission work. It means that paintings that have been sold can be the inspiration to another painting. This has been the case for me on more than one occasion.So it was the case a few weeks ago. Somebody wanted a similar painting to one already sold but on a larger scale. I used the same colours and later we agreed to make some changes. The commissionee was happy and paid me more than I had asked for the work. I feel we all ended up happy. But then the last three commissions have been hard work doing something I am not in the habit of doing and the person not wanting the finished product, but something other. I would never want anybody to have a work they did not like but what do you do with all those paintings? It is hard to bring yourself to paint over them so they often end up in the bin. Having said all that I am working on two large commisions even now and have just agreed to go visit someplace with the prospect of another one.

Getting into the correct groove to be creative.

My lifestyle changed when my wife reduced her working week to three days. It is so good to have her around more but it is taking time for me to adjust. I need to start the day softly and in peace, she on the other hand wakens and reaches for the operator for the TV. There cannot be a worse way to get inspired than to listen to the garbles of those on the morning show on the BBC. They spend so much time sharing theyre own little opinions on everything, dropping in little tit bits about the family and home life. Who cares about their personal lives. I find this the last thing on earth to get in the right mood to paint. In fact I thought there could be nothing worse. Then yesterday I was away for a bit in my caravan. On taking an early morning trip to the washroom I discovered there is worse. Playing over the radio system was BBC Radio 2 and Terry Wogan, now his prattles must be the worst ever way to get inspiration for anything other than a head full of nothing.

Pastel Painters Guild Europe

I have developed a real love of pastel even though it has as many problems for the artists as those that it solves. Pastel painting still has to win over the skeptics. I came accross the guild through the pastel painters journal. I have always been unsure of how my work was progressing so when stating an interet in becoming a member I left the level of membership to their judgement. How surprised I was to be accepted at professional level. I feel greatly honoured and it is a spur for me to try and progress my pastel work.