TAKE A COMMISSION...ARE YOU NUTS?!
By taking a commission, you are promising to create someone
else's vision. Do you know how hard that
is?! To give you an example, hubby took
a commission to carve wooden beads that look like specific foods for her
toddler at $2 each. Not much pay for all
that work, but he thought it would be fun.
The client thought the broccoli looked too much like cauliflower, the
cheese had too many holes and the T-bone should be a rib-eye. She thought the egg was too oval, the apple
too round and the milk cartons weren't one gallon ones. AAAAH!!!!
The frustration of it all! You
have to be really skilled to crawl into someone else's mind and 'see' their
vision. And they don't realize how much
work is involved with it. They want it
at Wal-Mart prices. Being an artist is
hard enough without having to be clairvoyant as well...
On the other hand, I did a commission piece just recently,
and it was a wonderful experience to be able to bring to life that person's
vision. When they choose the right
artist that already has a similar vision, it really works out well, and is
satisfying for both parties. If you
choose Rembrandt to paint like Jackson Pollock, you are not going to be happy
with the results. If your patron wants
something that is out of your realm of art, speak up...tell them it isn't a
good fit, even if you really want to try to force yourself into their
vision. Otherwise, you will be unhappy,
they will be unhappy, and your reputation will suffer. I had to turn down a
commission recently because the person loved my wildlife art, but wanted a
portrait. I am VERY uncomfortable with
painting people. I am comfortable with
wildlife, and I knew that no matter how hard I tried, we were both going to be
unhappy with the results. Instead, we
came to a compromise...when she wants a portrait of her dog, I am ready!
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