Comments on: Commission’s love, to be or not… http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=commission%25e2%2580%2599s-love-to-be-or-not a multi-disciplinary dialog Wed, 23 May 2012 16:15:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Elaine Mari http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-214333 Elaine Mari Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:17:14 +0000 http://artandperception.com/?p=4718#comment-214333 I have recently been able to put aside my artist's angst about being told what to do, being commercial, being circumscribed by people who want me to 'sell my soul' and have taken on a series of portrait commissions for someone I am acquainted with. I had attempted to do commissions several years ago (more abstract, not portraits) and hated it. I believe that was because I did not have a good sense of who I was as an artist and was not "formed" enough to have the confidence that commissions did not have to decide my artistic life. Or, if they did, that was my choice and a valid one. Recently I took the dive into painting portraits and learning about acrylic painting. My previous attempts at painting exhibit lack of commitment and skill. I wanted to do something about that. After completing a few portraits, somebody asked me to attempt commissions for him. I was beginning to gain confidence and a method of working that I felt good about so I decided that I could earn money while I learned and accepted. It has been good for me. I set aside my need to be "good" and just did what I could with the instructions he gave and let it go. Some of these works are better than others. For instance, my skill level did not allow me to take the head of a 16 year old girl and put it convincingly on the body of the same child at 12 as requested, but I tried my best and when the customer was satisfied, I let it go. There were all sorts of bizarre challenges like this. I would never have attempted such stuff on my own. What the h#!! Do what you like. I say. Keep an open mind and you will learn. I have recently been able to put aside my artist’s angst about being told what to do, being commercial, being circumscribed by people who want me to ‘sell my soul’ and have taken on a series of portrait commissions for someone I am acquainted with. I had attempted to do commissions several years ago (more abstract, not portraits) and hated it. I believe that was because I did not have a good sense of who I was as an artist and was not “formed” enough to have the confidence that commissions did not have to decide my artistic life. Or, if they did, that was my choice and a valid one.

Recently I took the dive into painting portraits and learning about acrylic painting. My previous attempts at painting exhibit lack of commitment and skill. I wanted to do something about that. After completing a few portraits, somebody asked me to attempt commissions for him. I was beginning to gain confidence and a method of working that I felt good about so I decided that I could earn money while I learned and accepted.

It has been good for me. I set aside my need to be “good” and just did what I could with the instructions he gave and let it go. Some of these works are better than others. For instance, my skill level did not allow me to take the head of a 16 year old girl and put it convincingly on the body of the same child at 12 as requested, but I tried my best and when the customer was satisfied, I let it go.

There were all sorts of bizarre challenges like this. I would never have attempted such stuff on my own. What the h#!! Do what you like. I say. Keep an open mind and you will learn.

]]> By: Mimí http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-213772 Mimí Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:04:40 +0000 http://artandperception.com/?p=4718#comment-213772 If I had to choose I'd pick the last two by that invisible line of motion, its strong evocative meaning. And the first by light, by the impact. Si tuviera que elegir me quedaría con los dos últimos por esa invisible línea de movimiento ,por su fuerte sentido evocador. Y el primero por la luz, por el impacto. Un abrazo If I had to choose I’d pick the last two by that invisible line of motion, its strong evocative meaning.
And the first by light, by the impact.

Si tuviera que elegir me quedaría con los dos últimos por esa invisible línea de movimiento ,por su fuerte sentido evocador.
Y el primero por la luz, por el impacto.

Un abrazo

]]> By: June Underwood http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-213716 June Underwood Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:46:31 +0000 http://artandperception.com/?p=4718#comment-213716 Angela, Your thoughts on commissions are very insightful. I wish more artists could see the kind of value that you've seen in doing that kind of work. It really does require you to stop being so self-centric and understand what other people want and need. And that's not a bad thing. It's always possible to go back to your own work -- if doing a commission ruins your personal art, then it's likely your personal art wasn't strong. And your "...rise" series works very well indeed. I think Birgit is right -- that they talk to each other and make a strong whole. Thanks for a great post. Angela,

Your thoughts on commissions are very insightful. I wish more artists could see the kind of value that you’ve seen in doing that kind of work. It really does require you to stop being so self-centric and understand what other people want and need. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s always possible to go back to your own work — if doing a commission ruins your personal art, then it’s likely your personal art wasn’t strong.

And your “…rise” series works very well indeed. I think Birgit is right — that they talk to each other and make a strong whole. Thanks for a great post.

]]> By: Birgit Zipser http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-213491 Birgit Zipser Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:20:00 +0000 http://artandperception.com/?p=4718#comment-213491 Angela, I love the colors of your paintings. I have a motif in mind, similar to your 'Misty' picture. I hesitated painting it thinking that it could be too severe. What I decided, inspired by your post that, I will make it part of a series so that other pictures, more colorful, will lighten the mood. Angela,

I love the colors of your paintings. I have a motif in mind, similar to your ‘Misty’ picture. I hesitated painting it thinking that it could be too severe. What I decided, inspired by your post that, I will make it part of a series so that other pictures, more colorful, will lighten the mood.

]]> By: Liam Murray http://artandperception.com/2009/10/commission%e2%80%99s-love-to-be-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-213406 Liam Murray Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:45:22 +0000 http://artandperception.com/?p=4718#comment-213406 Years ago as a stroppy adolescent, when I knew even less about art & art history than I do now, I cockily proclaimed that anything commissioned could immediately be dismissed as craft or commerce, certainly not worthy of that tag art. My 5th form art teacher grabbed a book and opened it on a reproduction of the Cistine Chapel and at that moment I started to grow up.... Years ago as a stroppy adolescent, when I knew even less about art & art history than I do now, I cockily proclaimed that anything commissioned could immediately be dismissed as craft or commerce, certainly not worthy of that tag art. My 5th form art teacher grabbed a book and opened it on a reproduction of the Cistine Chapel and at that moment I started to grow up….

]]>