My desire is to create artwork, that when viewed, provides enjoyment for years to come. It should capture more than the likeness of the subjects, but evoke also the character, mood and fond memories.
The creation of an original piece of artwork requires several steps. First, a clear understanding of what you want versus what the artist can create must be established. Every artist has his own preferred media (watercolor, pastel, oil, etc.) as well as his favorite style and subject matter. A good artist will help you find the right combination of media, colors, and background to achieve the desired effect.
The next step is to decide upon the key elements of the artwork. It might be a person, an animal, a landscape or a combination of these. Important are also objects that appear with the subject, for instance pets, hobbies, etc. that visually describe the character of the subject. Based on this discussion between the client and the artist, the media and size will be chosen, a price established and a contract signed. It is usual that 50% of the price is paid up front, with the remainder paid upon delivery.
Like most traditional artists, I prefer to paint from live, which means several sittings of an hour or more with the subject. Sometimes this is not possible, for instance with children, animals, a deceased loved one or due to time constraints. In such cases, photographs taken by the artist are used instead.
The artist will then prepare some preliminary studies and meet with the client to make a final decision. In all such deliberations, the artist has the final say of what will lead to the best result.
Lastly, the artist will deliver the artwork unframed, as the choice of framing is very dependent on where the artwork is to be displayed. From start to finish, the process of creating an original piece of art can require several weeks or even a month or more, but it will provide pleasure for generations to come.
|