I am just back from yet another fabulous Autumn road trip with my marvellous HIM touring Portugal and Spain in our motorhome Rodney and I am slowly but surely settling back in to normal life, whatever ‘normal’ is?! I tried to work on writing this piece whilst we were away but the connections were often so hit and miss, in the end I gave up trying. Most unusual for me as I am known for being awfully trying! 😇
For months I have been meaning to sit down and write about this Commissioned Painting of a Dancer from earlier in the year and to reveal the full painting, so enough procrastinating Migglet… finally… here goes! 🥳
You know, it is somewhat humbling to be contacted by a complete stranger who has only ever seen your work on your website and is willing to put all their faith into commissioning you to create something unique and personal for them.
The whole process is fairly lengthy and complex and involves many waves of emotions from the initial ‘thinking’ stage throughout the creative process and right through to completion, acceptance and finally the enormous relief on delivery!
If you have been following me for a while, you will know I am an instinctive artist and definitely not a planner, so a Commission is always a different process for me where initial planning and a great deal of thought simply have to be used!
There are numerous lengthy emails back and forth as communication is key. It is imperative that I can ‘get inside the head’ of the client. I need to completely understand the brief before I can even begin to think of creating the piece.
Size, subject, medium (i.e. Acrylic on canvas in this instance) colours of background, final position of piece and colour scheme of the room it is intended for etc etc, there are so many factors to consider.
Finding out which of my paintings the client prefers on my website, narrowing down a great many choices, getting to know the client’s taste and personality as much as is possible…..all these things are necessary for BOTH of us to feel we are on the same wavelength and are about to move in the same direction.
A final phone call and discussion of all the client’s requirements and everything about this commission fell into place in my head, thanks to a wonderfully clear description of the beautiful bedroom and colour scheme where the finished piece was to be hung.
Suddenly I could picture the finished painting…and…ALL (!?!) I needed to do was source and purchase the right sized canvas and create a beautiful, traditional, bespoke ballerina! …….Sorted! 😃
I communicated with the client via email during the process once I had started working on the piece so that she knew what stage I was at because I am sure it must be quite a nerve wracking process for the client too?! After all, nobody can climb inside MY head which is probably just as well as it is rather cluttered in there!
This ballerina was created from different sources, not just one reference photograph but many, so she only exists purely on that one canvas and from my imagination, which was a very new and exciting challenge for me!
It was such a HUGE relief once the painting was safely delivered to the client, unpacked from it’s many layers of packaging ( I was absolutely determined that dancer would not be able to escape!) and I received such a joyful email from the client to let me know how delighted she was with the finished piece! Nothing ever beats a happy joyful client!
And when I read that the client was happy for me to use the scanned image to be able to produce Prints from my Original Commissioned Ballerina Painting… quote ‘as it would be such a shame for her NOT to be seen by others’ I was delighted and most appreciative as I was more than a little proud of the finished painting.
I decided to give her the title ‘Serenity’ and I hope you enjoy this following little video clip!
If you wish to purchase an Art Print or Canvas Print of this painting of a dancer titled ‘Serenity’ please click on the direct link below. Of course, bespoke sizes are always available too, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries!
Finally, thank you so much for following me and my arty path, for me it is one long journey of excitement and surprises, not so much a yellow brick road, but a colour me very happy one! 😘 xx