This past week has been quite a glaring example of the difference a client can make in your performance and enthusiasm. On the one hand, I’ve got the bike faring guy who wants a Iron Horse/Wild Bill theme. He has been analyzing the bejesus out of the layout I’ve sent him, making changes, and questioning my intentions about every detail. All while repeating the disclaimer: “Well I know you’re the artist, but…”
I've had several ideas/proposals for better impact and continuity on such a big piece - but they’ve all met with a pretty hasty dismissal. The result is a part has little to no cohesion and runs the risk of looking like a jumble of randomly placed western tattoos.
On the other hand, I have a commission for a fairly ‘up my alley’ type pirate skull design. In theory, after probably painting around a thousand or more skull designs, this should be the type of thing I kick out in my sleep… But he simply said: “I’m thinking something with an electric eel would be cool - and maybe some blues worked in. But I‘ll leave that up to you and look forward to seeing what you figure out.” And what a difference that makes!!! I have put a lot more time into it than budgeted, added additional elements to better balance the composition, increased the size of the panel itself and just flat out been ‘trying’ and fully intending to produce the best work I am capable of.
Both projects were started on the same day. The faring has been progressing at a snails pace and spends a lot of time collecting dust. The pirate panel is drawn up, approved, laid out and ready for paint and, if it wasn’t for me waiting for a paint delivery, would be quite a bit further along already. Even Cherie made a comment about how apparent it was to her which project I actually wanted to be working on - and which one was 'work'.
Now, obviously I’ll still do my best to do a professional caliber job on the faring - and will make sure the customer is ultimately pleased. But still... Just saying…
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Another stand-out from my week so far has been life/figure drawing at a local artists studio. It was a nice night out and a great way to meet some new people and dust some of the artistic cobwebs off. Drawing a full-figured model was fun! Lots of, ummm, 'stuff' going on there to keep it interesting and challenging...
Other than that - just kinda business as usual. Thanks for reading!
Rod
I've had several ideas/proposals for better impact and continuity on such a big piece - but they’ve all met with a pretty hasty dismissal. The result is a part has little to no cohesion and runs the risk of looking like a jumble of randomly placed western tattoos.
On the other hand, I have a commission for a fairly ‘up my alley’ type pirate skull design. In theory, after probably painting around a thousand or more skull designs, this should be the type of thing I kick out in my sleep… But he simply said: “I’m thinking something with an electric eel would be cool - and maybe some blues worked in. But I‘ll leave that up to you and look forward to seeing what you figure out.” And what a difference that makes!!! I have put a lot more time into it than budgeted, added additional elements to better balance the composition, increased the size of the panel itself and just flat out been ‘trying’ and fully intending to produce the best work I am capable of.
Both projects were started on the same day. The faring has been progressing at a snails pace and spends a lot of time collecting dust. The pirate panel is drawn up, approved, laid out and ready for paint and, if it wasn’t for me waiting for a paint delivery, would be quite a bit further along already. Even Cherie made a comment about how apparent it was to her which project I actually wanted to be working on - and which one was 'work'.
Now, obviously I’ll still do my best to do a professional caliber job on the faring - and will make sure the customer is ultimately pleased. But still... Just saying…
-
Another stand-out from my week so far has been life/figure drawing at a local artists studio. It was a nice night out and a great way to meet some new people and dust some of the artistic cobwebs off. Drawing a full-figured model was fun! Lots of, ummm, 'stuff' going on there to keep it interesting and challenging...
Other than that - just kinda business as usual. Thanks for reading!
Rod
Run from the fairing Rod!! Run like the wind!! You know your inner voice is telling you too.
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