How you learn new things while completing commissions

Today I have done work on my two current commissions. One is a local landscape and overlooks a town. The other is a hat and references interests and career of the intended recipient (not the client).

I have worked in fineliners and ProMarkers today on the landscape and last night ordered some replacement pens to give me more choices with water shades. This is giving me a chance to look at the local town in the piece in more detail and familiarise myself more with its details. This links to both studying maps, photos and own observations from walks locally

This afternoon the hat work has included adding labelling to a local nautical chart and having to pick which details to leave out to avoid overcrowding it. I have also researched the recipient’s ex career and the tools of their trade which was interesting and very educational. Most of the work on this is in Posca markers of various width nibs and also some pigment liner labelling.

I have got to the end of the afternoon knowing that both pieces are on target for completion relatively soon which after losing time to headaches and poor sleep the last few days is reassuring too.

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