Commissions and my art

When I came to art I planned to do my own drawings, the idea that someone would ask me individually to draw something in particular for them seemed unlikely and I wasn’t sure with my damaged mental health I would cope with client demands.

Then after my first sale I was commissioned to draw some more pieces for Swanage Information Centre, I would be able to sell the cards produced myself as well and as the first of several local artists to get my work into the centre. I soon found how the artists interpretation and clients can differ and luckily it only took one redraft to find a agreeable solution. The whole comminuted coating as an artist so soon into my new career shook me slightly and I only just coped with it.

I backed off from the commission idea but was asked to produce a larger version of one of my sketches of the bay by the couple who had bought the Swanage beach huts original drawing. The scene worked but the sea area didn’t, it was again difficult to cope with and I swore off such pressure again.

Some small pieces for old friends slipped through and went well in small scale pieces and were received by the person they were gifts for this boosted my confidence more. Then in October 2018 I took part in Swanage Rowing Clubs Supervets (50 years +) regatta. In between heats I drew a small 6 x 4” piece of three of the gigs and had some of my other rowing art pieces with me too. I told the three clubs whose gigs Ihad drawn that there was an original one off piece in small wood like frame available for £20. I had a sale very quickly and then had two more commissions for the other clubs to draw their gigs too, I rowed in between drawing and finished the last piece sat at a table outside the local bar after the regatta completed.

At Artisans on the beach in 2018 I was asked for a decorated treasure chest piece similar to ones I had drawn. Also some geckos based on a holiday with the grandchildren – new topic but again successful.

Going into 2019 I was open to the idea of commissions if I felt comfortable with he subject matter. After Purbeck Art Weeks I was approached to do a private house picture which I did from photos, the best bit was when the client came to collect the finished piece on horseback.

I was asked to do a hand drawn woodworkers apron for Sam my postie, this went really well alongside the boilersuits from Christmas drawn for myself. Later in the year I was commissioned by a cousin to do another woodworkers apron for her husband.

Quite a variety of pieces now. 2020 saw a big increase in commissions of many varieties – firstly as the shop minded to respond to special occasions – commissioned valentines cards, continued successfully in 2021.

Other items included work for local businesses who approached me on each occasion which I took as a great compliment and some stress involved at times.

Working with businesses I have developed selling the design and the copyright.

Then Christmas cards with rapid turnarounds for businesses and a local charity

The original art postcard series led to one family commissioning some pieces of special family memories.

Then post lockdown one came the hats – hand drawn and made up by me initially then I started to get hat commissions.

Finally a wooden box Christmas gift with successful sailing campaigns

So in 2021 I have continued to gather commissions and have several to keep me going until possibly August. I will consider a range of themes as this post shows I have drawn a wide variety of topics on a number of different surfaces, if interested in commissioning a business pieces as a gift, for yourself please get in touch.

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