Fantastic feedback

On Thursday my most recent completed commission was presented to the giftee it was intended for. NL (my client) has bought a range of greetings cards from me before and last Christmas bought two decorated wooden boxes for her children.

Admission – never seen a kingfisher, let alone drawn one, but yes ….

This was slotted in to my commissions list as next piece for an event in June. First task was to order a new wooden box and research kingfishers, plan an idea and then draw – all turned around in less than one week.

I decided that the life of a kingfisher seemed appropriate so the box started with the nesting bird on the eggs, then the parent at the nest entrance off to collect food for the chicks (with a scroll space for the baby’s name), then feeding junior some fresh fish.

The fourth and final side shows the kingfisher flying off. On top of the box is a simplified Garland in pen and ink with the title Memories box. The initial line drawings were done straight onto the box in fineliner (Staedtler pigment liners). Colour was added using Winsor and Newton ProMarkers with some highlights in Posca markers. The Garland and writing was hand drawn.

No practice drawings were done this was drawing from a range of photos straight into the box. No room for errors but this is how I work.

I signed my work on the bottom of the box which is left blank and can always be added to later as can the inside of the box.

In to the post in a repurposed box from ‘Who gives a crap’, mix of recycled packaging from my boxes order and then wrapped with recycled Kraft paper. In the post that day and arrived in London the next day, but collected after the weekend due to a missed delivery.

This is a great example of how feedback during a commission with the client helps the process of producing their piece of art. Also I hang expectantly until I hear the parcel has been received safely (100% record to date). The final piece is how the piece has gone down with the recipient if ordered as a gift for someone else.

Fancy a similar hand drawn box of your own? I have several blank boxes in stock now in a range of sizes and price points. This project cost £40 including box, packaging and first class postage – I am not an expensive artist and I have lots of space for commissions now.

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