My client has an agapanthus plant in their garden, they were telling me about how it doesn’t flower every year: they are looking to move house at some point. They had taken a photo of the flowers and would love a painting to be made based on the photo to serve as a memory they can take with them. I mentioned about getting the photo printed onto a canvas - the quality of those products nowadays is really good. However, they didn’t want something photo-realistic, they really wanted a painting. I don't paint flowers very often. I even skipped the florals exercises in the experimental still life course the last two years. I thought maybe a friend of mine that I know loves painting flowers might be interested…

… but something inside was ruminating. If I was to take on this commission how might I do it? What could it look like? A few ideas popped into my head over the course of the day. I went from zero interest to thinking about how I might work on a commission, especially on a subject I was unsure about taking on. Something about it had grabbed my attention and I contacted the client to outline my proposal, after a few messages we were in agreement.

1. First we agreed the size and price of the piece, whether it was to be framed or unframed.

2. Then we agreed the time-frame and deadline.

3. We agreed that I would work on more than one piece (actually three) and I would show the client all the paintings I was happy with by the deadline.

4. We agreed the client could choose to buy one of them, but if they weren’t to their taste there was no obligation to purchase any pieces.

5. We agreed I could sell any work I made that they didn’t want to purchase.

6. We agreed a deposit wasn’t necessary, as there is no obligation for the client to purchase any of the completed paintings.

This gives me the creative freedom to work on the brief in my own way, in my own style. The client had seen my Facebook page and was familiar with my work, and happy with this.

It also means no revisions! Controversial point coming up: Nobody, not even a client, really wants an artist to go back and forth changing little bits of a painting, it takes the life out of the painting! Do you agree?

If so, maybe you might consider commissioning a piece from me. And I might consider taking it on! There’s something about the challenge that excites me, and not really knowing what might emerge in the process. I guess there’s been one constant in the things I’ve done in my life, from computing to research, to teaching, to art… and that’s problem solving. I love problem solving!

Solving a Rubik’s cube - no problem! Ha ha! Disclaimer: I actually still need reminders at different stages to keep me on track, but I’m learning and one day I will be able to solve it on my own.