I knew the minute we clicked over into September things would start happening. It seems to be the silly season of summer holidays means everyone puts things on hold, and the second we get into September people start being sensible again and thinking about what’s important.
I am awaiting to hear from a woman who I spoke to last week who wants her three Jack Russells painted together in a heap, but I can’t get hold of her at the moment, so that picture will have to wait til I get the photos to work from, which I am hoping will be this week.
I am awaiting other photos from someone who wants a painting for a Christmas present, but whereas I presumed that because we talked about it in July, the photos would be sent then, I think the person in question is waiting until nearer the date to send them to me.
I am also waiting to hear from the Aunt of someone who’s name was given to me by another artist, who apparently wants a horse portrait doing, but when I last spoke to the woman, the Aunt was on holiday, so although I don’t want to appear pushy, I want to do the picture for her, and know that when I am in a lull (at the moment because of the summer holidays) its best to chase up the people who want a picture doing at some point, because, it always happens that they ring me and want it doing in a rush when I’ve got other deadlines to work to for other people. I know it always happens like that, its what I refer to as the “batch” system, things happen in batches, and equally don’t happen in batches. They’re never spaced evenly.
I am also in preliminary talks with someone who wants some illustrations doing, although until we speak later on in the week, its a bit hazy at the moment – we’re at the “I’ve got this idea and need an artist to draw some images for me, are you interested?” stage at the moment.
But, and this is the most exciting one for me at the moment, I had an email out of the blue yesterday from a woman who I did a lovely delicate nude pencil drawing of for her to give to her husband as a wedding anniversary gift a couple of years ago, who wants me to paint something for her mother and fiance as her wedding gift to them when they marry next spring. I will have to speak to the mother herself to arrange what the idea for the picture might be, and at the moment I haven’t got a clue what that is. But since the daughter is paying for it, the price had to be arranged with her. Now, not knowing what the painting is, or how difficult it will be, the size of it, or the medium, doesn’t actually matter, although you’d think it would! I will still put the same hours into it, the same expertise, the same thinking, the same creation and creativity. She has told me the amount she wants to pay, and I have given her a ball park figure for the frame, since until the picture is painted, and the size agreed, I can only guess a vague amount at the moment. So, all that has been agreed. Its just the blank space that will be the picture that I have to fill, and that is down to the mother, who I haven’t met, and don’t know her taste. The picture might well be a delicate landscape, or a bold abstract, it might be of her favourite flowers, or a happy holiday destination, or it may be of her, and her man, it may be a portrait, it may even be something erotic. Exciting isn’t it?! I love that time when a painting is being created, listening to what the client wants, and how they envision it, and putting my ideas down, to start the thought process that makes the painting.
So, I’m raring to go, but can’t go anywhere at the moment…..