The #SketchBeforeBedtime & #PostcardPictures Series
Since I started on this road again I have focused a lot on small sketches. These A6 or A5 sized works have usually been created by sitting in bed in the evening with the sketch pad in my lap whilst holding my smartphone in my free hand and drawing directly from a photo saved to its memory.
This certainly hasn't made the challenge any easier but it is very practical. I don't need to carry much more than a pad, an eraser, a couple of pencils and a Stanley knife (for sharpening) so it fits into a small backpack.
When I was waiting for a ferry back to England after an offshore race to France earlier in the summer, I was able to sit in the ferry terminal and create a quick sketch. I can sit in the living room with the rest of the family after dinner and sketch, too. It's this raw simplicity that appeals and although I find myself more invested in the results than when I kicked off with this 'project' back in January, I am for the most part doing it for me first and foremost. There's less pressure this time around and because of this I'm not worried about having to pay bills, buy food, etc. off the back of it all. I still have a full time job so although I would love to be doing this full time again, the fact that I'm not yet in a position to is both a benefit and a hinderance.
I can't says yes to everyone that makes a commisisoning enquiry. I can't commit to tight deadlines. It is more on my own terms. That doesn't mean to say that I'm flippant with the people who take an interest. No. What I'm saying is that I am being realistic and ensuring that I don't give people anything but the truth. I cannot complete a watercolour commission within a week, I simply don't have the time. I could possibly do it if I was full time but I'm not. I was asked recently by a few people making enquiries if they could take delivery within a week or so. I can't even get a painting or drawing guarranteed to be framed within that timescale let alone ensure I've given my best and completed the commission!
As a result of me coming back out of the woodwork I have gained some interesting enquiries and have completed a few paintings with more to come. They take quite a long time as I only really have the weekends to work on them. It's a bit different during the summer months as there's light in the evening and I find painting in artificial light problematic as colours look different as well as the fact that tones and hues are diminished.
I have been prepping some MDF board for some oil paintings. I am not entirely sure what I will paint but at the moment they are likely to be landscapes and seascapes since the boards are long and thin. They are also quite a bit smaller than I'm used to working with and that makes life a bit easier. There's less pressure with a small canvas (or board in this case) as they can be completed much quicker and I am hoping that this will also mean that some can be looser in approach and feel.
One thing I did become aware of whilst completing some commissions for people in time for Christmas was that some of this type of work was moving me away from my true sense of being in so much as I was sometimes being asked to create something or formulate a composition that I wouldn't choose to myself. For this to work for me and any clients, I think I need to drive the creative side. for sure individuals have to be involved and their input is vital, they are paying for the artwork, but they must trust me to know what will be the best approach and so forth. I guess that if we aren't in agreement I have to say no and walk away. Otherwise, the passion will be difficult to find in the finished painting.
Everything is a learning curve, hopefully I am putting in to practice lessons learned form each picture I produce and how I deal with the varying challenges I am presented with on each one. this might be in practical approach to the painting or even in my dealings with the people I am working with...
