big ideas
So you haven’t heard from me lately, because I’ve been a very busy artist! Ha! How often do we hear that phrase?
Well - I for one hope to hear a lot more of it!
A short two months ago I was commissioned to paint a mural on leather material. It’s been a while since I’d accepted mural work but it sounded exciting and it was completely in line with my business motto of bringing your big ideas to life one sketch at a time. In this case the sketch was of the Big Five animals you might find in the wilds of Africa.
I’m not a big game hunter or even a hunter of any kind really, but the challenge was before me to paint the majesty of five of the most desirable animals of Safari lore that would also speak to the challenge my client had in his hunts. It is a challenge for me as an artist due to the fact I had to set my personal ethics aside in interest of telling a short story in mural format that was important to my client.
I never have to worry about sharing my own ethics or personal values into this piece as that is already going to happen in the way every artist achieves this level of expression. I am profoundly grateful that I was chosen for this project and I know my client very much appreciates the way in which I’ve depicted the Big Five on media provided. I’m not yet disclosing the details of this project beyond the context as I have yet to deliver the art to my client….waiting for USPS to deliver a final ingredient that is supposed to enhance the quality and life of the art so that its color and vibrancy remain many years to come….unnnnless, of course, my client has in direct exposure to the sunlight in which case even the best glass known to Michaels Framing is no match.
He won’t do that though. I’m pretty sure of it.
In the meantime, just to start work on this commission I finally had to clean up the Art Studio on the property. It had recently taken in soooo much and there was literally no place to work!! Now that I have the floor space and desktops to operate - i had to proceed to the next task at hand — hanging the really heavy canvas to project the sketch underlay onto. If you’re ever in need of an instant gallery type of space i would recommend picking up a picture hanging rail kit like the one I got from Amamzon!! Please remember to find your stud finder and you’ll be home frree.
Once I had the space clear, the rail kit moved from one wall to the East wall it was all said and done in my mind….at this point it’s a matter of touch ups and sealing it up! I am looking forward to sharing my client’s story with him through my interpretation as he accepted the sketch!
These are all BIG animals, and BIG stories…a truly BIG idea brought to life because someone trusted me to bring their story to life with a single sketch! What stories await your friends and family.
By the way…after this story I am sure you would love to see the photo of the finished piece, and I will certainly post it — just after my client has had a chance to see it first for the BIG reveal!
Sketch Ya Later!
