It's Not About the Painting
“It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures.” -Vincent Van Gogh
Whether you've had a client be critical or fall in love with your commissioned artwork, I think it's important for every artist to know this:
It's NOT about the painting!
Yes, you pour your heart and soul into the work, learning the techniques to make each brushstroke as effective and well placed as possible. But in all reality, it was never the painting that the client wanted.
Let me explain. The client is searching to memorialize a specific instance in a specific way. They want what's in the painting, not the actual painting.
This doesn't degrade the painting though. In fact, it raises up your painting because that is the medium you were able to use to make all of your client's memorial dreams come true. You've encapsulated the memory with feeling that was not attainable in the original photograph.
This is why it is so important to get to know your client a bit and the story behind the photograph they are sharing with you. That is part of their life.
Why do you think paintings as gifts to friends work out so well? Because you've been there or heard about how much of a difference that particular subject has made in someone you care about's life.
Deep down, you know it's not about the painting. It's always been about the story.
And like a patchwork quilt, you have to piece the information together to make a fuller and more beautiful ending than what you started with as a reference.
So, remember this when you talk to clients...
It's not about the painting.
Hand-painted in Adobe Photoshop CC using the Wacom Intuos Pro and the Wacom Art Pen.
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join the mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from my team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
I hate SPAM. I will never sell your information, for any reason.
