Q: Do I accept commissions?
A: Not usually, but I am open to proposals
Q: Why do I not usually accept commissions?
A: I make art primarily as means of managing my mental health. It makes me happy. If I can make money out of it, great. But the moment I feel like I have to do an artwork, and to a specification, it starts to feel like work, and loses its therapeutic value. I also find having to work to spec difficult and stressful. In short,I have found the handful of commission I’ve taken in the past unpleasant, so I’m disinclined to take others.
Q: But I have this lovely image of my [insert loved one] on [insert significant occasion] that I know you’d do an amazing job of!
A: Thanks for your confidence! I often get asked to do portraits based on photos taken by the commissioner at a special occasion. Although these are often intensely meaningful, and sometimes deeply touching, it’s incredibly hard for me to really capture the spirit of and depict honestly a moment and memory that I have little to no personal investment in, and of people that I don’t, and probably will never, know. They’re also rarely well taken, sensirtively lit, and properly coomposed photos which makes them very hard to work with. Finally, such commissions rarely offer scope for creative exploration – in short, they’re boring. I’m unlikely to do your beautiful moment justice, I don’t want to be the person responsible for sullying your pristine memory.
Q: What would it take to convince me to take a commission?
A: A LOT of money.
A2: But seriously. I would have to be really interested in, and motivated by the subject matter. Either you have :
- a really boss source image, that seems to naturally lend itself to my visual style and is thematically interesting, or
- A proposal for something conceptual, thematic or stylistic that floats my boat at that moment in time
What would the latter look like? I have no idea, that’s kind of the point. Feel free to propose something, but don’t be offended if I don’t bite.
Q: I am an artist, would you consider a collaboration?
A: Hell yes! I can’t promise I’ll be into it, but I will certainly entertain proposals. I’m honoured that you’d cosnider such a think with me!
Q: I have read all the above and think you might be interested in my commission/proposal…
A: Sure, as I said, I keep an open mind, so have at it. Contact me via my contact form, or DM me on one of my social media profiles.