Commissions.

Sketchbook drawing for my Sunflower painting.

Hmm... That word 'commission'.

There's something about it that makes me feel uneasy. I have been thinking about this for a while. I don't really understand what the procedure is for doing one. No one has asked me to do a commission; although, I have never offered my services for doing them and it's not something we're walked through at university...

Do I do exactly what the client wants, even if it's not what I paint or draw?

Or do I get their ideas and do my own interpretation from them, whilst hoping for the best?

OR do I not even attempt commissions and  just keep creating what I want to, then hope that people will like it and someone will want to buy it?

I mean, I'm happy to be given an object, spend some time drawing from it and take a few photos; talk through my plans with them and then bring all the elements together to create a painting. But, what if I'm asked for a landscape or a portrait?! Do I simply decline?

Sigh.

Anyone have advice for me? The idea of even attempting it scares me! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this.

(At least, I hope I'm not the only one...).

Too much to do.

Where do I even begin?

I had my Degree Show proposal today and I had to build this model of the space I would like to use (which in itself was more difficult than I had anticipated). Thankfully, they mainly focused on the fact I want to have an orange floor, rather than what I needed to get done painting-wise. Everyone has such good ideas, I think the final outcome will be awesome all together!

There is so much going round in my head all the time of what I need to do in a matter of weeks. I'm trying not to stress or panic. Instead, I'm getting to the point where I hope if I ignore it it will go away, but of course, no. I can not believe it will all be over soon and I will be out in the real world as they say.

In no particular order, I need to:

• Do at least 4 more paintings
• Figure out the floor
• Make loads more drawings in my sketchbook
• Artist/Exhibition research
• Create a website (with a proper email)
• Getting good images would probably help that
• Finish a better version of my artist statement
• Print business cards/postcards
• Get on LinkedIn
• Sort out all my social networks
• Blog a whole lot more

I expect there is a heap more that I have forgotten, but that will have to do for now... Sigh.