Carole Russell Art Weblog

COMMISSION
Yesterday I invited my latest client to view her finished commission of a personal view of the Taj Mahal, something I have been working on since our first contact via my website contact form on 30th March 2009.

I was supplied with various photographs – via e-mail, and sketched out several options in pen and watercolour, which is easier and quicker than acrylics for a sketch. We discussed (via e-mail and text) exactly what my client was looking for and it turned out she wanted a personal view of the temple rather than a typical view, so we opted for a photo taken through an archway. This appealed to both of us for several reasons:
1. Not some typical postcard view
2. Very personal as it was taken by them once they found the ideal spot
3. It makes the painting less symmetrical
4. It allowed for texture, architecture, colour variation and depth

When my client arrived I asked her to sit at our dining table and view the painting. Not just look at it but sit a while, quietly just looking. At first glance anything can look ok, but quiet time allows for any mistakes or areas of concern to surface. She was happy, thought it was lovely, wouldn’t hesitate to use me again – lovely words, well spoken and recieved. We were both happy!

Holding on to it for a couple of day, as I need to take a good shot in my little photo room in the loft, so I can put it on my website for everyone to see (after it has been seen by the true recipient in a couple of months) hopefully I will get a testimonial to print too.

SAA FINALIST
Every year the Society for all Artists (SAA) runs an art competition to find the `Artist of the year` – I decided to join and entered several of my paintings in to the beginners category (I have only been painting for 18 months).

To my delight I have just recieved a letter confirming that my painting entitled Budapest has been selected for final judging – if successful it will be displayed at an exhibition in Islington in July! I have to admit it’s not one of my favourites but hey! I’ll take whatever I can get and it is a thrill to say the least – even if it doesn’t get through

Wish me luck……………