FX with his Irish Wolf Hound Baroooooo
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Well Dear Reader I am back and ready to teach my portrait workshop this morning but I just wanted to write a quick update on my amazing trip to the Kingdom of Tiburon. FX and I partnered and painted an 8' mural/painting for the entryway of a client's home. The key to successfully executing an 8' oil painting in 8 hrs was focus and confidence. We had a sketch that the client loved. But translating the 6" sketch to 8 feet is a daunting process so the solution was to capture the energy and spontaneity of a plein air painting to a large size. Strokes were left " as is " with a a surety that communicated.." this is what I intend". There was no fuss or second guessing...okay maybe here and there but FX always reigned me in. FX mixed the paints and helped in laying in large areas. We kept suggesting to ourselves that we had to capture the energy and majesty of the large tree. We wanted one main focus and every element had to reinforce that focus. The painting is not of a specific location but we wanted to convey the mood and feeling we get when we are on this idyllic peninsula in Marin County. You cannot imagine the beauty and lush growth here. It is outstanding!
We moved the painting the next day from the garage into FX's living room to make any final adjustments and we felt that it looked great the way we had intended.
We called the client and first the wife came over and just fell in love with it. She was thrilled and effusive with the compliments. Wow!
Now for some of you beginners and artists wanting to tap into high end clients there is one bit of advice I can share. Always display confidence and professionalism. The client wants to be assured that they have made a wise choice. You must show that what you painted is what you intended and be proud of it. If you can't address and have that kind of certainty then you are not ready to show the painting .
We got paid on the spot and the client commissioned another large painting. Repeat business is the name of the game and you want a happy customer.
Frank and FX painting together.
View of Belvedere Island from FX's lawn.
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next...my excellent adventure with Don Hatfield and some random pics....
Posts
Good advice Frank, and beautiful painting. Is that painted on stretched canvas? And who took the photos if you were both painting? :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it might have been fun, too!
Frank, just learned there's a major fire in Auburn. Are you affected at all?
ReplyDeleteSilvina...Thanks for asking. It was 2 miles away and we were given a choice to evacuate but as it happened the wind was blown out away from us. I know the area and it is very sad to see so many have lost their homes. There is a staging ground right down the street and all the major insurance companies are down there helping out.
ReplyDeleteIt wa fun Marian!
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteYes, It was painted on stretched canvas and my buddies wife was taking the pics with my camera.
8' in 8 hours? You guys are animals!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Frank, you certainly captured the feel of the location ( I know the area well)...congratulations on a successful commission!
ReplyDeleteLovely piece, and great sales advice. It's sometimes hard to refrain from self-criticism, but obviously, being critical or overly modest with clients isn't very intelligent business practice. Congrats on the second commission. It's always nice to have happy, paying customers.
ReplyDeleteConnie...I have a bit of the "Sham Wow Guy" in me.
ReplyDeleteAre you gonna go paint with us at Hatfield's class today?
Hey Denny...I lived in Marin for 17 years ....I feel I know the area in my bones so the assignment was really sweeeet......
ReplyDelete