Artist Draws & Paints

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. In art there is no common job. They are all individual and require different work. As of the moment I seem to get more appreciation for my pencil drawing, however my flower painting get attention too.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. My advice to future customers would be to trust that I know my craft. If I am trusted with the opportunity to make something of beauty for you then you can be sure that I will give you what you want.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. If I were a customer I would want to know how to preserve the artwork. As an artist with 15 years experience as a picture framer I learned how to do exactly that. The secret is to know who you are asking the questions. Be sure they have the expertise to answer your questions. If in doubt ask me and I will help you. I don't charge for advice.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Anyone seeking an artist should have an idea of what they want and expect. Size, medium and subject are all important. I work a lot from photographs and good clear shots are a large help. More than one photo is also a good idea. They should know if they want to have something that requires glass or not, eg. watercolors need glass, oils do not.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I take great care in having as much detail as possible in my artwork. If I am paintings or drawing something or someone it will never be in doubt as to what or who it is. I have a natural talent that has been honed over many years and I am consistently learning and evolving.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Drawing or painting is where I relax. I love capturing the beauty in the world, be it flowers or landscapes or any other subject. I can see the beauty behind even simple objects and forms. I love having 'artists eyes'.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. The question I get the most is 'how do you do that?' I truthful answer is, 'I don't know'. It is as natural to me as breathing and the most enjoyable thing I do as well as the most challenging.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. My most enlightening moment came when I was still in high school and struggling with my drawing, trying to make the flat surface look 3 D. The art teacher I had made me use a fat childs pencil because the lead is soft. he said to practice shading and 'don't be afraid of the dark'. Learning to go from extreme dark to extreme light in the same subject was the best lesson I ever had.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Most people should realize how much of the artists heart and soul go into the work. I may have thrown away art that was good because it did not stand up to my expectations. If I don't like it I don't expect my customers to like it either. I am my worst critic.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. There was no conscientious decision to draw and paint, it was more of a calling. It is something I do because I love it not because of deciding to work. It is not work when you love what you do. It is simply who I am.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. The most recent painting I did is of iris's which happen to be one of my favorite flowers. The one that was a big challenge was a painting of a conure, a type of parrot, that I painted on two of his tail feathers, off the bird of course. I had never tried painting on feathers before and was pleased at how well it tuned out.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. No, not really. I get newsletters from a few places online but my main education is simply doing. Learning about new techniques and mediums is something I look for as needed.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. I don't know about the latest developments 'in my field'. I do have plans to recreate something that I had done when I was young, however I am not going to tell you now, I'm going to do some first and see if it is accepted in the art world. So, I'll let you know.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent project was the painting I call Iris Breeze. I used a photo of iris flowers from my garden, except I changed the color to go with a couple other paintings. Cost? Time. How long? Four days, off and on. Maybe ten hours.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Pricing is the most irritating part of what I do. I try to be fair, and the fairest method is by the hour at $45 per. The standard is per square inch which is $80 for an 8 x 10, $154 for 11 x 14 etc. and the bigger, well you get it. I will work with either depending on the project.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. If you truly love doing art and will do it regardless of making money or not, then go for it. It is a difficult profession and education in marketing yourself is necessary.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Given a choice, would you be an artist? That one is easy. I don't have a choice. It is not something I simply do, it is who and what I am. It is what I want to do.