Self-taught forever
I worked this weekend to get a very good job done for a very good client. It is a two part New Year's card, and both illustrations involved different challenges. Without going into the specifics, I can say that I pushed myself to make them both the best I could, with a late suggestion by my wife helping put a good finishing touch on one of them. Was the picture just fine without that finishing touch? Yes. Was it better after I spent the extra time on it? Yes, in my mind it was worth doing.
See, I had to stop billing on this job at an hourly rate, as I knew my hours were going to exceed my estimate by a lot. So, there was a degree of testing my integrity involved. I was now working for a flat rate, still not a bad one, but I could have taken short cuts and know one would have been the wiser. I chose not to do that. The art is now at the photographer's and I know I did all I could to make that a fine piece, the best I can do.
Earlier today, I happened to be at the veternarian, as the doggies were due for a checkup. In the waiting room, I chanced upon a large format magazine, called "Art Auction". As I perused it, I saw a number of intriguing pieces by artists I did not kow about. I filched the mag. Yep, I took it home, and I Googled three artists whose work I admired. One of them was Theodoros Stamos whose abstracts I find beautiful and whose textures make my mout water. I usurped about 15 of his images and have saved them and now I'm going to be a songe adn take from them what I can. This is the way I've always taught myself.
Finally after a short nap, I took out my piece , "The History of Art" and began working on it again, for the first time in nearly a week. It felt good. I'm not getting the textures Stamos gets, and I'd like to, but I'm working harder on getting the textures that I am capable of getting, and it is making the art stronger. It all goes with doing the best I know how, teaching myself, and pushing myself. I'm pleased with my progress.
See, I had to stop billing on this job at an hourly rate, as I knew my hours were going to exceed my estimate by a lot. So, there was a degree of testing my integrity involved. I was now working for a flat rate, still not a bad one, but I could have taken short cuts and know one would have been the wiser. I chose not to do that. The art is now at the photographer's and I know I did all I could to make that a fine piece, the best I can do.
Earlier today, I happened to be at the veternarian, as the doggies were due for a checkup. In the waiting room, I chanced upon a large format magazine, called "Art Auction". As I perused it, I saw a number of intriguing pieces by artists I did not kow about. I filched the mag. Yep, I took it home, and I Googled three artists whose work I admired. One of them was Theodoros Stamos whose abstracts I find beautiful and whose textures make my mout water. I usurped about 15 of his images and have saved them and now I'm going to be a songe adn take from them what I can. This is the way I've always taught myself.
Finally after a short nap, I took out my piece , "The History of Art" and began working on it again, for the first time in nearly a week. It felt good. I'm not getting the textures Stamos gets, and I'd like to, but I'm working harder on getting the textures that I am capable of getting, and it is making the art stronger. It all goes with doing the best I know how, teaching myself, and pushing myself. I'm pleased with my progress.
posted by Rich Sigberman at
6:15 PM
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