Over the years, about half of my business has become custom artwork. A lot of artists don’t like this kind of work but I have to say I absolutely love it!
For many reasons… the joy it brings, the satisfaction of seeing that perfect fit and perfect piece for the space, the challenge of coming up with the right idea and structure to bring the vision to life. And a really big part of why I’m loving custom work more and more is that it has organically evolved to becoming my vision, my idea that I end up painting based on the photos, location and subjects involved.
I turn down about half of the requests that I get to really focus on what my own voice and artistic style can bring to the idea. For the requests that don’t reflect what I can bring to the table, I always suggest other artists who really specialize in what the client needs. This way the client is matched with exactly what they need. Each artist is so different and specializes in their own unique ideas and there’s more than enough work for all of us. My intention in the careful selection of custom artwork I choose to do is to bring my full passion and skill to the idea, and that only happens if I can connect with it.
This one, I totally did. It’s the view from the original family cottage that holds dear memories for the owners, that I have brought to life with their help and input into their new cottage just around the corner.
It even faces the same way the sun sets so that it’s a kind of window into that familiar view. I love this part of my job and feel grateful for the connections to so many people and their stories on Lake of the Woods!
If you’re interested in a custom/commissioned painting, here’s some info on the process: https://melissajeanart.com/pages/custom-art-work-1