Please read Part 1 HERE
The Sketch
The next step of the commission process is to provide the client with a rough colour sketch of the proposed artwork along with a detailed description of how you got there.
With all the specs my client gave me (please see Part 1), I came up with this sketch and then gave her an explanation of how I got to this stage by providing her with the inspiration behind the piece.
INSPIRATION BEHIND THE PIECE.
The trees represent mankind/womankind with their arms (branches) stretched out to the heavens and the feet firmly rooted in the earth. However, to the left of the painting are a couple of souls who are still turned to the darkness – the illusion of reality and who they are – not being able to turn to the light (sun) yet. There is one soul making her way to the river to cross it and join the others (she has her branches stretched out to them) on the other side who have fully awakened to the light of the dawn that is upon them.
I have subtly put various branched protruding from the trees turned to the dark to show the obstacles they still have to clear (branches to be pruned)…the trees on the other side of the river are streamlined and facing upwards.
The sun represents the light and the new dawn in one’s life. The ‘enlightened’ trees are gravitating more toward the sun/light.
The river will reflect silver tones of the light (reflections of the sun/dawn) reaching every corner of the world through the stream of ever flowing energy that can’t be stopped. It passes the lavender field, nourishing it and causing the flowers to bloom (carrying the theme of flowers being the manifestation of a plant’s enlightenment).
The lavender to the left are swaying in the direction of the right – where the painting is being directed – the blossoming of full consciousness.
The wash of butterflies heading toward the flowers begin as a mixture of hearts and butterflies, putting across the concept of love and loving yourself enough to let yourself be free and fly in the beauty of creation. The conclusion of the painting is the 2 butterflies alighted on the flower – they have found the piece/peace of beauty in this world. That will be the focal point of this painting.
I also liked the concept – for you Tracy – of the female trees being on top of mountains to represent a little personal touch that you can relate to with your climbing and reaching new heights.
Please also note that this is a very rough sketch – it is A4 in size. You can imagine that the canvases will be a lot more detailed as I will have a lot more space to ‘do my thing’. This is really just an idea of content and colour. The real thing always is far more impressive. For instance, the butterflies will be a lot more detailed – I would like to incorporate some silver swirly design in their wings and want them to perhaps be more of a lilac colour (like white with a hint of purple). So they will be more detailed as will the lavender and the mountains, trees, etc. I want to subtly incorporate the patterned backgrounds I do (in silver) onto the mountains (I have done a little bit of this in the sketch but it will feature more prominently in the painting).
The next stage (Part 3 — next Wednesdays blog, 25th January 2012) I will show you the process of painting and why I never show the client the painting while it is a work-in-progress. To follow this blog via e-mail and get instant updates when a new blog is posted, please click the ‘follow’ button in the sidebar.
Painting underwater scenes are quite involved as they require a lot of layering. This ‘wash’ of blue that needs to be repeated until the desired effect is achieved, needs time and patience…and I paint in acrylics – for those who paint in oils the process takes even longer as the drying time is slower.
Cherie Roe Dirksen 