Sometimes, people who like my work, who've wanted something unique or special, want me to make them that something special. I've been wary every time, as I've heard from other artists that it crimps their style, that they worry about customer disaappointment or worse, losing a friend over such a disappointment. In spite of that concern, I've said yes everytime and I've been continuely delighted!
The way it works best for me is to be quite thorough in my communication, to emphasize that as the artist, I need license to be creative within the agreed upon parameters, and that I'll do my best to represent my own style, which is what the customer is attracted to foremost. I am still figuring out the pricing piece, but what has felt most comfortable is to offer a range of expected prices, within which they agree to pay and I agree to work, and then I narrow the final price down to a sliding scale window that feels comfortable to both of us. It leaves the final exchange amount in the hands of the consumer, but is moderately under our joint control. This makes the entire exchange feel like a collaboration and thus a win-win situation.
Here's a pillow (shown on my daughter's bed) I designed as a memorial piece, using a dress given to my customer by her late husband. She treasured the dress but needed it to be in a new form she could better interact with and enjoy. She brought the dress to me, requesting only that it be made into a "lovely" pillow. Knowing that what she thinks is lovely and what I think is lovely may be divergent, I asked lots of clarifying questions. I narrowed it all down to a design with a 16" square pillow form, a removable cover, a focus on the print material featured mainly on the front of the dress and including the grey/black skirt of the dress. She wanted heavy quilting and lots of curves, no hearts or cheesiness and beyond that- would trust any design decisions I wanted. Her favorite color is blue. I came up with the shapes and design combination, whipped it up and held my breath. She exclaimed that it was indeed "lovely" and later even sent me a photo of it nestled quietly into her other bed pillows, looking comfortable and regal in it's new home.
Another commission piece with less emotional weight, and stricter design constraints, was the messenger bag I made for a friend's birthday. She let me know about three months in advance that she wanted her husband to commission me to make her a "bag like yours" and I could make it anyway I wanted. Well, the bag like mine was a specific pattern I'd learned in a class, so I figured I'd better replicate that pattern, so the design choices were primarily fabric color, texture and embellishments. I asked her favorite color (blue again) and decided to focus on light blue as she's proudly Swedish and has lots of light blue decor in her home. I found a fabulous focus fabric with blue and white button design, but I worried that it would be overwhelming. The bag design is reversible, so I balanced it by having the other side be darker and a bit more decorated by adding a ribbon strip to the pocket. Not knowing when I'd fit it in around other projects if I postponed the work, I created the whole bag within those first couple weeks after she asked. Months later, her husband called to see if I might be able to make his wife a bag for her birthday, a few weeks away. I delighted him by saying, it's already done! and just crossed my fingers that she'd like it. Well, she does! It works to hold both file folders and diapers, hangs nicely from her busy shoulders and as good functional art probably should, she told him "It pushes me a little out of my comfort zone!" I was surprised to see her using it with what to me is the "louder" side out, and am so glad the button fabric is to her liking!
I'm so happy I went with a "Yes!" to the question, "Do you take commissions?" I have felt like my work has added value and life when it is targeted to the needs and desires of a specific request. The challenge of fitting my style into the confines of someone else's vision is invigorating and makes me happy. I think it's something I'll continue doing as it seems to be working!
SO- If you want me to make you something- Let's talk!
