Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Could you make it blue instead of pink? http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html for the Business of Being an Artist Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:18:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kate Wickham http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-16695 Kate Wickham Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:18:32 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-16695 Since I work in watercolor, it may not be possible to change the color. Then there is the artistic integrity of the piece. My work is entirely about color so I would also have to be comfortable signing the piece after changing the color. But generally I would be happy to change minor things about any of my work - if possible. Perhaps that another great advantage of watercolor. Since I work in watercolor, it may not be possible to change the color. Then there is the artistic integrity of the piece. My work is entirely about color so I would also have to be comfortable signing the piece after changing the color. But generally I would be happy to change minor things about any of my work – if possible. Perhaps that another great advantage of watercolor.

]]> By: Nikki Yeager http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14535 Nikki Yeager Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:29:54 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14535 Wow. Thinking about that question for a good 10 minutes didn't get me any closer to an answer. I guess I would say that it depends on the period of my life. During down times when I'm making less money I would be more likely to submit to a request on certain paintings. However, pieces that I do purely for myself and put up for sale are off the market for changes. These are far too personal and are more a part of my personality than anything. In these works everything usually has significance (weather the viewer knows what that is or not.) Wow. Thinking about that question for a good 10 minutes didn’t get me any closer to an answer. I guess I would say that it depends on the period of my life. During down times when I’m making less money I would be more likely to submit to a request on certain paintings. However, pieces that I do purely for myself and put up for sale are off the market for changes. These are far too personal and are more a part of my personality than anything. In these works everything usually has significance (weather the viewer knows what that is or not.)

]]> By: Sandra Cherry Jones http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14532 Sandra Cherry Jones Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:52:04 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14532 If it was a small change, I would make it. If it was a small change, I would make it.

]]> By: Ashley Jade http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14404 Ashley Jade Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:41:39 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14404 I have had two experiences with this. One was a similar scenario as Christine. I was doing grecian pillars in a woman's foyer. When I began she did not understand the process, therefore she was horrified! I didn't even bother trying to explain. She was never going to understand the complicated process. She was a wanna be artist watching every little thing I did and constantly wanting to get in there and change everything I did. The last time I saw her I gave her some paint and never went back. I don't do that kind of work anymore. Paintings only. On another occasion I painted a commission which is what I do like best. Once I got the painting to her home there was a minor issue that I felt needed changing that affected the entire piece. Which we discussed and agreed upon. Then a few weeks later she called. She said, "I think that the lower part of the painting needs to be a darker blue to match the top". That is where I draw the line, I painted it that way! Now she went too far. I do commissions. I am very accommodating as to their wishes after that, they are informed that the creation of the painting is mine. Period. They don't get to see the painting until it is finished. Ashley I have had two experiences with this. One was a similar scenario as Christine. I was doing grecian pillars in a woman’s foyer. When I began she did not understand the process, therefore she was horrified!
I didn’t even bother trying to explain. She was never going to understand the complicated process. She was a wanna be artist watching every little thing I did and constantly wanting to get in there and change everything I did. The last time I saw her I gave her some paint and never went back. I don’t do that kind of work anymore. Paintings only. On another occasion I painted a commission which is what I do like best. Once I got the painting to her home there was a minor issue that I felt needed changing that affected the entire piece. Which we discussed and agreed upon. Then a few weeks later she called. She said, “I think that the lower part of the painting needs to be a darker blue to match the top”. That is where I draw the line, I painted it that way! Now she went too far. I do commissions. I am very accommodating as to their wishes after that, they are informed that the creation of the painting is mine. Period. They don’t get to see the painting until it is finished.
Ashley

]]> By: Susan Sparks http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14350 Susan Sparks Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:35:10 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14350 If the change request is congruent with the piece and is in keeping with the flow of it, why not? It's not much different than a commissioned work. However, if you were to seriously feel that it adversely affects the integrity of it, then no. If the change request is congruent with the piece and is in keeping with the flow of it, why not? It’s not much different than a commissioned work. However, if you were to seriously feel that it adversely affects the integrity of it, then no.

]]> By: Philip Koch http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14345 Philip Koch Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:32:38 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14345 As a general rule it's too risky to make changes to suit the whim of a collector. You'll lose the spark that drew collectors to your work in the first place. As a general rule it’s too risky to make changes to suit the whim of a collector. You’ll lose the spark that drew collectors to your work in the first place.

]]> By: Hannah Perkins http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14331 Hannah Perkins Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:10:29 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14331 Unless the alteration really messed up the piece in some way (or just couldn't be made for one reason or another), then yeah I'd change it for sure! Sure its your art, but its about to THEIR art. They're gonna own it, take care of it, put it in their home, see it everyday, etc. So putting an extra little touch that would help them feel more connected with the piece shouldn't be a big deal. You still put the paint on the canvas, its still your creation. And if they want a bigger change or a similar piece in different colors then have them commission you. 'Cause when it comes down to it they want a piece of your art, and they want to pay you for it. They're not trying to disrespect your art because they want a street name that's significant to them or a similar piece with a different color scheme, they obviously like you and your art enough to come to you out of all the other artists out there. Having artistic ideals is important, but I think as artist its important to stay flexible and open to a small change, or a commission even if you think they're evil or something, lol (I think most people really aren't as particular as alot of you seem to think...). Unless the alteration really messed up the piece in some way (or just couldn’t be made for one reason or another), then yeah I’d change it for sure!

Sure its your art, but its about to THEIR art. They’re gonna own it, take care of it, put it in their home, see it everyday, etc. So putting an extra little touch that would help them feel more connected with the piece shouldn’t be a big deal. You still put the paint on the canvas, its still your creation.

And if they want a bigger change or a similar piece in different colors then have them commission you. ‘Cause when it comes down to it they want a piece of your art, and they want to pay you for it.

They’re not trying to disrespect your art because they want a street name that’s significant to them or a similar piece with a different color scheme, they obviously like you and your art enough to come to you out of all the other artists out there.

Having artistic ideals is important, but I think as artist its important to stay flexible and open to a small change, or a commission even if you think they’re evil or something, lol (I think most people really aren’t as particular as alot of you seem to think…).

]]> By: Sari Grove http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14316 Sari Grove Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:20:14 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14316 I had to restore a work the gallery owner chipped because he didn't know about fragility of oils mixed with cold wax(don't do this anymore btw)...I can't duplicate a colour on a dry painting to fill because colours are mixed & oils tend to lighten over time. So, when I restore a chip I have to improvise by adding a dab of something complimentary (sometimes a shape like a bird flying far away), trying to duplicate looks cheesy.(like re-detailing your own car in the same colour-quite difficult actually)...Restoration is one area of my practice that requires me to alter older works. This where I learned to be more mentally flexible about change... I had to restore a work the gallery owner chipped because he didn’t know about fragility of oils mixed with cold wax(don’t do this anymore btw)…I can’t duplicate a colour on a dry painting to fill because colours are mixed & oils tend to lighten over time. So, when I restore a chip I have to improvise by adding a dab of something complimentary (sometimes a shape like a bird flying far away), trying to duplicate looks cheesy.(like re-detailing your own car in the same colour-quite difficult actually)…Restoration is one area of my practice that requires me to alter older works. This where I learned to be more mentally flexible about change…

]]> By: Michael Newberry http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14312 Michael Newberry Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:07:51 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14312 Royce and Christine hit on the sensitive issue whether it is "my world" or not. BTW, nice site and work Edward. I think Alyson takes dark pleasure in hot button topics! :) I have been thinking more about this "something not truly important to you..." I would think what makes a fine art work special is that the artist thinks that everything is important to them from the nuance of color; and attention to detail, to the integrity of the whole work. I wouldn't buy an artwork (and I do have a small collection) in which the artist thought that part of the painting was changeable or didn't matter. I would rather see the artist work on that particular part til the artist was delighted with it. I think being delighted with your art, marketing it as such, and selling to a good collector is the all around perfect match. Royce and Christine hit on the sensitive issue whether it is “my world” or not. BTW, nice site and work Edward. I think Alyson takes dark pleasure in hot button topics! :)
I have been thinking more about this “something not truly important to you…” I would think what makes a fine art work special is that the artist thinks that everything is important to them from the nuance of color; and attention to detail, to the integrity of the whole work. I wouldn’t buy an artwork (and I do have a small collection) in which the artist thought that part of the painting was changeable or didn’t matter. I would rather see the artist work on that particular part til the artist was delighted with it. I think being delighted with your art, marketing it as such, and selling to a good collector is the all around perfect match.

]]> By: Patricia http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/10/dtt-alteryourwork.html/comment-page-1#comment-14275 Patricia Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:33:58 +0000 http://www.artbizblog.com/?p=4361#comment-14275 Clearly this question has as many responses as there are artists. I suppose a secondary question is "who defines (the) art?" In fact I am seeing a whole blog post on this topic for not just paintings but all kinds of art forms. The first thing to start with is the assumption that the client has come to a particular artist because said client feels a connection with that artist's work.Moreover, the question specifies that the requested change is for something small and unimportant to the artist. Here is the crux of the matter for if no part of the work is unimportant than this question is not relevant. So perhaps this question really is. "is there any aspect of your work which is not fundamental and that you would change at the request of a client?" Clearly this question has as many responses as there are artists. I suppose a secondary question is “who defines (the) art?” In fact I am seeing a whole blog post on this topic for not just paintings but all kinds of art forms. The first thing to start with is the assumption that the client has come to a particular artist because said client feels a connection with that artist’s work.Moreover, the question specifies that the requested change is for something small and unimportant to the artist. Here is the crux of the matter for if no part of the work is unimportant than this question is not relevant. So perhaps this question really is. “is there any aspect of your work which is not fundamental and that you would change at the request of a client?”

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