Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown

I'm an artist based at the Spode factory site in Stoke on Trent. I paint, draw and create digital art. Contact me at mallabandbrown@aol.com

Negotiations for paintings

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Mother

I’ve recently been commissioned to do a large family portrait for a friend of a friend, but I’m concerned about what they want to pay for it? They also sent me a great many photos in different conditions with lots of different groups of people on them. The problem is I can’t make a coherent image or composition using them.

I replied ‘That’s twelve portraits for £50?, it would have to be a small painting or a watercolour. Please can you choose the best photos that I can work from. I will do it but it will take a while. Possibly a couple of hours per portrait which works out at a cost of £4 per portrait or £2 per hour. I would normally charge £50 (normally £60) for one portrait, but I understand you might not be able to afford any more and I don’t want to ask too much. I want to do a good job for you and as you have already got a couple of my paintings I will consider only asking for a small amount for the painting. But please can you choose the twelve images you prefer as then I won’t get it wrong. “

I want to paint for people, but I don’t think they realise the work that goes into things. I would Never overcharge, but on the other hand I’d like to be paid at least the minimum wage for it!

How would you respond? Should I have questioned the request or refused it?

Note * I’m now just doing a very small painting, but I do wish people understood how hard it is to paint something like this, it’s not a snap!

Empty paint mug

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I use the same glass mug as a water container when I’m painting acrylics or watercolour and I just decided to empty and clean it. Not before time by the look of it! I don’t know when I will be using it again, hope it won’t be too long. I need to shake off my down feelings, try and realise I can do things, get past some of my worries. I don’t have to do everything, just make a start….

Postcard from a friend

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The Lamentation of Christ by Francesco Montemezzano

The photo is by Clive Lawrence.

My friend visited a church somewhere in Yorkshire and saw this. Apparently he’d been the week before but it was closed. Last week he found out who he needed to speak to to get access to the church. I’d like to visit it one day. The ainting was apparently very black until it was cleaned. Unfortunately my friend didn’t tell me the name of the church or where in Yorkshire it is

X

Today’s #bandofsketchers sketch

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Today’s prompt for #bandofsketchers was a drawing of a body part, so I chose to draw my hand, drawing the sketch! I’ve seen other drawings where a person has drawn their hand and a sketch pad balanced on their crossed legs. Adding the shadow of my pen and my hand on the sketchbook to try and indicate this is a sketch, also not completing the line at the base of the box. When I do a sketch like this I have to try and think logically about how it works, what it’s meant to indicate and whether I need to include all the details or if I can leave some more sketchy.

Reflected

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Water is life, falling on the ground, percolating into it, into the cracks between the pavement. Water finds its way through layers of rock and can appear thousands of years later in a spring. Water covers two thirds of the world in oceans and seas. But it is only a thin coat. Most of the world is molten or an iron core, with a mantle of rock floating above. Volcanos erupt around the world, Hawaii is a chain of volcanic islands erupting like a chain of bubbles in the Pacific ocean.

Are there other ‘water worlds’? Maybe Europa, a moon of Jupiter, which is covered in ice, could have oceans of water under its frozen crust.