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If you're wondering where i've been

Sat Feb 16, 2008, 1:26 AM
So i sold my soul to make some cash to live on, and it turned round and bit me on the a**. it will serve me right to try to make art for picky opinionated customers who leave no room for my own artistic interpretation. What's the point in hiring an artist if you want a robot? they might as well have bought a photo printed on canvas. it would have saved me and them a lot of time, energy and wasted money. So they ended the contract, leaving me financially in the red. I admit i made some mistakes with this one, it's been hard to give an estimate for such a large piece of work, and i thought i could do it a lot faster than it turned out to take. and if i were them i might have done the same thing, but it still hurts when people call you unprofessional and accuse you of ripping them off... when in actual fact my quote was way way WWAAAAYYY too low in the beginning (and i never asked them to pay me more for what i thought we had agreed on) i guess i just got to put it down to experience and learn lessons from all our mistakes. But right now I'm fuming inside and need to rant.

Life sucks at the moment and it aint just the failed job, the other stuff is far worse and too personal to share with you. At least now i am free from the nightmare job and can go back to making things that i want to. i don't know if i'll be able to paint for a while tho, the stuff they said... it rings in my ears when i pick up a brush, and with everything else in my life right now i... i can't cope with it.

But i wanted to say to everyone who is trying to set a quote for a piece of work, especially if it's in a new area or a much larger project than you are used to... overestimate everything! including time, money and materials (you can always bring the price down again later)! that way you won't disappoint your customer, and you will scare away people who can't really afford your work. because working for someone who is on a tight budget is a nightmare and rarely works out to your benifit. of course if you have done it all a million times before you already know how to price your work and this little rant is of no help to you. but thank you for listening, i really needed to get it off my chest.

  • Mood: Artistic

Devious Comments

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:iconjumprabbit:
:hug:

I understand exactly what you mean, the more you charge, the better you get treated.

It's pretty important not to let it get you down on painting in general however, by all means take a break if you want, but don't let it ring in your ears.

Read up on just about any great artist you like (cept maybe Rapheal that guy was born under a lucky star) and you will find similar stories, work being rejected, price being haggled, it taking longer then expected (great example is Michelangleo).
Its not a reflection on your whole artistic being , and its possibly not even to do with that job, people have their own issues.

Good luck and try and get painting again :D hope you ok :love:

--
A pirate I was meant to be, trim the sails and roam the sea...
:iconelfin-grrl:
I know exactly what you mean and have had similar experiences. Try not to take it to heart - there are some difficult and warped people out there who think that artists are servants or performing circus clowns...we are worth more than that so don't let them bring you down :heart:

I always find that if my heart isn't in to a painting then it will never work, and I've learnt that the hard way, so I do understand. Sending you healing and strength :hug:

--
My Paintings [link]
My Illustration & Writing [link]
Prints, cards & Journals available at [link]

An Angel's face is tricky to wear, constantly (Tori Amos Purple People)
:icondorianvincent:
Wash the bad stuff out like pigment from a brush dipped in turp. You're a much better artist than to let this impede you. Maybe, with a few alterations, you will be able to create something you'll be proud to show, and sell, from this.

You're a great artist Anna, keep smiling... and painting!
:iconannagreaves:
Thank you for your words, they are good to hear when i am in doubt.

--
Behind every great man...
there’s a woman rolling her eyes.

www.annagreaves.com

My Prints
:iconannagreaves:
Thank you, it means a lot to me.

--
Behind every great man...
there’s a woman rolling her eyes.

www.annagreaves.com

My Prints
:iconannagreaves:
Thank you, i will try.

--
Behind every great man...
there’s a woman rolling her eyes.

www.annagreaves.com

My Prints
:iconrobm48:
I feel for you but you must turn your back on this episode and progress forward. Your work stands out so you must get back to painting as soon as possible. Do a very quick expressive piece about the folks that messed you around then burn it......may seems like a waste of paint and materials but it once helped me and I felt so good after!!!!......and as for commissions.....well I've not done one since the 1970's.......

--
Re-cycled hippy....just happy that I'm old enough to have seen Hendrix, Clapton and Mayall live!!
:iconannagreaves:
Thanks i may well take your advice on that.

--
Behind every great man...
there’s a woman rolling her eyes.

www.annagreaves.com

My Prints
:iconrobm48:
Net zoals een Voodoo popje. ..het werkte voor mij.......

--
Re-cycled hippy....just happy that I'm old enough to have seen Hendrix, Clapton and Mayall live!!

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