Every artwork begins to be realised when it makes that crucial leap from the artists brain into something tangible, be it written outline, sketch on paper, collage or lump of clay, at that point it ceases being their sole preserve and becomes something they can share with others. The sharing moment in a commission is always when I feel most vulnerable, all previous work & experience goes out the window – will these clients ‘buy’ this concept?

Concepts as implied are not always fully worked out when this sharing moment arrives, an essential part of an artists toolkit is the ability to get others to see the potential in their concept, allay doubts that subsequent issues and problems will be overcome professing confidence despite any fears they themselves harbor, as all schemes involve risk.

Balancing proper preparation of a scheme is an acquired skill; under prepared an ill thought out scheme will reflect badly on your professionalism and likely or not fail, over prepare, you risk time wasted if the client doesn’t like that concept. My approach to this conundrum is to keep things very fluid in the early stages, broad brushstrokes as opposed to detailed work, it is fascinating, to myself at least, when reviewing projects recognising  that everything was there almost fully formed in the initial sketch, right at that point where it leapt from the mind’s eye.