MIND THE GAP

 RIVETING QUESTIONS 

How would you like something beautiful that that simply brings together the perfect colours of your room and for you?

Do you have a wall space you’re struggling to fill?

Do you have specific sized ‘gap’ crying out for a beautiful painting?

Do you have certain colours, shapes, textures you just love?

Is there a room in your home or office that isn’t yet looking ‘pulled together’?

If the answer is Yes to any of these questions, then you should consider commissioning a painting.

So, perhaps study this case study might be of interest -

to de-mystify the process.

 

Don't worry, it's not all words, there are pictures too!

 Case Study 

This client had been inspired by my painting Monet's Dreams (below), and wanted something similar, though much larger, and with specific colours.  

We wanted to combine the purples and pinks of waterlilies, but with flashes of orange, turquoise and green. Hints of amber to match the client's eyes. 

She is a successful business woman, has three sons and therefore a rather male orientated household. 

This is to be a feminine painting to go into her  home office. It will combine colours that are restful, yet vibrant. It should help her thoughts run freely, and represent an enchanting journey with exciting possibilities. 

Here is the original painting that started us talking about a commission, it is called MONET'S DREAMS, and is (rather aptly) in France now. 

December 2018 . Initial discussions at client's house.  

Photographs taken of the available space. Listening to ideas, hopes and dreams. Talking over concepts, colours. Looking at existing furnishings. Gathering swatches.

 

January 2019 . Formal commission letter sent - listing the size, timings, concept and money. After client's agreement, invoice is sent and on payment of 50% deposit, the contract starts.....

A bespoke canvas is ordered in, measuring 100 x 180 cm.

The 'gallery standard' canvases I use are high quality hardwood and stretched with 'artists' grade' 12oz cotton duck canvas. They use 'high grade' tulip wood stretchers which are fully expandable for precise tensioning of the art work (anything above 90cm is cross braced). 

This snap is of the arrival of the handmade canvas -

gives you an idea of size when you see it below three 60x60cm paintings. 

The base of the painting needed to be grounded by the same colour as the delicious green velvet sofa that would be below it. 

Firstly the canvas is primed - this means applying a layer or two of gesso to the surface, this will help the colours really stand out.

Then I paint a vibrant undercoat - this time I use Cadmium Yellow Dark Hue (an amber yellow, with a nod to her extraordinary eyes). After this I use what is called Heavy Carvable Modelling Paste to create the bones of the piece before any colour is applied. 

I then start the underpainting (generally it looks ghastly at this point).

Paint is applied with a palette knife, paint brushes and sprays.

Indian inks are added with brushes and sponges. Bare hands play a part too.

The layers of inks and paint build up.

February 2019 - client comes to the studio in Wellow, Nr Bath to see the work.

An uplifting and rather emotional meeting.

It is often moving to see what you have thought and dreamed about (but sometimes have been unable to articulate), come to life in front of you.

This painting will represent her haven of femininity in a masculine world. 

The Client is extremely happy - we agree on a few tweaks and these are completed within the week. Including the sides of the painting to match the colour of her curtains. 

Having trusted me to make the changes (though I do take photographs in case), the Client is happy to now accept delivery.

March 2019 

Final Invoice sent/paid, delivery in person.

A very happy reception from the entire family.  

The room has suddenly come together - it all looks amazing and the painting, now entitled FREE FLOW, sits perfectly in it.

Much delight and merriment.

Fantastic clients, wonderful commission and a splendid result - here it is 

If you are keen to chat through some ideas, then please please do get in touch.

[email protected]  . 07885 235 915 . 01225 837809

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Here is the utterly divine testimonial the client then wrote for me - what a joy. 

After this, below, you will find some more examples of commissions photographed in situ.

Rebecca Hourston . 26 March 2019

The zest for life, exuberance and beauty that Emma poured into my painting is palpable. I utterly adore it and now would recommend the commission process to anyone who wants to make a special space even more special. I wish I could invite you who are reading this to come over and see it in the flesh, as the photos can never do its texture and depth of colour justice.......

Never in a million years did I think I was someone who would commission a painting! Seemed a terribly posh thing to do, not to mention a terrifying prospect not to have seen the actual painting before I bought it (spot the control freak!). But having taken the leap of faith in Emma’s experience and astonishing eye for colour, shape and texture, it is unbelievable how so TOTALLY RIGHT her painting,  Free Flow, is for my space. Off the shelf, I would have been searching a lifetime for a work that so beautifully echoed the colours in my room, mirrored the size of the furniture, and gave such a knock-you-off-your-feet wow factor. I now know that ‘to commission’ simply means ‘to bring a special room together perfectly’, and hand on heart, is an investment thoroughly worth making for a space that’s important to you. 

I’ve followed and loved Emma’s joyful, impressionistic, vibrant work for several years, always keeping half an eye for ‘the one’ to come along. I saw a snap of one of her paintings,  Monet’s Dreams, on Facebook and instantly felt drawn to it. It was no trouble at all to her to bring it round to my house just ‘to see’ if it could work on the lovely big, blank wall above a rich green velvet sofa in my home office. 

Beautiful as this other painting was, it looked totally lost on my wall. That’s when the idea of the commission kicked in. Emma was full of energy and suggestions without ever being pushy. On the contrary, she was incredibly respectful of my thought process and really ‘got’ that it was quite a big deal for me to commit to. She came to my house several times; ever patient, ever jolly, ever wise. She carefully measured the space, listened carefully to my ideas, and advised without ever dominating. There’s something about her depth and breadth of experience and healthy level of self-confidence that she’ll be able to produce just the right thing that is incredibly reassuring. 

Things that really helped me – looking at other paintings of Emma’s and picking out bits from various different ones that I liked (she somehow managed to blend elements of all my favourites together in the end); giving her swatches of some of the fabrics/paints in my room (I was afraid it would end up a bit matchy-matchy / “tried too hard” but she made it subtle, blended and perfect); having her reassurance that, if needed, she would keep going with painting and re-painting until it was just as I wanted (I never needed that in the end, but it was good to know she would do that within the agreed fee if necessary). Right up to the point of paying the deposit I knew that if it didn’t feel right to push ahead, it would have been OK to pull out, with no hard feelings. I think it’s a process to become sure that a commission is the right thing to enter into, and Emma holds the process lightly, exploratively, respectfully and always with lots of fun.

I went to see it when it was nearly finished at her studio. It’s quite odd seeing something you’ve already bought for the very first time! We discussed a few small changes, a week or so flashed by, and Emma was on my doorstep to hang it in situ. She’d even chosen a wonderful name for it.

Seeing it in my room was simply wonderful. I get a little frisson of happiness every time I look at it. Yes, I could have hung three, four, five smaller photos in that space and it would have been cheaper. But my finished painting is on a totally different planet in terms of the impact it has in what is otherwise quite a simply and neutrally furnished room. Most of all, it gives me JOY, and I am grateful and glad I will have a little piece of delicious Emma Rose with me for the rest of my life!

Please do have a look at my website

for more information and prices

https://www.emmaroseartworks.com/section838270.html

[email protected]  . 07885 235 915 . 01225 837809

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Here are a smattering of other commissions  

"We met Emma at an exhibition at the Hepsibah Gallery in London and fell in love with her use of colour and textures immediately. Two beautiful paintings later, we decided that a bespoke piece in Emma’s unique style and colour would be an amazing addition to a large space in our dining area. Emma took our rough ideas on some sort of ocean scene, along with some of our favourite island holiday snaps and our preferences from her portfolio. Emma worked her magic into a beautiful triptych that is just stunning. It brings a smile to my face on a daily basis and draws lots of admiring comments from friends. My young daughter loves identifying small fish, and coral mixed into the multitude of blue and green layers. Emma has so much talent, I could have never described exactly what we wanted from the outset but she interpreted our ideas into the perfect piece. Emma delivered it to our home and advised on where to position it, as well as another beautiful piece of hers that we were taken with"

Mr & Mrs C/London EMMA ROSE

Website:       https://www.emmaroseartworks.com

Email:         [email protected]

Tel:          07885 235 915

Gallery:       78 Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BD

Studio :       Knight's Barn, Wellow, Bath BA2 8QE

Holiday Rental:  https://www.theartcottagebath.com