Blake & Cal 9" x 12" GraphiteFirst of all, a huge THANK YOU goes to my friend, JC, who showed extreme faith in me by commissioning me to draw this portrait. It honors me to draw for you, and I appreciate your friendship even more than the commission! You are awesome.
I enjoy creating art so much. It truly feels like what I'm meant to do. But in order to make it possible to actually do it as a career, I've got to pull double duty and work full time in an office, and then draw in my not-so-spare time. It's tough sometimes, especially with deadlines looming! I have one more commission due by Christmas, one due after that (a church), and another portrait commission due before Mother's Day (thanks JK!).
I look back and am surprised by all those years I wasted, not creating any art. Why did I do that? It must have been due to my attempt to find balance in marriage, motherhood, and life in general. I'm not even sure my husband knew I could draw until years after we were married.
I wish I had the guts (and the financial ability) to just quit my job immediately and look people in the eye and say with confidence:
I am an artist. This is what I do.
18 comments:
WOW WOW WOW!!! WOW. You really seem to have an uncanny ability to not just draw well, but capture the personalities of the people you draw. I bow at your feet, you're amazing!
You are very talented!
You ARE an artist.
Beautiful work!
Thanks, guys. You know what I love to hear!
sometimes I have the unbelievable ability to embarass myself. Thank heavens for delete buttons.
What I meant to say, then didn't, was you have an incredible talent ML. Someday you will get to quit your day job and focus on your art alone.
Wow! I'm definitely convinced I've commissioned the right person to do the portrait you're soon to work on. (Not that I needed much convincing before. You're work is so detailed and exact.) Congratulations on this piece! It's fabulous and I'm sure the person who commissioned it will love it!
As for making art your full time job, follow your bliss. The only thing holding you back is... well, you (and your responsibilities.) Perhaps there's a way to phase out of office work and into full time art. It can be done. My friends, Lane and Adriana, have done it. It didn't all happen overnight, but it did happen.
I hate it when I'm about to criticize a piece of art and then remember that I have browser acceleration turned on...
You have both the eye and the hand, that much is clear.
But as I experienced from discussions at "start-your-own-business" class, many ideas and dreams stay that way simply because there's a family to support..
But then again, to avoid bitterness I should always make the most of life and not listen so much to others! And we will all be much happier as a consequence..
So, where to draw the line? That is the question - and in your case both literally and metaphorically.
That is just one beautiful piece of art, Lisa.
Hats off to you!
SML,
As always you amaze me. It looks so good. My work will never compare to yours.
You drew that?!?!
Um... interested in doing more coommissioned work?
(first tiem visiting... nice blog you have here)
Cheers,
GF
Fantastic... you should let people know how much you charge etc. I bet many would be interested. You should set up a pay pal account. I bet you could get lots of work from this blog alone! Great work and I can totally relate to your quandry.
No shit!
Err, what I meant was, I completely agree!
I am e-mailing you RIGHT NOW about this.
Spectacular! I agree, you ARE an artist! You really do capture the personalities of the models. I'm very impressed! My mom's an artist, and my best friend's mom owns an art gallery, so I don't pass out the compliments lightly. I've been around art a very, very long time... :)
I am Lisa's friend, J.C.- and the mom of the two handsome boys that she drew. I just gave the drawing to my husband for an early Christmas gift (early because I could not wait to hang it up in our house-a little selfish!) You have seen it on her blog, I only wish you could see it in person & framed-WOW!!! It is beautiful. To say my husband was blown away and very emotional is an understatement. It really is perfect. Lisa, you are an amazing person and friend-so much talent. You will be famous one day! Trust me when I say you guys are only seeing a small slice of Lisa's personality and talent-She really is awesome! JC
You _are_ an artist!
Well done, this is beautiful.
You're work is lovely! I wish I had you're pencil skillz...I am more of an oil girl. And I LOVED the griz gear. Brought back memories as DH and I both went to UM....GO GRIZ!
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