When I first started painting, I started out painting watercolor botanicals. I found landscapes, animals, buildings, and everything else for that matter, very intimidating. That’s probably pretty common. But as I have gone along, practiced my techniques, and logged my brush miles, so to speak, I have gained confidence to paint a variety of different subjects.

Most of the things I was afraid of trying have now become much easier, much more relaxed, and I really enjoy a wide variety of subject matter. I generally go along though, waiting for something to inspire me. Whether it’s searching for a specific kind of picture like a rose, or a chickadee, or a location for a landscape. Or happening upon a scene that I just have to take a picture of so I can paint it later. If it doesn’t inspire me, I have a harder time getting going and finishing.

Over the years I have had many people ask me if I do commissioned paintings. This used to always scare me. Sometimes people would ask, “Have you ever thought of painting…?” Whatever that blank might be. I have had some good inspiration from questions like that – Loons, moose, Statue of Liberty – that I have painted and loved the paintings. But I used to tell people I hadn’t done commissions and would be hesitant to try.

But, as I have gained more experience and more confidence in my own personal style, I have had the opportunity to say yes to a few commissions.

The first one was actually when I was just beginning, but it came from 2 of my nephews who had found a beautiful pink and white striped rose. They were with my mom and asked if she thought I’d paint it for them. She sent me the picture and I did. These boys were not brothers though, so they each have a print of this painting and I have kept the original, because how do you split up the original between 2 houses.

The rose was within my comfort zone and within the realm of what I loved painting, so it didn’t feel intimidating. But the next few queries into commissions were well beyond my comfort zone, I figured well beyond my abilities, and I said I could try but I’d never done anything like it. I never heard back from any of them.

Then, a friend asked if I could paint on an old cross cut saw that’d been in the family for a while. This one was so far out of my comfort zone, but not because of the painting subject matter. I was terrified I’d somehow ruin the saw, or the painting wouldn’t stick and would eventually peel off. I did quite a bit of research and decided I’d give it a try. It turned out beautifully, in fact, one of my favorite’s. I saw it at the friend’s house just a few weeks ago, and it still looks good. I’m grateful I said yes!

I then had several more inquiries about commissions, I gave some details as to price and timeline, but never heard back from most of them.

About 3 months ago I had someone email me out of the blue, someone I didn’t know, and wanted to know if I could do a commissioned piece. I had had numerous strangers contact me, but I’d ultimately turned them down. But, this person knew my sister, in fact, she’s the one that recommended me. I decided to take a look at the photograph to see what I thought, and then decided I had time and could do it.

It turned out very nice, and the customer was very excited at the finished product. I am grateful because it helped me be a bit more confident in my ability to take someone else’s photo and do something with it that they will enjoy for years to come.

Then, a couple of weeks ago a friend contacted me and asked if I could do a commissioned piece from a picture I had actually taken at their cabin, for her husband for Father’s Day. I had actually thought I would like to paint this particular picture, so readily agreed. It took about 10 days working on it off and on to complete, and I absolutely loved the finished piece.

Accepting commissions to paint is still somewhat scary to me, just because what I see and emphasize in a picture can be very different from what the customer saw and wanted or imagined the picture to be. I definitely don’t paint photo realistic paintings, but I do paint in a more realistic rather than abstract style. I have learned to get out of my comfort zone, and in some ways to get out of my own head and just do it.

I’m grateful to the people who have been willing to take the chance on me, and grateful that they liked the finished product in the end.

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