Ingrid recently completed a commission for a Colorado client. You can see from the photo how large it is, nearly 7 feet tall. It was a challenging piece that was started in March and finished in mid August. We asked her a few questions about working on this piece and commissions in general.
Was the size of this piece a challenge?
I love working on large pieces, it allows me the space to express my visual ideas. But it is also physically very demanding. Just the shear size of the panels and weight can be hard on my body. [The final piece was well over 100 pounds requiring two persons to move it.] I’m very proud of this piece. It brought out some new ideas and challenged old ones.”
Are there more commissions in the works?
Oh yes, I’m working on one now I’m very excited about. And there is another in the idea stage.
How long does a commission take to complete?
That’s not easy to answer. It depends how busy I am, if I’m working towards a show. And it depends on how large the piece is. But all things being normal (which they never are) I usually tell the client to allow 4 to 6 months. If I can do them quicker, I always do.
Do you put more effort into a commission?
I pour my heart into every piece I create.
Would you advise collectors to buy a completed piece or wait for a commission?
It depends on the collector, but I usually advise that they buy the piece they fall in love with when they see it. If that piece is already sold, let’s talk. I can’t do the same piece twice, but I can create something similar. Some collectors are wary of commissions, that they may not be as good as the works the artist creates for himself. If they are uncomfortable, I suggest they wait for new work. But it might help to remember that many of the greatest works of art were commissions: the Mona Lisa, for example. And many great renaissance painters only painted works for patrons on commission. Some collectors are worried that they won’t like a commission piece when it’s done and they’ll be stuck with it. That’s never happened with any of my collectors, but I understand their concern. Each person has to judge their own comfort level about doing a commission. Either way, it always works out.
The Art of Ingrid Dee Magidson 