After over six months of sketches, redesign, color negotiations and creation, I’m done. I delivered it to my art consultant who brokered this commission and she was very happy! Whew! I named it, “Continuity”.
Continuity
(click on the image to see a larger view on my website)
This has been a mighty learning experience for me. I seriously underestimated the time it would take, the stress of creating to someone else’s specifications and how difficult it was to wrestle this baby through a sewing machine! I learned that the constant rough handling and squishing necessary was tough on all the stitching and silk. I had to do a bit of repair work at the end.
But I also learned that I can work this big! And I love the visual impact of this grander scale! I learned that the pressure of creating a commission focused me and kept me working with very little of my usual dithering.
Would I do it again? Yes! But I would charge significantly more and I would negotiate things like color preferences much differently.
Now to rebuild my design wall and percolate ideas for my next project…
Karen Kamenetzky Fiber Art 
September 2, 2012 at 7:16 pm |
It is fabulous and very impactful. i’d love to see it in person.
September 2, 2012 at 8:43 pm |
Congratulations! It’s beautiful and I’m sure the client will be thrilled. Hope you enjoy a little relaxation before diving into the next project.
September 3, 2012 at 8:55 am |
Thanks, Sharon. Ideas for a next project are slowly percolating. I can only really focus on one project at a time and envy those folks who can mentally envision their next piece while working on a present one.
September 3, 2012 at 10:19 am |
Congratulations, Karen! I love everything about this piece. I’m sure the picture does not do it justice. Hard to imagine it full scale. Always look forward to seeing your next piece.
September 3, 2012 at 12:20 pm |
Thank you Susan! And it was great to reconnect at the Vt Institute of Contemporary Art opening!
September 3, 2012 at 3:44 pm |
A fabulous finish, well done! I’m very interested in hearing more about what you’d change for your next commission negotiations, how you may have felt the client’s specs were limiting / challenging / etc. Thanks!
September 5, 2012 at 11:17 am |
Good question! In some ways having some defining ideas going into this project (i.e. warm colors, size,what pieces of mine the client loved…) helped me focus and jump in. But I think I made the mistake of offering too many choices around colors and the feedback left me confused and unsure of myself. Perhaps next time, I’ll ask for 2-3 paint chips of colors they like and say I’ll try to include colors in that family in the piece. I definitely learned a lot that will hopefull help me in future negotiations!