Evelyn at the Niebrugge Studio Art Booth
We are busy ramping down from attending our booth for 12 days during the 2006 Alaska State Fair. We owe many thanks to our wonderful friend, Evelyn Bunch, who helped every day during the evening hours. Even though the hours are long, the fair provides a terrific opportunity to visit with collectors and display new prints and original paintings.
I was particularly grateful for the chance to talk in depth to people who have been considering commissioned paintings. The following are good guidelines to use when contemplating a Gail Niebrugge commission.
1. Establish a budget. Paintings are priced by the square inch, the larger the size the higher the price.
2. Know your preferred medium. Ink drawings are the most economical, combination ink and watercolor is next, and a complete acrylic painting is the ultimate.
3. Be specific about subject matter. A painting of your cabin, in the fall, winter, spring or summer? Your airplane pictured in flight, on the ground, and what kind of background if any? Or a different version of something I’ve already painted. Everything is possible.
4. Allow time for the artist to obtain research material. It is wonderful if you can supply photos of the subject, but it is best if I can do some of the research myself. Of course, this will not be possible for historic subjects where old photos may be the only source of reference, and that is just fine. I love drawing and painting places from the past.
5. Think of a color scheme. Do you love green, or blue, or the colors of fall? The colors you love can be worked into the scheme into subtle ways as to not change the meaning of the subject. Or, they can dominate! Think about it.
6. Expect the subject to be rearranged. To make a good painting sometimes the subject needs to be moved around a bit to make a good composition. Don’t forget, we are designing a painting, rarely is a photo good enough to be used in its entirety.
7. The sketch phase is for making changes. I will produce a number of sketches for review and this is the time for you to be involved. Make all the changes you want.
8. Select a wall to hang your new commissioned painting!
I am more than happy to discuss the idea of exploring a commissioned painting created just for you of a subject very dear, important, or even sentimental. Just give me a call.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist
