Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Penny Harrison's avatar

Mark, there is so much I want to say here, I don’t know where to start!

Your work is truly stunning. I can’t imagine the level of happiness brides and grooms must feel to see their day captured like this.

I also love the way you write about what you do. I feel like I can really hear you, I can feel the emotional journey you went on here, from the non-payer to the joy of working in such a wonderful way.

I’m sorry about the irksome client. I too am freelance and am still trying to navigate various payment issues. I do think you would be perfectly in your rights to ask for a deposit on each and every commission.

Also, I LOVE, Love, LOVE the piece you say is currently on the drawing board, of the figure, on the path through the trees. Wow. Thank you for sharing it.

You are absolutely on the right path - keep moving forward. 💖

Expand full comment
Linda Gaskell's avatar

Hi Mark. So sorry to hear about your recent bad experience. It’s often the difficult people who do often stick in our minds rather than all the lovely ones, even though they are the majority. I have started taking commissions for house and wedding venue portraits. I do take a payment up front, partly because I’m bad at asking for money, and as soon as I start sketching I’m likely to forget. I say up front on the website what the deal is (www.lindagaskellillustration.co.uk). When folk contact me there’s usually a few emails where we discuss what they want and they send through photos for me to work from. Once I’m happy I’ve got something I can work with I send them the invoice. When that’s paid (usually really promptly) I start work on the sketch, which they will then see at different stages. Hope that helps. I’m full of admiration for how quickly you manage to capture a likeness. When I’ve tried figure drawing at speed my images are rarely flattering!

Expand full comment
2 more comments...

No posts