In conversations with other artists, I often heard that they don't enjoy taking commissions as much as when they have the creative license to paint what they wish. For instance, I have read that John Singer Sargent began to dislike painting portraits of the upper class so much that he switched to doing drawings, because it took less time to complete. Whether it was because he was tired of the subject matter or the fact that his work was being used as a token of wealth or status, the question remains as to the artist's creative purpose. I have come to find a balance to painting both commissions and subjects that I choose.

I can be honest in saying that I tend to procrastinate and get caught up in romanticizing the vast possibilities of the next project. I am not alone in this, even the great Leonardo Da Vinci was known to be a procrastinator! and nothing snaps me back to work mode as much as having a deadline and not a what if/when/what sort of deal, and nothing gets the creative juices flowing as much as after a commission has been completed. I relish in the "freedom to paint as I wish" shortly after. Most importantly, this isn't the largest benefit, which is actually gaining a different perspective of a neutral subject.

Painting someone's lost pet, a loved one or  a special place is an opportunity to explore the lens of another, and it is an intimate experience and a privilege. During the hours  I spend staring at the subject, I am forced to imagine how it feels to share a connection to what I am painting and imagine what it is like to feel something towards the subject as I attempt to capture it. With care, I try to depict the love they may feel through the strokes of the paintbrush. I feel that creating art is not all about showing the world how I view something, but equally connecting with others and trying to understand a glimpse of  their life and letting my paint strokes communicate what I see. Continually doing this not only helps me understand the world a little better, but pushes me to paint objects I may not have even thought of painting. I can, in the end, take each of these experiences with me when I do decide to paint something of my own. My creative purpose is not all about showing the world what I hold dear, think, or enjoy, but fostering the learning and growth process through understanding others. I feel I will share more quality work in the future that will connect and reach others more in this way.

This Painting "Langella Pond" is for a couple who have spent so much time and dedication nurturing and tediously caring for their landscape. I tried to honor this by tediously and accurately capturing the details, while keeping it true to a painting and adding my own style.