Enter through the doorway. Pause. Take a breath.

Proceed up the path.

While walking absorb what is around you.

Large vistas – mountains. Distant skies.

Details – Leaves. Bits of snow. The shape of branches.

Now journeying. Where will this path lead?

I was honored this summer to receive a commission to create an artwork for a church in Plymouth, NH to create these experiences through the connections of visual artwork. The work shown is the completed piece, measuring 48” x 48”, “Sacred Spaces.”

I am pleased with the final artwork, and I learned a lot from the process. If you are an artmaker, or if you are one who might at some time commission a work for yourself or a group, here are some takeaways.

Building trust into the process is EVERYTHING. This project came into being because one of the church members had seen one of my quilts several years ago at an exhibit at the Whistler House Museum in Massachusetts. (Side take-away: you never know what may result when you exhibit your work!) The others on the committee did not know me or my work. And we had to have a group decision-making.

Over zoom meetings, we got to know one another. I asked questions about their vision for this work. It became important to all of us that this that it was to be different from a liturgical banner and different from signage. It was to be art. To invite visitors to the church to prepare to enter their worship together by a visual experience.

Teamwork: Everybody has a role to play. Before I even began, it was important to me to ask a lot of questions. Were there specific images they wanted to include? Were there specific architectural features of their church they would like to incorporate? I had to ask and listen. The committee had to provide input.

Process counts: Having heard horror stories from artists and customers about unsuccessful commissions, I did not want our venture to be one of them. I wanted us all to have some skin in the game, and to have that investment be part of the trust. My first investment was time. I created mockups in PhotoShop, several variations of the theme, and provided them digitally. I took suggestions. I made revisions. Finally, there was a concept agreed upon by all of us.

At that point, it was time to say “go.” I asked for a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the agreed-upon cost. This became the church’s investment. They understood that now we had a business contract. I would do my part and this was how they did their part.

Details matter  My design incorporates some photographs. I licensed them from istock and paid the licensing cost and kept those receipts. It’s imperative not to use images that you do not have the right to use. As for the image of the completed work, I spelled out in the final invoice what is and is not permitted. The church can, for example, reproduce the image on note cards or church bulletins without restriction or further compensation. They may not, for example,  reproduce it large giclees to sell.

In short, as the artist, I own the copyright to the image of the work. I grant them limited rights to use it. They are the owners of the actual work itself and may do anything they like with it without asking or notifying me.

One more deep breath.

All of that is important, but behind-the-scenes. I now know that my artwork hangs in their church home as an invitation to their sacred space.

It is a great honor.

………………..

Last chance for me to tell you about the Artburst Studios Exhibit “Poetry in Motion.” It happens NEXT WEEKEND!! I hope you’ll take a look.

For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating

Thank you for reading.
I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi

bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

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