/// THE STAGES OF A COMMISSION ///

My very honest account of the commission process from my perspective, the maker. Just to add that the client is never aware of what you will read below, they aren’t paying to know about the agony only that you are getting on with what you should be getting on with.

Client contacts you to discuss a commission. You think that’s ambitious but it does me good to push myself so yes I will take that on.

Designing said commission - this element takes a lot longer than most people think. Depending on the size and nature of the object you are designing it can take weeks, especially if it's a functional item.

You correspond with the client to make adjustments to their requirements as you go. You get sick of drawing and redrawing because it has become your every waking moment.

Design is finalised - hurrah you can stop drawing it. Oh shit now you have to make it!

You create models to check the proportions. Getting everything just right takes more days. Now you are sick of cardboard and the scalpel.

You move onto metal. Everything goes wrong at every step. You begin to question why you are a maker, why did you choose such a skilled craft, why have you wasted all these years honing your skills. WHY????

This phase lasts a LONG TIME. Especially when you factor in working part time, and having a few days where your studio is over 30 degrees.

Eventually you turn a corner, things start pulling together. You pull together. You complete the commission then it's time to deliver.

Even though you know you have created what they wanted and you liaised with them every step of the way, sending photos and updates so they know exactly what to expect, you are still full of dread that the thing which you’ve poured so much love, time and energy in has broken your soul for the last however long is going to be a disappointment to them.

Client receives commission and tells you they love it. You breathe properly for the first time in a long time.

A few weeks pass and you look at photos of what you created and see it with fresh eyes, away from the absolute ballache of the creation process. And you think wow, I made that! Well done me, that is actually pretty damn good!