WHEN YOUR ART GOES COMMERCIAL
When an artist accepts a commission or works as a commercial artist, everything shifts into high gear – BIG TIME!
For over 20 years, I have designed and built props, sets and miniatures for movies and print commercials. As my super-talented friend and assistant’ Aaron Dytyniak, would say, “Once you utter these words to the client, ‘yes I can do that‘, the roller coaster bar comes down, the car begins its climb up the hill, and all you can do at that point is hang on till the ride is over.” When, after five or six “work-a-thon” days and a couple of “all-nighters”, the director finally says “that’s a wrap” you feel your inner scaffolding start to collapse, you begin breathing again, and all you want to do is go sleep somewhere.
After several shoots I have been known to fall asleep in a parking lot before making my way home. Once I totally “Zzzeed-out” for hours in my own driveway. After several hours of wondering “where’s Dad?”, my family found me nearly comatose, slumped over in the car. When you accept a commission to do a painting, illustration, cartoon, or whatever, you can’t just sit and wait for an inspiration because there is, most often, a deadline associated with the commission, and you must get off your tush and produce! Even if something goes wrong, “toughen up cupcake” you still have to produce.
“FINALLY AN EASY SHOOT”
I was once commissioned by a studio to do a Chrysler truck commercial where the “gag” of the shot needed to have a bunch of dead bugs stuck in the grille of an awesomely-huge pickup truck. “WOW, finally an easy shoot“, I thought! So, I spent a day collecting bugs. And yes, some bugs were definitely harmed in the filming of this commercial. Wearing just a tee shirt, shorts and flip flops, my ill-fated attempt at collecting hornets resulted in getting stung nine times! My wife questioned my choice in attire that day, needless to say! It was the closest I have ever come to break-dancing. The day of the shoot arrived and everybody was on the set waiting for me to stick a bunch of dead bugs on the grille of this giant pickup. I remember giggling to myself thinking, “I can’t believe I am getting paid for this one.” That feeling lasted about 10 seconds because as soon as the photographer looked through his camera lens, he said, “The bugs aren’t big enough; we need bigger bugs. Let’s all break for lunch while Dave fixes this.” At that precise moment, my roller coaster completely derailed! Feeling the pressure (and a bit of panic), I started collecting grass, leaves, and those helicopter seeds that twirl down from Maple trees. And right out there, on location, with super glue, caffeine, and God’s help, I began assembling seeds, leaves and blades of grass to make what looked, on camera, to be much bigger bugs.
So, here’s the deal – Whether it is a commission for a cartoon, illustration, sculpture, or in my case, props for a print shot, when you go “commercial” with your art, it can bring with it new pressures. Why? Because you are doing your art to please a client. The rewards can be both artistically fulfilling and a financial blessing, to say the least. Learning to handle the critiques of art directors and clients? Well, might I say that this will be another topic for another blog …. or perhaps, 10 blogs, or more!
