Wouldn’t it be nice to believe that commissioning your successful sculpture is a triangular affair — you, your dream, and the artist, all in harmony?
If only it were that simple. Instead, sculpture demands a sometimes long and occasionally difficult gestation and birth, as if to mirror life itself.
Unlike other art forms, commissioned sculpture can take weeks, even months, to reach fruition. And like it or not, sculpture and its artists sometimes carry a reputation for eccentricity, insularity, and even downright arrogance.
Tormented artists’ myth
The idea of tormented artists slaving in their studios to produce masterpieces for an ungrateful world is largely a myth. When you think of commissioned portraits, or ghost-written autobiographies, you get much closer to the truth. Successful commissioned sculptures result from open and informed dialogue between client and sculptor, and not from the artist’s creative monologue with him or her self.
How, then, in commissioning and production, can you avoid these issues, and make your sculpture experience a voyage of joy instead of a journey of endurance?
The one word answer is communication: briefing and employing a sculptor with a proven reputation for intelligent, collaborative interchange. In our blog 10 questions you should answer before you marry a sculpture, two of the points cover this subject as well.
Good sculptors create fine sculptures because they listen
We point out that good sculptors create fine sculptures because they listen. They keep you informed throughout the process. They also recognise components of a project that may have strayed from the brief and correct them before they become issues.
More importantly, they explain the process regularly in language that builds trust and adds to your enjoyment.
You can also find an example of communications at work on our own website where we talk about our unique 10 step process for successful sculptures. The check list describes the stages and the documentation we apply, from the written brief all the way though to installation and maintenance.
In our case, communication is both written and verbal. We never proceed to the next stage until we have confirmation that you not only approve the progression, but also are happy with all stages so far.
Another crucial factor behind working with sculptors who actively communicate is risk mitigation. When you consider the high emotional stakes involved in in a substantial and often expensive work of art, open and regular communication is the very foundation of trust. And trust is the plinth on which will sit an object you will come to love.
If you’re looking for sculpture from artists who back their talents with open, honest, and regular communication, call Todd Stuart on +61 4 5151 8865, or visit mainartery.art.
