Interesting Client Requests

[Chris Saper]

Prompted by the compositional advice thread, I was reminded of an interesting client request.

A woman called me and said "I had a dream I want you to paint: in my dream, my four children were bringing my husband his birthday cake, and behind them was a big wrapped package. When he unwrapped the package it was a big painting of them, in the scene he had just observed, bringing his birthday cake and gift. The only light is from the candles on the cake."

Now generally this is a scenario that would strike fear in the heart of any sane painter, yet there was something I liked a great deal about this woman. While she had a concept, she didn't want to tell me how to execute it.

I was able to figure out a somewhat complex way to actually create the scene and get good source photos. I organized the children into a foursome compostition, surrounding the youngest child, who carried the 'cake'. In order to get some proper lighting source info, I actually had her hold a 12" quilting hoop, and at floor level, set a floodlight up-facing to give sufficient light through the empty hoop to mimic candles on the cake, whose diameter would be approximately that of the hoop. Consequently. all the children's faces had a consistent uplight.

The family was thrilled with the painting, and so was I. Not to say that I wouldn't advise anyone to think twice (more than twice) about this kind of situation, but if this particular woman ever comes back to me agin with another 'dream' I will want to hear about it.

Chris

P. S. And yes, I decline work somewhat regularly.