Catching up and getting back into the swing of things!

Hello HELLO! It has been quite sometime since I have been able to last post! So today I want to just catch you all up so we can have a lovely Dream Scheme Friday tomorrow! I have been working super hard for my wonderful job at Habatat Galleries. It's a glass art gallery that has stunning work from all over the world. I have been with Habatat for over a year now. 

Every November, the Navy Pier in Chicago holds a Fine Art Fair called SOFA. Our gallery travels there to display and sell our work and our space is always HUGE! It's the most work I have ever done and it's non-stop for a week straight. 

As much as it is demanding both mentally and physically, it's also very rewarding. Chicago is a great city and although there is practically no time outside of working, it's still hard to deny that you are in such an alive place! 

Fine Dinning with my love. My favorite part of the trip!

Artist & Staff party at Howl at the Moon in Chicago

This year I was fortunate enough to have my boyfriend George with me. He came to help work the set up and take down of the show and we were able to have a few wonderful meals and nights to ourselves in between the yawning and napping. Below are some pictures of the show's set up and take down along with some of our galleries work and booth talk clips.

 Latchezar Boyadjiev - Habatat Artist

 Emily Brock Piece "Green" Close up - Habatat Artist

Owner Corey Hampson before set up began!

Martin Janecky during a demo at Ingite Studios - Habatat Artist

Now that I am back, I have to get back into the swing of things. Starting is always the hardest. While I was away I gathered up two more commissions that will be wood burned family tree gifts for family members from someone I know for Christmas. I also still need to finish the Rick and Morty Mug commission I started a few weeks back. Getting back into the studio to start the ball rolling again is a struggle.

I find myself avoiding the room completely and trying to do other things first.....it is so much easier to be productive in the studio if a keep a good pace going and spend even a little time in there everyday. If a huge break occur I get thrown off.

Also I have started extensive research and sketching on a planning a new series. I don't want to get too far into telling you about it yet but I will say that it should be a 12 painting series when it's finished and it's ALL I can think about. Which is also why completing the commissions I am getting even harder. All I want to do is work on this series....but Christmas is coming and I know that my commission work load will only get worse and I should be thankful for more time to actually plan out what I want instead of jumping right in and losing steam like I tend to do. 

Anyway! I am glad to be back and writing the blogs again. Is there anything you are interested in me writing about? An art topic, something about my art business or maybe more about my job at the gallery? Let me know in the comments below and always remember if you like the blogs you can subscribe with the blue button at the top right of the page! Much Love!

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

Fantastic Mrs Fox brooch by - gabiReith

Song of the Day:

Missy Elliott - WTF (Where They From) ft. Pharrell Williams

Color of the Day:

Benjamin Moore Carribean Blue Water

Tips and Tricks for taking Art Commissions.

Good Morning! What a good morning is it! I woke up a little early today to take a shower and do some morning yoga. I have really missed doing yoga, especially in the morning. It makes my whole day so much better when I get some silence and stretching. It was also very nice to feel the sunrise throughout doing yoga because when I started it was still very dark but by the time I finished the sun was beaming through my blinds. It was lovely.

(Click for more on this image)

I have received two new commissions and I started them both yesterday. **Will I ever start a new body of work?!** Oh well, I won't complain about fun commissions and money coming in. The first commission is going to be a gift from the person who is having it made. They sent me a picture of  what looks like an old tattoo of a butterfly. It represents their mother who has passed and I have to create a wine bottle based off this old tattoo. 

(Click for more on this image)

I was iffy at how this was going to turn out but I would say I am about half way through and it is looking wonderful! I will post pictures to show you when it is completed. It will be a very thoughtful gift and I love that I knew what they wanted but I still had some artistic freedom with it. Those are the best kinds of commissions. 

(Click for more on this image)

The second commission is even more fun and free! I have two beer mugs that my client wants turned into painted "Rick and Morty" pieces. So he gave me total artistic freedom but I just have to base them off of the show. Which I have never seen but I looked into it and it's a rough cartoon from cartoon network. I think I can have a lot of fun with these mugs!

(Rick and Morty Theme Song)

I started the base yesterday of both pieces. One I spray painted a dark navy blue color. The other I sprayed it completely cream and then went back while it was still semi-wet and sprayed the top yellow and blended it into the bottom cream. After looking into some images I have a few ideas for why I chose these colors but I don't want to give away anything yet!

(Click for more on this image)

Whenever I get enjoyable commissions I always try and remind myself how lucky I am. I have had some not-so-nice commissions. The hardest part about doing commissions is that the client has something they want and inside their head. Unless they are getting something you already made but in a different color or easy variety of an already produced item, it can be difficult to pull out of their minds exactly what they are looking for.

(Click for more on this image)

Another struggle with commissions is pricing. If pricing your work isn't hard enough already, try pricing work that you haven't even started! When taking a commission I always try and give a quote to make sure the client is aware and agrees upon a cost. But it is very hard to calculate how long something might take you and often you can find yourself shorting yourself after the piece is done.

(Great video of Tips and Tricks for Commissions!)

 I good thing to do when accepting commissions is to always ask for half of the agreed price up front. Unfortunately there are a many good number of people who talk a big game and when it comes time to deliver they just disappear. There is nothing worse than never getting paid or not getting paid in full for your time and energy you put into a commission. Asking for half up front makes you feel better that they are more locked into the piece but with not asking for it all up front the client also feels like they have room to wiggle if necessary.

(Another great video of Tips and Tricks for Commissions!)

Commissions can be horror stories or some of an artist's proudest work. Either way learning by trial and error is really the only way to learn when dealing with commissions. I am very grateful to have two at the same time that I am enjoying! How about you? Any commissions you are working on? anyone have any commission horror stories? How about any tips or tricks for accepting commissions? Let me know your thoughts below!

Until Tomorrow- Dream

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

                        MICHIGAN COASTERS DETROIT - Tigers Themed Colors by - TheCloudNineStudios

Song of the Day:

Celine Dion - Thankful

Color of the Day:

Benjamin Moore Polar Jade CC-754