This month we thought we would give you an insight into what it's really like to work at Commission an Artist. We love what we do and we love helping our customer's art aspirations come to fruition!
We asked our Project Manager, Helen, to give us a run down of what her day looks like:
7am The alarm goes off and I usually have a good few alerts on my phone from clients and other artists in other countries and time zones so I have an idea of what’s been happening during the night. On a work day I usually go for a run before I start in the office as I think a fit and healthy body feeds a fit and healthy mind.
I usually sit down at my desk anywhere between 8am and 9am, the role is very flexible and so long as customers are happy then I am happy! I have often had a skype discussion on a Saturday evening, and we actively promote that service. It can be a great time to talk when customers are not rushing around in the daily rush!
I am usually busy most of the day helping clients and artists with queries and moving commissions on. I usually finish my working day around 6pm. However usually twice per week I cover the American desk for my counterpart over there as he has family commitments at those times. So on those occasions I am around with my laptop at home until I go to bed. We have a chat facility which can get quite busy on an evening!
What is your favourite part of your role?
I hasten to say I love all of it, but I do! I can’t draw for toffee so seeing the stages of the artwork produced always puts a huge smile on my face. I also love getting to know my customers and finding common ground. We produced a commission involving music a few months ago and the customer and I found we had the same taste in music. To this day he sends me occasional youtube links and I send him ones if I come across them. We have some wonderful clients and we are selling something which is super special and it’s a privilege to be able to help them.
What is the best commission you have
ever worked on?
Wow that’s a difficult question as they are all wonderful in their own way. One of the most amazing commissions, and I really am picking one out of the air here, is one recently created where a lady wanted a copy of the famous photograph: Lunch Atop A Skyscraper, but she wanted her husband and his friends as the men sitting on the beam. It didn’t cost that much either. The above image is the result. The giant sculpture we created last year was pretty stunning too, where Cambridge University wanted him for their summer ball.
What else do you like to do?
I love going on holiday! (Who doesn’t!) I love going to explore the world and I always read up first and check out the artwork from that country. I also have 2 wonderful children and a little West Highland Terrier called Max. So we often go and splodge in the river on a weekend, which can get VERY messy!
