Commissioning artwork for your home can be intimidating, but there is no reason for it to be. Imagine meeting with someone who WANTS to give you the perfect addition to your home, who WANTS this work to be cherished and loved for years to come and will tailor the artwork (within reason and the artists style/vision) to your wants and needs. That is 100% what a commission is. Instead of purchasing ready made artwork, it is something created with your personal space and style in mind. Pretty cool, right!
The commission process begins with expressing interest through an email or my Contact form (HERE). Sometimes I will get a direct message on social media but honestly, unless I know the person or the inquiry comes through my website, it is usually slimey and I do not accept the work. Therefore, it is better to contact me through a more professional avenue. After you express interest, I will schedule a time to chat via phone or Zoom. We will talk about canvas size (FYI all commissions must be 18x24 or larger), colors, your overall vision and timeline. I want all commissions to work PERFECTLY with your space so it is encouraged that you send any vision boards, previous work of mine that you were drawn to, paint colors or large scale fabrics within the room and inspiration photos you are using to dream up your vision. Once you are ready to begin, a 50% deposit is required before painting begins and will be done via a personal listing in my shop. Turn around time is generally between 6-8 weeks depending on the season and when the deposit is received. Certain times of the year are busier for me, personally due to having kids at home so I generally have periods where commission slots are open and closed. Once painting begins, I will send you periodic progress pictures as I go. We will then work closely to make adjustments (color additions or omissions, details, drips, markings, etc.) as needed. You may request an additional video call to see more detail. I generally allow 2 rework sessions. When the painting is complete and agreed upon, meaning it meets both YOUR vision and MY artistic alignment, the remaining 50% of the deposit is due. Once received, I will arrange delivery or shipment to your home. You may also choose to pick up locally from my home studio if you wish. Shipping costs are included in the commission quote. From then, you get to enjoy and live with your artwork. I love to see where my artwork lives so send ALL of the pictures after it is installed in your home! See, not too scary!
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1. Embracing Minimalism
With the arrival of another child came the arrival of all of his stuff! I suddenly found myself with double the kids, double the clothes (or even triple at times because let’s be real newborns need 2 to 3 outfits a day at minimum), quadruple the diapers and a HUGE mess. I needed something to be easy in my life and I needed cleaning routines and household chores to become easier. The fact of the matter is, the more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to take care of. With having a new little human that depended on me 24 seven and nursing around the clock, I had to have a change because I was always looking around the house seeing things that needed done. It was overwhelming and taking away from my kids. I decided to cut down our material items in the house by 2/3. This was actually easier than I thought it would be. I started with seasonal decor, things that I hadn’t used in years and either decided to donate, sell or made a trip to the dump. Next was kitchen items. I had so many dish sets, plates and extra pots and pans. These were old things that we had accumulated from our first apartment, so much stuff. Who needs all of this? I mean do I ever use 5 sauce pans at the same time. No. Again, another trip to either Goodwill or the dump. Various China sets and things I put away for later or sold on Facebook marketplace. I love Facebook marketplace as a side note. I made a stark change in decor style. I wanted something more simplistic, neutral that I wouldn’t have to feel like I needed to keep up with the design trends. Also, EASY to clean. I sold antique rugs that I had collected because they also collected a lot of dirt and were very hard to keep clean. as I saw everything on them. I sold old artwork that was a part of studio sales. I sold all kinds of antiques and things that I had accumulated, but no longer felt like they were me or I would use them in the future. I sold A LOT. With the cash, we were able to make some easy to clean swaps and I am so thrilled. My 10 min before bed cleanup takes just that, 10 mins (Kitchen included). 2. Dry Brushing and Gua Sha Both are apparently supposed to drain you lymphatic system. Now, I am not sure I buy so much into that mainly because would I know what that felt like and or be able to tell the difference, no. Why do it then? It feels so nice. I love dry brushing for its exfoliating purposes. It is a tiny luxury that lasts 30 seconds prior to each one of my showers. For me, it’s scrubbing the day off and has done so much for the texture of my skin! Gua Sha is more of a massage in my opinion. In the mornings, somewhere after my 2nd cup of coffee and before the kids start screaming (unless Sammy has a hard night) I try to get some sort of facial oil (liking this one right now LINK) and Gua Sha my face and neck. This just feels so good and wakes up my skin. It releases any kind of tension I had from a previous workout and it’s just one of the small little rituals I can do to help start my day. Being officially closer to 40 than 30(OMG) I will take all the glow I can get. 3. Diet and Exercise Keeping with the year of Lindsey theme, I have been begun working out and monitoring what I eat. I have always LOVED exercise, so much I have a bachelors and masters surrounding health and movement but after going through 4 years of infertility treatments and then having two kids in 3 years, my body is NOT where it was nor do I really expect it to be! Luckily, I know what works for me and I have been implementing that for the last month with great results. I know intermittent fasting works. I also know that working out while in a fasted state is also best for me so that is what I'm doing. Unfortunately, the only chunk of time I have been able to carve out between in the morning hours during my fast is 5:30AM-6:30AM so that is my workout window. I am loving it. I am also tracking my calories through a basic fitness app and allowing myself one day a week to not beat myself up. Thus far, so good. Stay tuned! 4. Specifically Carving out Time for ME We as mothers tend to take care of everyone else before we take care of ourselves. I have started purposefully carving out pockets of time that nourish me. Do not think these are extravagant things. They are things as simple as completing. 15 minute meditation when I am stressed, allowing my husband to hold or care for the toddler or babe when I’m done being screamed at or even just taking a shower by myself. I have also made a change in my studio practice. Prior to having Sammy, Emma would give me solid naps of two hours which were dependable and easy to schedule in studio time. Now with the new babe, naps for everyone are all over the place and I haven’t been able to rely on a set time frame so I moved my studio to the kitchen for the time being. I find that on days when I am able to express my creative self, I am a happier person and happier mother. 5. Practice Kindness Towards Myself as an ARTIST My new mantra towards my creative practice is DO LESS. In regards to my creative practice, this means doing less reworks, less overthinking, being less critical of my work and less of a perfectionist. Just allowing myself to get into the creative flow and having faith that the work I make is worth it and will turn out fine. I’m also slowly becoming okay with the idea that not all work IS good and that’s ok. It serves a purpose. It was practice and that’s wonderful. In the past, I have fallen so much into the comparison trap as we all have. It's time to like my work, like my process and know life happens in seasons and this one is pretty great.
Beginning your art collecting journey can be intimidating. When you think about ART COLLECTING, what comes to mind? A gallery or museum? We like in a time where art is readily available and ALL around us! This makes it easier than ever before to find the art you resonate with and collect what brings you joy! 1. Identify what STYLE of art you like. Is there a specific type of art that your drawn to? Are you looking for a contemporary painting to add to your more modern home or may be a landscape to have a more traditional feel? Do you enjoy bright, vibrant statement pieces, or maybe a more neutral painting that can be moved around the house? Either way, one of the best ways to figure this out is to look at a lot of art. Try searching for artwork on Pinterest or in a general search engine and see what comes up. What do you like about it? Does it make you feel a certain way? Does it spark a memory? Explore away! It’s the only way to figure out what you like!
2. Set a BUDGET. In many ways, this could be step one. Art can be an expensive investment. This is especially true in the case of original art. The great thing about art is that it tends to appreciate with time. An artist prices almost always go up, never trending down. Nevertheless, it’s important to set boundaries and a budget when considering art for your home. Be realistic with your budget. As an artist, I know a first time art buyer is not gonna spend thousands of dollars on their very first piece. Try looking at smaller pieces or works done on paper from an artist that you like. They tend to be more affordable, and a great way to begin your art collecting journey. 3. Follow your FAVORITE ARTISTS and galleries social media and get on their newsletters or email lists. Artists almost always have a NEWSLETTER or some sort of email list that offers sneak peeks at thier upcoming work and can even give you first access or coupons on various sales they run. This is a great way to support the artists that you enjoy following as well as keep up on the most recent work. 4. Purchasing limited edition or signed reproductions a.k.a. PRINTS can be a great way to begin collecting art and how many choose to begin. Prints are an affordable option as well. Many artists offer limited-edition prints of their most popular works. Not only is it a great branch of income but also an opportunity for all walks of life to have access and the opportunity to purchase and enjoy those works. Most reproductions range anywhere from 5 x 7 all the way to 30 x 40 (or larger if you can find a printer) and can be a fraction of the cost compared to its original. 5. Are you looking for something specific or need a certain size, then COMMISSIONS are the way to go. Many artists offer custom pieces of art a.k.a. commissions as a part of their business. This is a specific and tailored to piece of art just for you. When a client approaches me about a commission, we discuss all aspects of the piece. You begin with size and materials and the client's vision. Are you wanting a work on canvas or planning on adding framing to a work on paper? What are the colors in your home? What fabrics and decor are included in the room such as drapery, wallpaper, pillow covers, sofas, etc. Everything is tailored to your specific wants and needs, sometimes even down to details in the painting. Although more expensive (as are most CUSTOM things), commissions could be a great way to begin your art collecting journey, if you were looking for that special one of a kind piece. My motto, eat the cookie, buy the art! Just know, no matter how you choose to begin your art collecting journey or your price point, your support for fine artists means the world and NEVER goes unnoticed from that artist. Many (including myself) do a literal HAPPY DANCE when we see someone has made a purchase and investment in the beauty of their home. You've made someone's day. Samuel Emmit Franks was born on July 29, 2022 at exactly 3 PM weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz., 20 3/4 inches long. The sweetest little bundle ever!
My Sammy was a complete surprise. Having had gone through IVF with Emma, Jeremy and I never thought that we would be able to get pregnant without medical intervention. For Thanksgiving that year (2021), we visited family in Ohio and even though my cycle was late, I did not think anything of it. I couldn’t get pregnant! Not without a Doctor anyway. It wasn’t until I was crying in the backseat of the car on the way home watching Moana with my daughter that I thought something was wrong. Boy was I right! Fast forward a few weeks to a blood test confirming that I was in fact pregnant and we are having a boy. We only have girls in our family, this would be the first boy! This pregnancy was 100% different than my last. I had zero nausea with Sammy. I was also carrying a lot lower, did not have the heartburn as I did with Emma or the trouble breathing but I slept like CRAP every night. No matter, we had a healthy baby growing, and life was good. Around week 28, they started monitoring me a little bit more closely. Fundal measurements started coming back a little smaller than normal, but only a centimeter or so each time. The doctors were not overly concerned, thankfully. Week 38 came and went and my blood pressure remained normal. The Doctor who had delivered Emma was going to be out of town on my due date so at my 39 week appointment, we pre-scheduled an induction for when she would return (nearing my 41 week appointment if I made it that far). I felt at ease because I trusted her, I wasn’t dilated much and we had been through this once before so I knew what to expect. However, Sammy had different plans! My water broke at 11:30 PM that night! I called the physician on staff and they requested I come in as I needed to be put on antibiotics for at least six hours prior to delivery. We called my mom to come sleep over at our house with Emma and checked the midnight run to the hospital off of our bucket list! After we were checked in and put in our delivery room, the nurses started noticing Sammy‘s heart rate dropping periodically on the scans. After a couple hours my labor was progressing but I had lost too much fluid when my water broke. They suggested we insert a catheter that flooded my whom with the fluid he needed. This seemed to help initially but as my contractions got stronger, his heart rate dropped more and more each time. Although I was progressing well, they suggested we add Pitocin to an IV drip to speed up labor. I knew all too well what Pitocin felt like and was ready to get an epidural. I labored naturally until 7 cm and the pain started getting pretty intense, however not unbearable. They had instructed me to let them know an hour or two ahead of time when I thought I would need the epidural as the anesthesiologist was in surgery all day and may take some time to get here. I did as told and got an epidural within five minutes. Hindsight is 2020 as Sammy arrived less than an hour later! Thus began the scariest hour of my life. After the epidural, Jeremy and I stared at the monitor watching his heart rate drop with every contraction and then bouncing right back up when it was over. It was like he was riding the wave with me. The pain management helped the fluctuations partially and it seemed like he was faring better. It wasn’t until the heart rate monitor went silent and we could not find him that I started to panic. The next 30 seconds are still a blur. I remember a flood of nurses and the physician coming into my room. I remember a panicked look on my husband‘s face as he grabbed the heart rate monitor and started searching on my abdomen. One of the nurses strapped an oxygen mask to my face and I knew in that moment I would be wheeled away for an emergency C-section. It wasn’t until Jeremy yelled, “I found it,” that my heart began to settle. Sammy had dropped low into the birth canal. It was time! When the physician checked my dilation, I was well past 10 cm. Everyone scrambled to get the table set up and when they asked if I could push, we saw the head. Two pushes later and Sammy was here! It was as if God himself knew he needed to get into my arms fast! I cannot even begin to describe the fear and happiness I experienced all within an hour. He is the sweetest little boy. Smiles all the time and laughs at anything his sister does. The blessing I didn't know I could have and still do not understand how I deserve it. |
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