It’s time for an interview with the California Artist. There are questions out there about the commissioned oil painting, and the interviewer is very curious.

Why did you accept the commission to put the parents in the painting?

I am not exactly sure – because I wanted the job? Because I like challenges? Because how will I learn if I don’t attempt it? Because I took a blow to the head in some distant past that damaged my ability to say no? Because he was very insistent and I am weak under pressure?

Did you charge him more because it involves a portrait?

Nope.

Did you just say “nope”?

Yep.

For Pete’s sake, why DIDN’T you charge him more? 

Ummmm, because I have a price list based on size, not on difficulty. Because it might not turn out. Because I am weak. Because I was unprepared. Because I don’t paint portraits and didn’t have a plan.

You aren’t really that desperate for work, are you?

Never desperate, always eager. I want to make hay while the sun shines, strike while the iron is hot, and any other cliche you can think of that means GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WHILE GETTING PAID!

But what if the parents don’t turn out?

I have an escape route! I told Mr. Put-My-Parents-In-The-Painting two important things: 1. He MUST tell me if he doesn’t like them because I MUST have happy customers. 2. If he doesn’t like them and I can’t fix them to his satisfaction, I get to paint them out.

Won’t that look like a mess?

With oil paint, it is fairly easy to cover over mistakes. In pencil, after a certain amount of erasing, a shadow often remains and is hard to cover.

How is the painting coming along?

I’m so glad you asked that question! Have a look at the progress: