"If we as artists do not respect our work and ourselves as professionals whose time is of value, then how can we expect the rest of the world to take us seriously? I have a contract, I charge a down payment, I hold others to the contract because that is what a professional does."
I realize that there may indeed be 2 schools of thought here. I happen to totally agree with Peggy, as she has stated above, as well as for the following reasons.
A) I feel that a contract is merely clarifying what both parties (client, artist) are getting into. First of all, the client has to do their homework. The need to be well versed on how the artist works, and EXACTLY what their manner of painting is like. If they would feel more comfortable being a part of the entire process, they should be allowed to view the painting in progress. There should be no reason why a client is unhappy with the outcome of a portrait if all this was followed. However, if there is...
B) A contract is insurance for that "Flaky" 1% who are totally clueless as to what they want. They don't know the VALUE of a custom work of art and what's involved...and I don't mean just the hours the brush actually makes contact with the canvas. If we can't help them understand this, why should we be the ones to suffer when they take advantage of us financially and otherwise?
Now, of course, we ALL would do whatever it takes to make people happy...but some are just never satisfied! Back to the doctor example Peggy made..I went to a doctor who gave me a wrong diagnosis. Did I still get a bill for his trouble? You bet I did.
(I'm sorry if I'm getting out of hand here, don't mean to offend). I feel so strongly that if we choose to call ourselves Professional Portrait Painters, we owe it to ourselves to present our person, our business, OUR VOCATION as important as the next guy. There is no reason why we have to continue the legacy of "the destitute artist". We can be successful businesspersons, and still be artists with integrity.
