Recently, a friend of mine asked if I’d be willing to do a surprise painting for her husband (they were celebrating their first anniversary and Christmas). Trying to capture another person’s tastes, visions and opinions in a few brush strokes on canvas challenged me. Usually, I let my whims dictate my art, so my work can be moody and ever-changing in direction. This time, I needed to figure out how to balance my own tastes with all I know about another person. The emphasis, of course, being sans Leora.

Painting for Andy turned into one of my favorite projects. I realized how much more fun it is to paint for others (no, not paint by numbers… paint for others). Mainly because you’re asked to step outside of yourself, to think way less about what you love and much more about how to please another person. I think that’s where creativity can really shine–when you aim to capture the hearts of other people with your work.

Here’s Andy’s painting (sideways):

Posted January 4th, 2008 by Leora in personal |