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Recently I was contacted by a couple who are decking out their new Sydney apartment as their main residence. They had been introduced to my work via a mutual friend and wanted me to create a couple of pieces for their living and dining spaces. Over a coffee we discussed what they were looking for to ensure I was the one to be able to provide it, however by the end of the conversation I discovered that I was in a position of receiving an 'open commission'. Basically, do what I want to do within the cost, size and decor colour constraints.

Ok, this may sound like an artists dream job but in a way it's a very scary prospect. My clients are trusting that I will read them well enough to create something that will resonate with them and their home and as far as I'm concerned it is an honor and privilege but much harder than going into the studio and creating for creating sake!

For the dinning space we agreed on a charcoal. A 'talking piece'. Looking at the other art on their walls for clues as to their tastes I discovered they were seasoned travellers with a penchant for exotic places and people. What else? From our conversation I learned that they were abreast of current affairs both domestically and abroad and were generally fairly content in their skins. So where did this leave me? Happy! 'The Gift' is my interperetation of a conversation starter for these particular clients. An old, weathered, joyful Afgan who beams with a joy we perhaps don't expect of one living in Afganistan in this day and age. Has he received a gift? Or given one? Is his gift to us the joy of his smile or the reminder of people and places seemingly worlds away? 

Whilst I strive to capture the depth and enormity of a range of emotion in my works, there is somthing very satisfying in knowing that a joyful work will quite possibly uplift and inspire onlookers to feel a similar emotion within themselves even while reminding them to think beyond their own daily experiences.

This open commission was a 'gift' to me too!