Commissioned Art Case Study - The Water Lilies

Phase 1: Capturing the Essence

The client's vision was heartfelt: to capture the beauty of the water lilies in their pond. This wasn't merely about replicating a scene; it was about concentrating a feeling into a piece of original art.

Observation and Respect: For this recent commission, I was granted the luxury of time, which allowed me to take a slightly different, and profoundly beautiful, path. The customer's vision was simple and heartfelt: to capture the fleeting beauty of the water lilies in their pond. What I discovered, however, truly deepened my respect for the subject: the water lily only blooms for a single day. To me that ephemeral nature didn’t diminish its existence but just made its profound beauty all the more precious (to any eye that catches it.)

Intuitive Incubation: After visiting the pond on the lilies' singular flowering day to capture this essence in photos, I began my quiet, intensive phase of mental creatio. While many artists jump straight into sensory exploration with brushes, I prefer to simply live with the images. I allow the compositions to fully coalesce, letting the finished artwork organically and intuitively take shape, rather than forcing it.

Each detail, from colour, to composition, lighting, perspective and material choice was meticulously considered before the synthetic paper was laid down. I used to think I was procrastinating during this phase, but now I truly understand that it's an essential, foundational element of my creative process.

Phase 2: The Alchemy

Vibrant Foundation: The physical creation began with small-scale experiments using alcohol inks to ensure that I achieved the perfect, luminous range of tones and shades. The inks were then applied to the surface, where I lovingly encourage their movement using various methods, from the precision flow of paintbrushes and an airbrush, to the dynamic 'blooming' of colours to capture that unique, watery energy of the background. Once I was happy the vibrant foundation was carefully sealed.

Layering the Narrative: Next, the lilies themselves were born. Starting with acrylic pen sketches, I built them up in layers with acrylic paint, moving from darker tones up to the brightest whites to recreate their physical form. Subtle shadows were then introduced with soft coloured pencils, built up in delicate washes. Throughout this entire process, the artwork was prominently displayed so it could be viewed in the changing daylight. This constant, gentle observation ensured that every corner, down to the smallest detail, received the attention it deserved.

The Final Touch : My final loving touch was the addition of gold leaf - a shimmering highlight designed to honour and capture that precious, fleeting moment of the blooms' presence.

Phase 3: Final Reflection and delivery

True mastery is knowing when to step away.

Once I felt that the final details were complete, I then stepped away from the finished work, leaving it displayed for a few days. This allowed me to simply sit with it, ensuring that the initial vision had been faithfully and beautifully concentrated into that single, final piece of art for my valued client.