Collaborative decisions: commissions

This time last year I was writing to you about painting the burnt out forests of the mountain ranges near me, and I'm back at it painting the mountains again this winter. After camping with a friend in the southern Cascades earlier this year, she asked if she could commission a map painting of the range from me. I'd never done something like this before and was curious to give it a go. While every commission process is different, they have some distinct qualities compared to painting on our own. I want to share my process of making this piece and highlight a few tips for helping a commission process go smoothly.