I Sold My First Painting!

[Watch the 3-minute video (bottom of the page) to see my complete painting process and up close details of the artwork.]

Having given away more than 300 paintings for free or as donations to nonprofits, I unexpectedly accepted a commission. This project not only inspired me to work on a 12-foot composition based on a Claude Monet masterpiece, but it also helped to establish a valuation range for people who already have my paintings. Let me tell you about what happened…

Out of the Blue

In January, I received an inquiry from someone who wanted to know if I could create a large composition for them based on Monet’s “Green Reflections,” which is a 27-foot-wide diptych on permanent exhibit at l’Orangerie in Paris. Apparently, they found me on the Internet and saw that I lived a little more than an hour away. So, I invited them to visit my studio to discuss the idea.

Andree and Mark (“A&M”) came over about a week later, and we discussed what they wanted and potential problems: The dimensions of their wall were different than Monet’s, so I cut and pasted in Photoshop to create a new version. The canvases would be recessed into existing wainscoting and molding, but I found a company that could stretch heavy-duty canvases on thinner, aluminum stretcher bars to nicely fit A&M’s wall space.

Another issue was that although I study Monet, I have my own unique style. However, A&M assured me that they liked my paintings, and I could vary from Monet’s approach to “Green Reflections.” I started to feel excited about the possibilities.

But sell a painting? I have reasons for “Why I Give My Paintings Away” and wasn’t sure if I would be willing to take a paid commission. After discussing it with my wife, Lindsey, and a couple of friends, I had a price in mind that I would be willing to accept. A&M agreed, paid a $1,000 deposit, and we got started—with my stipulation that they were not obligated to accept the finished piece if it didn’t meet their expectations.

The Painting Process

When we first met, I showed them various print and online images of Monet’s “Green Reflections” and explained why the colors differed in each picture, even though the subject was the same. They didn’t like certain Monet greens and preferred more blue. To clarify the palette, I mocked up several color sketches:

Eventually, A&M selected a palette based on what I’d used during “My Year of Monet” that had only one blue (French Ultramarine), which would be challenging:

Once I’d undercoated the two 72″ x 48″ canvases with a rusty orange, I painted for about three months. Most of the time, they were perpendicular to each other. That saved me studio space, but the lighting was inconsistent. To see them in full, natural lighting, I took them outside. That gave me a better understanding of the composition’s flow, but it was a pain in the backside (literally!) to repeatedly carry them up and down a flight of stairs. Here are a few photos that show my progress in painting “Reflections of Monet.” [To see the entire process in 3-minutes, watch the video at the bottom of this page.]

Completing the Transaction

Fortunately, A&M loved the painting and paid the balance of our agreed upon $11,000 for the commission. Not bad for a first sale! This was a whole new experience for me, and I liked that my paintings now have a basis for financial value. However, I will still continue to give paintings away and donate them for fundraisers. [Nine “Coastal Paintings” are available through September 30, 2024.]

“Reflections of Monet” perfectly fit the intended space in their hallway. They had lighting specially installed and hung an ornate mirror on the opposite wall. When walking down the hallway with the water lilies on either side, one feels a similar sensation to being immersed in Monet’s “Green Reflections” and Grande Decorations at Musee l’Orangerie, which is what A&M had wanted to achieve.

Watch the Video: