Commissions

For the past several years, I have enjoyed working with a number of patrons here in the Los Angeles area on works which have had to fit a specific space, or just be different from anything available in my inventory.

Years ago, when I was an (angry) young man, the thought of catering to my patrons was repulsive to me. In fact, I scrawled on the wall of my studio "If you don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree." Guess I've mellowed with age, and have also come to realize that up until a hundred years ago, most art was done on commission with no notion of compromise to the artist's vision or integrity. Of course it's still fun to cut loose in my studio and push clay, glazes, imagination and skill to the limits. I learn a lot from pushing limits. But working within parameters set by my patrons sparks yet another aspect of my artistic sensibility, and the results are often as edgy and satisfying as the work I do with no constraints. Go figure.

For example, some folks really liked a wall sculpture in one of my galleries, but the relief was too high--they wanted a piece for an outdoor dining are and were afraid their guests would hit their heads on it when they got up from the table. They also thought the colors on another sculpture would go better with their brick pavers. They now have a wall-hugging, brick-colored piece of my art in their garden, and the lady called the other day to tell me "it is exquisite." Works for me--and them!