Your reactions and thoughts on 'Artistic Freedom'

[Pawkfox]

Have you ever had that client that goes "I want -this- and -something- around it/in the background. Aside from -this- you have artistic freedom" *Big grin*

This == A statue, a person, point of interest.

Something == No specifics. Artistic freedom.

What are your reactions and how do you go about this.. I'm gonna say "problem" ?

I've gotten this issue from all my clients so far.
And whenever someone say "Artistic freedom" I get goose bumps and shiver all over.

To me it's just a way of saying "do something I don't like and you can kiss your pay goodbye"

[l33t fl33t]

Web designers get that a lot from their clients - one of the reasons why I decided to skip over designer as a career to focus on programming. Now I can demand a detailed, lengthy plan from clients and actually get it!

I'm hardly a person to go to about artistic advice, but I can tell you what I know about contract work - demand them to spell it out and demand that they be as specific as possible. Don't leave room for "artistic freedoms" if they come back and bite you in the ass.

[RyerOrdStar]

I would do several sketches of different approaches and see which way they go. That way you have a better idea of what they're looking for.

They always say they don't "care" what it looks like but really they have a very clear idea of what they want/don't want.

[Craig D]

So you'd rather be a human photocopier than an artist?

[Mock]

So you'd rather be a human photocopier than an artist?

That seems to be stretching what's being discussed here a little bit.

Or a hell of a lot.

What he's talking about is that when you're working for someone and they say "artistic freedom", they very rarely actually mean it. You're still working for them, you are still bound by what they like and don't like, and despite them giving you that freedom, if you come to them with something that follows their specifications to the letter but they don't like what you did with all of that artistic freedom, they can turn around and tell you to go redo it. So it's a big hassle if they aren't able to give you at least some idea of what they want.

It's not being a "human photocopier". It's translating an idea into an image. You're just requesting a more detailed idea to translate.

I would suggest asking them for at least some idea of what they want. A color scheme, a mood, a certain "feel", that way you at least have something to go on.

[Pawkfox]

Good idea Chachia

[Mirana]

Hmm, I have yet to have any big issues with "artistic freedom." I usually go into expecting a certain amount of changes needed...and then the don't want any.

In addition to asking for general themes, you can also state up front that they are getting a certain amount of revisions built in to their commission, or more with an additional fee. This helps you to get more info out of them or else head off any ridiculous amounts of changes.

[CCThrom]

I would do several sketches of different approaches and see which way they go.

Also known as thumbnailing... a very good habit for illustrators.

"Artistic freedom" usually means the client doesn't really have the visuals thought out yet (and hey that is a big part of the illustrator's job), but they will know if they don't like what you come up with... so it's also important to get feedback as early in the process as possible. There will usually be some back-and-forth.

The part that sucks is when a client doesn't know what they really want and waits until you're done before they say you missed the mark.

[bhanu]

When they say artistic freedom...they mean that thats the part they are still uncertain about and may want changes when you do show your own interpretation in art... so yeah I agree with what mirana has to say.
Stand your ground when they ask too many for too many changes...
and asking the right questions is also important...so you can get what the they really want.

[Elwell]

"We don't really know what we want, but we'll know what we don't want as soon as you show us something."