How to do a sculpture commission and get rich and famous

overnight

This is a no doubt misguided attempt to inform you about

public commissions and using computer CAD

in one slide talk

ok...

First, get a commission

Familiarize yourself with the site. You must visit, if only to display your sincerity to the client. Read the blueprints. It’s the way to get the dimensions of the space and a knowledge of how it’s constructed, where foot traffic is and what your sculpture will be secured to.

Take photos if the site is finished. It is often still under construction.

Then read the contract

Read it again

... and again

Insurance provisions are the worst...

The good part!

happy? confident?optimistic?on drugs?

then.........

Come up with a really cool idea, theme or composition for your project. It must fit the space, how the space is used, what it’s used for and by whom.

I picked crime in the US - info from a wikipedia article. They got it from the FBI so it’s probably reliable

Reduce and/or shape the graph/sculpture to fit the space.

This does not change the information, only the shape

Trace the graph

Use the CAD software to draw a 3D pipe in ‘wireframe’. Select a size, which can be done by dragging the image, or using numeric inputs

Fit the pipe over the chart

Do it again for the next segment, etc,then make lines where you want to trim the pipes

Trim the pipes and fit together

Keep on keeping on

Add other elements you’ve made with the CAD

Pick color, texture, point of view and ‘render’

What, you want smooth?

smooth the chart line byapplying Bezier curve smoothing

do an ‘extrude along path,’ where the chart line is the path. the circle makes a pipe

Apply texture and color and render

Put the sculpture in the space and wow the client

You should probably remove those planters. Also, add shadows to make it look real

Present the sculpture in multiple views. NEVER overestimate the ability of the client to visualize the

project. Make it really clear.

Drawings are good...

Again, multiple views, in proper scale to the space

Models are even better as they are readily understood...

Model

Realized sculpture

ModelRealized

sculpture

People are dazzled by CAD animations...

all they are, are many CAD renderings of the thing in the space, from any points of view, and then played back at 24 fps

They like your sculpture and accepted it! Congratulations!

Now the work starts...

Unless you have a world-class studio with tools for all materials at any scale, you need to make detailed drawings of the sculpture itself, and all the individual pieces.

In this case you need to specify

• materials

• the size of the pipe(s) in diameter and length

• how and where it bends

• how it will be finished: color, surface texture, weather protection, etc

• how will the pieces will fasten together; welds, bolts, a combination?

• engineering: can it hold itself up, even in 100mph winds? snow? kids climbing on it?

• you will probably have to provide engineering studies to prove that no one will be hurt• these will have to be checked and approved by the client’s engineers• if rejected, make design changes and re-engineer

• how it will sit in the space: on a base? anchored in the ground? hung from a ceiling?

• is your commission in a union town, like SF, Chicago or NY?

• if yes, then you will need to hire a union crew to install the sculpture• which union: carpenters, masons, steel workers, electrical, plumbers, some of each?• my advice: make the job available and let them work out who gets it• being in a middle of a union squabble can be uncomfortable

• if no, you will need to hire an installation crew anyway• insurance requires installation on public or corporate property by licensed contractors. you don’t have a contractor’s license

• all these things are YOUR responsibility; it says so in the contract• so, you must be on-site when everything happens

• packing• shipping• receiving at the site• unpacking• installation

• these obligations will require you to travel, pay for lodging, rent a car, feed yourself, etc• all this comes out of your budget

there are a thousand other considerations...

Is this enough money? Can I pay for engineering, materials, fabrication, storage, shipping, travel, room and board, installation, insurance and many other items with this amount?

If so, can I make any profit?

I don’t mean to discourage. But... many artists have gone into similar projects full of optimism and energy, and come out broke.

Large scale commissions is a BUSINESS. You must treat it like one and be businesslike. It is not romantic: idealism has it’s place when you initially design the piece. Thereafter your life is that of the small business person: contracts, insurance, plans, time-tables, communications, bookkeeping.

BTW...Computers have become essential to all of this. If you don’t like

computers, stay away from being a small business person.

With sufficient energy and persistence, you can end up with your art being seen—and hopefully enjoyed—by many people for a long time

Good luck!!Have fun!!