I send this letter out with the completed portrait, SASE and a 20.00US deposit:
Dear , XX XX 2013
I have been working on this project over the past couple of years in which I am asking your involvement. It started as a local project with many assumptions, and has turned out to be far more interesting then I had presumed. I am interested in your response.
The parameters:
My only instructions are 'Finish this'. I am not interested in discussing it or providing any further information/instructions until it is done. There is not time limit, but don't hesitate to request anything that makes it easier or expedient in shipping it back. I have enclosed a SASE.
I have sent you a 20.00US deposit, and will send you a 50.00US payment plus a photograph of the finished piece printed on a sheet 13” x 9.5” soon after I receive the piece back.
Here is my initial intent for investigation?
Collaboration? or maybe not, another investigation into the process of making.
I
have always wondered about what constitutes collaboration, from the
traditions of the atelier to the contracting of an other to produce
work under one's name. The question really formulated when i
saw an Francesco Clemente show sometime back where he had
employed/commissioned/contracted Indian teenaged miniaturists to
paint the backgrounds on a series of his drawings. I do not
recall any attribution to the painters he had employed. There
is an historical tradition to this.
I decided to investigate
this myself. I am lucky enough to work with an artist group,
or rather work for this artist group documenting their work.
I
have embarked on painting small portraits of each of them on piece
of primed luan 1/4" ply, leaving the surrounding area
primed for their 'response'. I have attempted to compose the
image to give them a lot of latitude with the approach they could
take. I pay them a 20.00USD down payment, give them the
portrait with the only instructions to finish the painting with no
time limit to completion. They have questioned what I wanted,
my only response is that it is up to them. Upon returning the
piece, I pay them 50.00USD.
Simply, I am commissioning you to finish the painting. Enclosed is a 20.00US deposit, you will receive 50.00US upon completion. It is yours to define 'Finished'.
Looking forward to your response,
gabriel Romeu, 609 291 8624