"Art Director"

When you work in the commercial end of art, the artist has many bosses. Usually the top job is the art director. The art director doesn't really create art, he oversees the process. He guides and maneuvers the job to the vision of the client. I take on this task today with my son, Casey. He has a school project to draw the Alamo and it has to depict a certain time before reconstruction. He is responsible for the drawing you see here. I just furnished the material and the guidance, but in the end he can take my advice or go it on his own. This is the pencil drawing he made and today he will finish the piece by adding color and detail to his drawing. It's very hard for me not to press my beliefs onto him and his project, but I bite my tongue and watch. He really does have a talent, but I want him to be more than a frustrated artist. The life of a painter or artist is complicated and brutal, your vision may not be what other people's is and you must stay true to your beliefs. This doesn't always make you popular or much money. I hope for both of my kids a life without the frustration that this job brings. We will bring you the finished piece tomorrow. Enjoy!