Maquettes and Proposals - The Creative Process
Maquettes (sculptor’s model) and design proposals form a large part of the work for an artist when making art for public places.
Proposal
A Proposal is usually a brief text document, a CV, an artist’s statement, and an outline concept with some visuals/drawings and slide/CD portfolio. These are submitted to the client and used in the selection process. Many proposals will not get past this stage: There is a lot of art that simply never gets made - remaining in the portfolio as examples of the artist’s creative language and approach to new projects.
Selection
Depending on the number of artists the selection panel and project manager would then shortlist the artists and ask one or a small number of them to develop the idea further. When the artist is finally commissioned they will normally under take several stages in the commission process:
•Exchange of contract
•Research & Consultation
•Design development
•Detailed design
•Fabrication
•Installation
Process
The artist may well produce studies or maquettes throughout the process to aid discussion and resolve three dimensional and fabrication problems. They are a bit like sketching in 3D and will often be quite rough. In larger commissions the artist may well make an architectural model or scale model of the sculpture. Increasingly artists creating large scale engineered pieces are using virtual 3D modelling with CAD based computer programs in there presentations. Most artists working in this field are capable of high quality computer graphic format collages of the maquettes in situ.
The research and consultation phase may well produce a collage type presentation to capture the essence of workshops, input from the client and research of the contextual themes of the site.
Design development means that the preliminary concepts are take into the next stage with drawings and maquettes investigating the artwork. The will also allow the artist get an idea of the budget and focus on the materials. Initial consultation with fabricators and other relevant professionals takes place at this time. The artist must then get agreement from the client to move onto the detailed design required for fabrication.
Fabrication
Depending on the nature of the artwork the artist may be involved in physically making the work themselves but most contemporary art for public places will inevitably mean professional assistance and labour.
The detailed design of highly engineered pieces will involve technical drawings and scale models to assist with the fabrication and get a final cost of the artwork. At this stage the commission is very much a team effort to get the artwork made. It may involve structural engineers, landscape architects, surveyors, building contractors, craftsmen and fabricators.
Installation
The Installation of the work is also a team effort with the fabricator and any other professionals and contractors necessary in the design and preparation of the site. The client will then formally accept the work and the artist will submit a maintenance document and passing the legal ownership and responsibility for artwork to the client. The artist retains copyright of their artwork and all the preliminary studies. The public have a contribution to their sense of place and hopefully an enhancement of their environment.
Ownership and Long-Term Maintenance
This is an essential aspect of the contract with the client, and should be negotiated with all parties at the earliest stage of the commission.