THE STORY-Part One

After the Holy Trinity Monastery art show, I was tired. I needed some rest.


How do I rest and relax?

I paint!

I actually even started a new painting early on Sunday morning, before we left for the show.

So, afterwards, I went back to painting on that one for a day or two.

And then, I began one of two paintings for L & L to choose from. L & L are the nice couple who purchased one small painting at HTM and missed out on a bigger one they liked 'cause R and L bought it.

Several days later, we were preparing to put hangers on all of them.

I got L & L's out of the box, where they had been safely stored ever since the show.

OHMIGAWD!!!!!!!!!!

They are warped! The stretcher frames are warped!!!! BADLY!

We start examining all those big canvases I'd been so excited about and almost every one of them is warped to one degree or another.

I will say, flat out, that I felt devastated!

After many, many shows with very few sales, to have my moderate 'success' at HTM, turn into this horrid state of affairs...well...I just can't find the words to describe how low I was over it all.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I reminded myself of this.

I believe that the more things you find to be grateful for, the more things you WILL find to be grateful for.


I felt a small bit of comfort from that truth. I knew, from experience, that eventually I would be able to see the blessing in what, at the moment, felt like a curse.

So now, what to do?

The choices were:

Somehow get canvases fixed.

Re-paint all four paintings on new canvases.

Refund Ron and Lori's money and tell L & L that I'm sorry but I'm never painting again!


Option #1 seemed the best, so I got on the phone and learned that it would cost $65 to have the canvases stretched on new frames. YIKES!

For some reason, I decided to check Craig's List.

And guess what I found?



I am moving to a new studio and I have a surplus of stretcher bar supports that I need to clear out (some just frames, others stretched with canvas and gesso'd).

I can sell them individually or make me an offer for the bunch!


I can also build frames to specific sizes by request (deposit required on large supports). All of my frames are artist grade, made of kiln-dried pine, perfect for anyone from beginner to professional.


I also have other items and frames of alternate sizes available in my studio that I did not mention. Come by and take a look, I am very flexible on pricing!

EUREKA!!!!!!!!

I made contact with this young man and we planned to meet at his studio the next day.

Somehow, the minute we met him, Chuck and I felt he was going to make everything all right. Not just 'all right', but all RIGHT!

And I'll admit it, I cried a little.

I cried in relief and gratitude for the blessings of warped canvases that led me to Brandon's tiny studio where I left my sick canvases and took home four good ones, built by Brandon.

Lesson learned.

I won't be painting on cheap canvases any more.

Period.

There's lots more to this story.

Tune in tomorrow, for part two.

And meantime, don't forget to be grateful in ALL things. What feels real bad just might lead to something real good!