Purchase Order as Inspiration

When my schedule is full, I am happy. When it's overfull I am stressed out and have difficulties tapping in to the creative muse. When it's empty I am also stressed out and immobile. So my best times are after receiving purchase orders. Even the promise of a PO soothes me.

I am starting a new grid painting (shown above). This one will be painted stretched, and should be easier that way. We'll see. I have attached my dollar bill to the canvas for a sense of scale. It looks huge to me. I have already marked off the grid pattern, which I did with my very helpful assistant (whom I could not do without). It took about five minutes. I measured it off then snapped chalk lines.

My friend Karen Jacobs kindly related her process for flattening curled paintings (see the landscape in the foreground left of the photo above). I'll try it before I get out the iron.

Was happy to receive two important phone calls yesterday. One was from a dealer on the West coast wanting art. Business is really good he says. He needs more art. This is a guy who has been in the business for more than ten years, and I've probably known him almost that long myself. He has had his own company for a few years now, and has become quite successful. We know the same people in the industry for the most part, and I'm flattered that he keeps calling me even when I don't have time to paint for him. He says I am a good artist and easy to work with. That's nice to hear. So he flatters me, and I produce.

The other phone call was from someone I had sent an email to announcing my upcoming month in France. It seems he has me booked for several projects that I bid way last year and didn't know about. Looks like I will be busy up until I get on the plane to Toulouse. Just like I like it!