Be careful what you wish for

Ok, so I was competing for a few different full time jobs at the same time (obviously with  other candidates) – and it’s been pretty stressful.  One job had the safety and security of my mothers kitchen – the other is a job that has potential to evolve into something really great, but starts out in the (over-qualified department.)

The safe job had a bit more freedom with flex time, where as the other job has great perks with a bit more structure to the time off.  The safe job would be predictable & maybe get potentially stale – the other is a bit more exiting in an ever changing industry that I know well from my past work-life.  I was really tied in a knot and needed to choose (if given a choice) the job that would allow me to work and still dedicate time for my artwork.

So I didn’t get the safe job, but that was in State Government (where I’ve been a long-term temp) and well – let’s say I was the first pick but some politics came into play and some strings were pulled & someone else got that job. 

 Here’s the thing, I got the other job – it promises to evolve into a nice career path in less than a years time.  As I said, it is in an industry that I have worked in for many years prior to 9/11. This job is with a company that is surprising me at every turn with how well they seem to treat their employees.  After two interviews I was impressed, and offered an opportunity to work with this company.  I have to quote my mother here – as she told me (after I didn’t get the State job) – that it might have felt like it held me down & wasn’t funky enough.  I’m starting to feel like mother knows best.   So how does working full time again meld into making my art work for me?  Well, I will have an opportunity to travel with the new company; exploring new places (inspiration….for paintings) – I also know from past experience that this type of job will be a job I won’t be taking home with me mentally or physically (unlike some of my past jobs in management.) Studio time after dinner (or before) and on weekends is likely.  Of course this is the perfect time to convince my husband to get help with the cleaning again.

I plan to continue daily blogs (with possibly a bit of a breather on the weekends so I can paint.) But I will blog then if I can.

I think this is a good path – now I can relax and stop searching the want ads and bugging my headhunters and concentrate on art shows.

Thanks for reading my blog 

Tony the Toyger

Tony the Toyger - qsell

Acrylic Cat Painting Original Art 8×8 Wood Table Easel $60.00

Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek

Keeping your head on straight

Ever have so many variables going on with situations in your life, that you can barely keep your head on straight? That’s me right now.  Not that I have to have certainty at all times, but it seems like I maybe have three or four situations that are undeterimed.  Of course all of them will have happy or unhappy endings from today until mid-December – but until then I can just take a deep breath and eat dark chocolate.  I have learned that in my mature age that obsessing over “what ifs” is a bad idea for me.  It hasn’t kept me from trying to control my stress in healthy ways though – going to the gym, um, chocolate’s healthy, right?  I guess my husband is right and patience is not one of my big selling points, but patience is over-rated – or not, I am just to antsy to practice good patience.

I guess at the end of the day, writing this is therputic and all I can do is try to forge forward and figure that maybe things will work out the way they are supposed to.  That doesn’t always mean it will be the way I want it or the easy way.  Life works in mysterious ways.  Thanks for reading.

Upcoming shows you don’t want to miss!

If you are in the Greater Portland, Maine Area – check out these really amazing art shows!

East End Community School on North Street in Portland on

the top of Munjoy Hill
Friday, November 30 from 6-9pm
Saturday, December 1st from 10am-6pm

Sunday, December 2nd from 10am-4pm

And

The 5th Year of Fraser Art Studio Group Holiday Art and Gift Sale

81 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101

Friday December 7th 5pm-9pm

Saturday December 8th 10am-6pm

Sunday December 9th 10am-4pm

Work by myself as well as many other talented artists and craftsmen will be on display and available for purchase.

For more information email me at lorirae@wetpaintstudios.com
 

 

Professionally printed cards, based on Lori Rae’s Vintage Car paintings, Red Hat Society Original Painting & of course the Snowman (this year the original was created in oil.) – These are now available for purchase. Each card does have a slight white border around the image and measures 6.50 x 4.25, and the inside is blank . The back of the Car Cards identifies the car make and model as well as the name of the painting, IE: Maggie – 1959 Chevy Impala.  The back of the Red Hat Card tells you how to order more – The snowman is a 2007 limitied edition (one season only) design and these are while supplies last. 

Each card comes with an envelope and a great Thank You, I Miss You, or just Thinking of you Card for anyone you choose.For more information about these Note Cards, see wetpaintstudios.com

Wet Paint Studios (est. 2001) is the passion of Maine Artist Lori Rae who has been painting Pet portraits for art customers over the last year plus. 

. Description and more:

• Prints of Original Artwork in Notecard
• Professionally Printed 
• Envelope Included
• Blank inside
• Artist Information on the back of the card
• Each Card represents a painting noted with it’s title (or name)
• Size is A-2 or 5.5″ x 4.25″ and takes regular postage now .41cents
• Each image has a 1/2 inch white border framing the picture

These are priced special for Ebay, get them at this great deal while you can

Blank Note Cards On Sale this Week! - qsell

$15.00 $5.40 $8.00

Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek

Black Friday Art Blitz

A Black Friday Blitz of Artwork - qsell

Cat Art Painting Original Animal Artwork Oil Canvas 8×8 $60.00 Acrylic Cat Painting Original Art 8×8 Wood Table Easel $60.00 Vintage Car Note Cards Classic Car notecards Maine Art $5.40 Oil Cat Painting Original Art 8×8 Wood Table Easel $60.00 Snowman Note Cards Blank Thank You Cards Set of 8 $8.00 Cat Painting Acrylic Canvas Cats Painting Maine Artist $60.00

Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek

With the recent sale of one of my cat paintings I decided that it “may” have been purchased as a gift.  Since I did not want to all the non-virtual store fronts to have all the fun on Black Friday (or the Day after Thanksgiving) - I decided that I would list several items (staggering a bit) for action starting today – this thursday all ending at some point next week.  At that point I will go back to my one painting per week for just a few weeks – then on December 9th I will blitz again for one week with last minute ideas.  It is with great thanks to the community on and offline that supports the arts that this time of year normally trims down my inventory.  I am still giving some thought to switching subject matter in 2008, which makes my cat paintings that much more valuable.  Look for new posts tonight, tomorrow, tomorrow night and thursday. PINK is my current primary auction & shes a cutie!  Also, a few people have asked about the cat cards….they will be back on ebay if supplies hold out after non-virtual holiday sales – look for these December 9th.

Thank you for your support!

PINK – My latest Ebay Cat Painting

”PINK” My latest Ebay Auction - qsell

Cat Painting Acrylic Canvas Cats Painting Maine Artist $60.00

Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek

Very Funny Cat Cartoon on UTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbqQcI-b9uI

Holiday Shows

I love doing Holiday Shows because generally people are really cheerful.  Unlike the crowd at the mall with the cranky faces & angry parking lot altrications; the people that come to annual art and craft shows really want to be there.  It’s something new, rare, a once-a-year-event and there is always new talent and products.  I find that most people are pleasant and nice to talk to.  I have three different venues for Holiday Shows this year and they are all really different.  One is all barter (not just for art, for lots of different things) – and last year I moved much of my older artwork at that show.  This year I will also offer this group Holiday Cards – Cat Cards – and limited selection of some of my newer work.  One show is three days!  Yikes, I am having a friend help me for this show-it’s too much to set up on my own, plus I have many products that require some attention (mix and match cards, you pick the number.)  The good news about the second show is that once you set up, you are all set for three days!  The last show is a group show with a gang that I have been with for five years.  It is in a friend’s studio and this group and I all take shifts to work the show!  After December 9th, sans some last minute holiday commissions, I get a bit of an art sabatical (at least til the first of the year.)

I have been preparing for these shows all year, but I really put in my time next week and next weekend.

Thanks for checking out my blog