Rod
06-03-2010, 11:33 AM
I plastered a panel (literally - Venetian style) last Wednesday and bumped it in front of my bird projects over the weekend. It has progressed quite well so far and has been pretty well received by those who have seen it. So I am now a little closer to my goal of three panels and a snowboard within the next month. Pretty happy about this... And my big black bird is going so smoothly it's actually making me a little nervous.
My kitchen sink customer (the guy who wants EVERYTHING, +, etc. on his bike) got put on hold to push through a helmet for a customer who just happens to be chief of police for a small city/town just outside of Edmonton. It was a fun project that I put wayyyy more time into than Cherie would have liked. hehehe As you can see, I obviously can't post it without giving inspirational props to Fitto. But it was one of the first projects I've done in years that didn't start out by being masked off. I just sketched with a stabilo and started squirting paint on it. I believe his words were: "I can't believe it's my helmet!" And that provided a much appreciated and timely ego boost.
We leave for licensing show in Las Vegas on Monday. This has been a source of incredible stress and excitement for us over the last few weeks. But everything is pretty well in place now and we are shifting gears from "how the hell are we gonna make this happen????" to "how the hell are we gonna make this be both profitable and beneficial?!?!" (I'm much less worried about the latter... phew!) It has become apparent that not focusing on long term and future income possibilities puts us in the uncomfortable position of relying on unpredictable customers and chasing money all the time. It's too tiresome and stressful for me to handle without Cherie’s help - so I need to fertilize other avenues if I ever hope to break this cycle.
I can't bring up the licensing show without being reminded of how Diana and the people of this site made my last trip to this show in New York possible 2 years ago. A customer bailed on payment on us at the last minute (literally) - so Diana put everything on hold and promoted a print sale here that financed/made our trip possible. THANK YOU again… I’ll never forget that.
Finally. (I’m sure I’ve thrown away any interest you may have had by now - but am going to vent a little for my own sanity’s sake.)
For a few reasons, I had to ask someone for a favor to cement our upcoming trip. Yes, it was financial - but was more shuffle than loan. This person took the opportunity to insinuate things and belittle me. It even went so far as a comment in regards to my abilities as a parent. The worst part of all of this is that the ‘favor’ wasn’t entirely necessary… It was simply a little help to make things go more smoothly. Since moving out at 17 I think I can distinctly remember every single time I’ve asked anybody for anything. Partly because it is embarrassing, partly because of inevitable strings typically attached, and mostly because I do pride myself in trying hard to make my own way through this life. So it really pains me that, for the second time in my life, I am so close to telling my own father, in no uncertain terms, where he can stick his opinions etc. Even though it brought how he views me and my profession to the table - and I guess that’s nice to know and will save a lot of future posturing, the price of asking for this favor was still far greater than I anticipated… And not something I’ll do again.
Phew! Thanks!!!
A little bittersweet as it wraps up - but still an exciting, eventful, and paintfilled week. How was yours?!?!
Rod
Tune: I think this will be my anthem and psych up song for the weekend... I need to puff my chest a little and boldly go on.
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My kitchen sink customer (the guy who wants EVERYTHING, +, etc. on his bike) got put on hold to push through a helmet for a customer who just happens to be chief of police for a small city/town just outside of Edmonton. It was a fun project that I put wayyyy more time into than Cherie would have liked. hehehe As you can see, I obviously can't post it without giving inspirational props to Fitto. But it was one of the first projects I've done in years that didn't start out by being masked off. I just sketched with a stabilo and started squirting paint on it. I believe his words were: "I can't believe it's my helmet!" And that provided a much appreciated and timely ego boost.
We leave for licensing show in Las Vegas on Monday. This has been a source of incredible stress and excitement for us over the last few weeks. But everything is pretty well in place now and we are shifting gears from "how the hell are we gonna make this happen????" to "how the hell are we gonna make this be both profitable and beneficial?!?!" (I'm much less worried about the latter... phew!) It has become apparent that not focusing on long term and future income possibilities puts us in the uncomfortable position of relying on unpredictable customers and chasing money all the time. It's too tiresome and stressful for me to handle without Cherie’s help - so I need to fertilize other avenues if I ever hope to break this cycle.
I can't bring up the licensing show without being reminded of how Diana and the people of this site made my last trip to this show in New York possible 2 years ago. A customer bailed on payment on us at the last minute (literally) - so Diana put everything on hold and promoted a print sale here that financed/made our trip possible. THANK YOU again… I’ll never forget that.
Finally. (I’m sure I’ve thrown away any interest you may have had by now - but am going to vent a little for my own sanity’s sake.)
For a few reasons, I had to ask someone for a favor to cement our upcoming trip. Yes, it was financial - but was more shuffle than loan. This person took the opportunity to insinuate things and belittle me. It even went so far as a comment in regards to my abilities as a parent. The worst part of all of this is that the ‘favor’ wasn’t entirely necessary… It was simply a little help to make things go more smoothly. Since moving out at 17 I think I can distinctly remember every single time I’ve asked anybody for anything. Partly because it is embarrassing, partly because of inevitable strings typically attached, and mostly because I do pride myself in trying hard to make my own way through this life. So it really pains me that, for the second time in my life, I am so close to telling my own father, in no uncertain terms, where he can stick his opinions etc. Even though it brought how he views me and my profession to the table - and I guess that’s nice to know and will save a lot of future posturing, the price of asking for this favor was still far greater than I anticipated… And not something I’ll do again.
Phew! Thanks!!!
A little bittersweet as it wraps up - but still an exciting, eventful, and paintfilled week. How was yours?!?!
Rod
Tune: I think this will be my anthem and psych up song for the weekend... I need to puff my chest a little and boldly go on.
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