Monday, February 22, 2010

Box


Exactly 17 days after my first attempt at buying materials for my first painting, a small box from FedEx jammed full with 6 yards of canvas was sitting on my doorstep when I returned from the store this morning. Also, to add a new level complication to my system of purchasing canvas and stretchers is the fire over the weekend at Philadelphia International Records at Broad and Spruce in Philly, in the same building as Utrecht, where I usually buy stretchers. If there is a God, he is certainly having fun with me. At least I can finally start.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Waiting For The Man

Today is sunday and its been exactly one week since I placed my order with Pearl Paint for my canvas. I realize there were weather issues here in the Northeast but 3-5 days have come and gone. This is beginning to remind me a little too much of a certain UPS situation from August and September '09. Do I have to start writing scathing e-mails again? Maybe I'm blacklisted from package services. My only friend in the shipping business these days is the good old USPS. The guy likes my dog, that makes him OK in my book. Plus I always make sure my sidewalks are clear when there is snow on the ground.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Life's Little Hurdles

Maybe God doesn't want me to paint The Meadowlands. Pearl Paint on South Street in Philly is gone, as I learned when I went there last Friday, so I bought canvas at Utrecht, but they don't sell the 52" rolls I usually get (which fit nicely on 48" paintings). This first one I want to do will be 48" x 72". Utrecht had squares of canvas, so I bought a 77" x 2yd square, thinking the 2yd side would have a little extra, but it didn't. So I ordered a 53" x 6yd Fredrix roll from Pearl online, knowing I would have to wait a few days for the FedEx guy before I could start. I thought at least it would be here by the end of the week, but now the weather forecast is looking rather bleak. If snow stopped the USPS last Saturday, I couldn't imagine FedEx making deliveries Wednesday or Thursday in the snow they're calling for. So now I wait. And wait...

Saturday, February 6, 2010

FMFTS Update

I beat the weather yesterday and got materials for the first painting. Giant piles of snow would have made for treacherous parking in downtown Philly next week, adding to the challenge would be trying to maneuver my 22-month old son around with me on snow/slush/ice covered sidewalks. Now I'm ready, and I'll be painting for the first time in about 5 months starting next week.