I had an idea to paint two similar paintings as a mirror reflection of each other pretty much simultaneously. What landed on there is my favorite zen theme: a Buddha sitting under Sakura. And how easily it sold made me write this post.
One of the twins.
These paintings are in rather unusual size 6 x 2 feet (183 x 61cm). How it came about is that I walked inside the art shop on Granville Island (Vancouver) where I buy most of my art supplies (besides oil paints, that I get shipped from Europe), and saw those two canvases sitting in the corner. I usually don't buy canvases in art store. They are not good enough for what I want to deliver to my clients. But I thought: it's long and slim, unusual dimension, let's just have fun and paint something quick and panoramic.
Twins together. You get a better idea of the size seeing me in there:)
Usually I either stretch my own (12 duck canvas on my hand made frames), or I have them custom made by a specialist who does only that. The price is multiple times higher than in the art stores, but the quality is much better. I would not feel good asking $10k for a painting which was painted on a cheap canvas and flimsy frame, that will probably twist over time.
Full 6 feet size
I know it's off the subject of Buddha sitting under Cherry blossom tree, but I think it might benefit few of you if I mention that. Plus it actually is related to Buddha. It's about abundance mentality. The day when I realized that my time is way more precious than saving $200 on a canvas if I make it on my own, was a pivotal day. Soak this in:You will be valued by others, and all that you create, exactly in the same way as you value yourself.
There's only one thing you cannot multiply in this life: THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.
You can make billions of $, you can land pretty girls in your bed if that's what you want, you can even have your legs or penis prolonged if it's missing few inches.
But you can't stretch your life by one second. It was decided the day you were born and you happily agreed to it (let's elaborate on that subject other time). And if you believe that you can, just change my statement to this: you can't stretch the 24 hours in one day by a second.
This is how the story started.
I repeat: You will be valued by others, and all that you create, exactly in the same way as you value yourself. If you waste half of your day building a canvas to save $, you are sending this message to universe: “My skill is worth less than $200 bucks. I'd rather do something that I don't like doing cause it saves me money.”
That time could be used to hone your skill, and how you perfect your skill will reflect in your craft, proportionate to two things: time you put in and rock solid belief in your priceless-ness.
I look at my hand, and I see a hand of gold. A massive nudged of gold. A meteorite of frikin gold! It created and will create so much more beautiful things that are priceless! Things that open people's hearts and make them feel great, and that will be bought for hundreds of thousands and millions of $. How can you possibly waste your precious time using such instrument screwing together a frame, while your whole system is itching to express your talent!?
Few hours down the road.
The day when I realized that, everything changed. The day when I stopped checking the bills and stopped bargaining the quotes on custom work done for me by people, abundance started flowing in. Like crazy in! You can only create abundance with abundant mindset. And let's not forget one thing: true abundance always shares. It's totally nuts about sharing, about giving.
I have skills to make this canvas from a scratch. But I had it made for me. I just let it flow.
Example: yesterday I had a shitty day. I felt my stream of abundance closing up. What did I do? The exact opposite of trying to “make it up” somehow. I packed a nice present and sent it to one of my clients to Slovakia(mom of two kids who already bought 7 or so originals from me). Just the shipping cost was something I would frown upon in the past. Now it only made me happy. Very happy to give a slice of my abundance to someone who co-created it. And it's not exclusive to my clients. It's like rain, it falls upon everyone.
I was not that surprised, when a person who have been in touch with me on Facebook for 3 years but never committed to see my art in person, showed up in my studio today out of the blue, and bought one of these Buddhas sitting under Sakura. Plus she fell madly in love with “The Vision of Sitting Bull” painting, which has one more zero on the pricetag, and which might just as well land on her wall in few days.
My painting of Sitting bull might find a new owner soon, but I will live by that quote forever.
I don't know, I don't care. I spend my time honing my skills and creating abundant flow of goodness, not counting or worrying.
Abundance is a mindset, not a sales strategy.
Forget the pricetag. Forget the bills. Feel and act rich, because you are.
Much Love to All of You Priceless Humans!
Jan
follow @jankasparec
In case you didn't know. And yes I'm serious. There will be serious give-aways!
