Yielding to the call

You know you have something good when you can't stop thinking about it, you plan your whole future around it, and all other pathways circle you back to it. I'm talking about Jack painting full time now.

A few years ago, I had a job with a salary that covered the family's needs. Jack painted full time along with kid care and school shuttle duties. I worked 60-80 hrs a week at a job that kept me busy and away from home all that time. So, I see that time as difficult, and compromising. Conversely, Jack loved all the time he had to paint and create and play with the kids.

 After moving from his hometown up to my hometown over a year ago, we had another decision to make. The job I moved us up here for stunk more than any other job I'd had before (I'm learning to pay attention to red flags). We decided together, and I cut out of that job in a hurry. Without a backup plan. Eventually, Jack was the first of us to find a reliable paycheck. But given the time commitment, it meant time to create or build the art business shrunk to an itty bitty piece of the pie. Jack maintained a routine of painting every weekend, and painted a new small work every week for 6 months or so. During this time, I found a fabulous job that met my needs. I seriously love this work, but it’s not going to provide for the whole family just yet. Jack kept on with punching a clock by day and painting by night up until about mid December.

Speaking from experience, I know it's one thing to find a job that keeps your brain busy, and meets your financial needs, and it's another to be paid to do what you are good at and feel good doing ( feel free to imagine Jack going through same gut wrenching monotony, but with more drama). To get through my self-inflicted employment gap, I listened to a lot of books, and podcasts about money, success, transportation, equity, and dreams. Different authors publishing in disparate genre repeated the same message: you are good at something on purpose - it's what you are meant to do. Do it and what you need/want will follow. 

All of this means, we are leaning into the messages from the Universe. Jack is now painting again full time, driving kids to school, and basketball practice. We are launching new product lines, and sales channels on socials. Jack’s little pecker shorts are my favorite, they showcase beautiful art in a fun and playful way. Other items are in the works, and we are wanting any and all feedback on the products themselves or suggestions on what would look outstanding with Jack’s work adorning it.

I’m looking to you to help get the word out about Jack’s great art. For now, share this blog with your friends on social. Friends just reading this, sign up for Jack Wray’s mailing list - new paintings are in the works, and fun merch ready to print and ship every day.

Be well, and keep loving art.

-Max