Patience and Trust

 

A number of months ago, a photo of the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slap Shot floated by as I was scrolling through Facebook. I stopped, went back and thought: hmmmmm? Something about that image said that I needed to paint it. I resisted for a few days but as the feeling didn't fade, I jumped in and got it done thinking that some fan of "old time hockey" would scoop it up immediately. That didn't happen.

The painting stayed on my wall, in a spot directly opposite from my desk in the studio for a time before I had the epiphany that it needed to be on public display. I reached out to our friends Tracy and Chris, owners of Stix 'N' Bones, a family entertainment centre about a half a block north of our location in downtown High River to see if they'd be willing to display it. They were immediately accommodating and have given it a home for several months. 

Heather and I were finishing up an early dinner on Saturday when the bell rang. Someone was at the studio door. I ambled out of the house, down the brick pathway and into Birdsong Studios to see who was there. It was a gentleman named Sean.

"I want to make you an offer," he said with vigour.

"An offer for what?" I asked.

"For the Chiefs painting," he declared.

It took a moment to realize that he meant the painting of the Hanson Brothers who played for the fictional Charleston Chiefs in the movie that was a sensation in the 1970s starring Paul Newman.

"Ahh...you mean the Hanson Brothers!"

"Yes!"

He went on to describe a media/recreation room that he and his wife are building, complete with four 50-inch TVs where they can simultaneously watch multiple sports and other things.

"We kept seeing the painting and realize that it is absolutely perfect for the vibe we're trying to create."

He made me a generous offer, which I accepted immediately.

Running a successful art business is largely about balancing the need for cash flow while having the patience and trust that every piece has someone in the world that will want to own it. It took months longer than I imagined when I first painted it,  but the Hanson Brothers will be going to a perfect spot in a family home where it can contribute to years of great times and unforgettable memories.