Monday, August 15, 2011

Long Time - No Post


Fishing Boats in Fajardo
It has been sometime since I last posted, I have been busy painting!  Life has been interesting in Puerto Rico over the last several months.  I have been working on my Portfolio with hopes of doing an exhibit in San Juan in October.  Also, I am going to be visiting some of the local galleries in order to get some of my paintings sold. 


Being that I am in Puerto Rico, nothing is simple here.  Having had a business on the mainland, I thought it would be a relatively easy process to sell some paintings on the island....I thought wrong. 

Street Lamp in Old San Juan

First, and foremost, in order to do anything here, you have to have a tax identification certificate. Nothing so unusual about that. What does make it a bit more tricky is going through the process of dealing with the Departmento de Hacienda (P.R. tax dept.) speaking limited Spanish. It only took me two trips. I did think ahead enough to go online and download the form I have to fill out, and Thank goodness it was available in English. The form is very repetive, but relatively easy to fill out. With that done, I made a road trip to the Puerto Rico Dept. of Taxation located in San Juan.
The first thing you notice upon entering the building, is that you must sign in, and show Identification.  The guard at the desk will then direct you to where you need to go - or not.  Sometimes, like in my case, they direct you to the wrong office, where you are again directed to another wrong office, but, eventually you wind up where you need to be. 
Orchids growing in the parking lot of Condo Villas del Mar
I proudly handed over my completed form, only to be told, I had to provide two copies of the form.  Surprise, in the entire building (and it is large) there are no copy machines available to the public.  Disheartened, I went back home.  I made my copy on the printer, and struck out again the next day.  Success!!!  The lady took my forms, stamped my copy and handed it back to me.  I should receive my Tax Certificate within 30 days via the mail. 

Spider Lilies at the Beach

I can't even begin to express how important this certificate is.  You need it for everything.  If and artist displays their work in a gallery, you have to have a tax certificate.  If you sell crafts at a school christmas craft fair, you have to have a certificate.  In fact, one of my friends didn't have a certificate.  She was selling some handmade items at a school bazaar.  Unfortunately, the tax police made an appearance and asked her for her Certificate.  She speaks no Spanish, and the police spoke no English.  When she failed to produce the tax cert. they promptly handcuffed her, and took her into the parking lot, and gave her a ticket with a fine of up to $5,000.00.  She was so upset, mortified in fact.  The end result was she hired a lawyer, spent the day at court, and wound up with nothing more than having to take some classes on how to do business in Puerto Rico.  The lesson to be learned here, get the tax certificate.  I cannot do any business until this arrives. 
Friends
Painted at Botanical Gardens in Rio Piedras
The next step will be to become a registered Artisan of Puerto Rico.  This allows me to sell my paintings as a legitmate Artist on the island.  To get this, I must make an appointment with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Assoc. (PRIDA).  They typically will see people on Tuesday and Thursday.  There is very strict criteria to qualify as a local Artist.

First, I must be either a native of Puerto Rico, or a bona fide resident (I am a resident).  Next, the work must be done by hand and it must be inspired by life in Puerto Rico.  Things that qualify include the fauna, flora, symbols, people, life of Puerto Rico. 

Once I am granted an interview, I must submit 5 paintings, and go through an interview.  If I qualify I will be granted the certificate on the spot, if not, the interviewer must tell me what I need to do to improve my chances of becoming registered.  I am working on my Portfolio now - once completed, I will call and set the appointment. 

The paintings I have posted are the 5 I will be submitting for my interview.

Waves at Isla Verde
Other things I am working on include a 6-7 painting study of waves.  I have completed two of them and find them fun and challenging.  I think they will make a fantastic exhibition. 

Thats all the latest and the greatest from Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.  Once I get my appointment, I will post how the entire process went, and whether or not I was successful in getting my certificate.