It's eleven a.m. on Monday. I'm sitting in front of my computer, jobless like many people, my home in foreclosure also like thousands of others and thousands in debt like just about every American. For eight years I have struggled with Crohns Disease, managed to survive twenty-one surgeries, a divorce, loss of my business, five boyfriends (not at the same time) one ex-finance, three dogs and one sixteen-year-old daughter. For the first time I have no surgeries scheduled at Mayo Clinic and feeling no pain. With a few less body parts, I now face the challenge of putting my life back together. How do I begin to tackle getting myself financially secure now that I have my health back? I almost rather face another part of my body being cut out and sewn shut.
One thing that kept me going was painting. Even when I felt like dying, creating art got me through. At sixteen I took lessons at the Portland School of Art and remember it was one of the most enjoyable things I ever did. Creating art, expressing myself, I feel like I'm alive. Really alive and not just existing in this world and that I actually have something to offer.
I never have thought much of my paintings. Even though my family and friends say nice things about my work, you can never really tell because after all, nobody wants to hurt your feelings. Ten years ago my friend, Rusty, suggested I try something new called ebay and put some of my pieces on it. To my surprise, my art actually sold. I sold over twenty pieces before life got in the way and I was too sick to continue.
Ten years later, this is a new day, a new beginning for me. I must be crazy to think I can help my financial situation by trying to sell my art again, especially when the economy has gone to hell. Art is not a high priority these days. I want to believe something I always tell my daughter...If you want it bad enough -- you can find a way to get it. So here's my challenge:
I'm going to create 365 pieces of art and try to sell each any way I can through ebay, friends, art shows. If I can get an average profit of $100.00, that's $36,500.00. Its not enough to put me in the high income bracket, but it's a start. Today, December 14th 2009, I'm listing two paintings on ebay under pieceofmeart. Wish me luck.
