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Greetings!
I am a self taught artist and have been since my childhood. Starting with pen and ink I found that I enjoyed trying all different media including oil painting, gourd painting, murals, airbrush, pencil, watercolor, sumi-e, I painted on those little black oriental shoes with acrylic paints and sold them at fairs when I was fifteen. I was also commissioned by my teacher's wife at age 12 to do a book cover for her( payment was a beautiful coat from her closet - hey! I was 12) and my librarian in high school was my first sale, buying a pencil drawing of cats for $50.
I started painting gourds nearly two decades ago. I sold the second gourd I ever painted which led to a number of commissioned pieces and a new found love of expression. I also grow the gourds so it's a very rewarding process from start to finish.
Although I had pieces in a nearby gallery over ten years ago and even sold three of them - I just wasn't serious enough at that point in my life. It isn't until now at age 35 that I decide to get serious about profiting from what I love to do. It just makes more sense to live a life doing what you love even if I do have to eat ramen for a while. The internet has opened up so many doors to exposure and possibilities for selling our work. I live in the middle of nowhere in Southeast Arizona so it truly is a useful tool for me. Although I have been an artist for a long time, the art of marketing my work is a whole new ball game. So here goes! Enjoy!
