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We have all gone through tough times throughout our lives, both personally and professionally. The economy is facing challenges and artists are hurting along with others. Unfortunately, art is one of the first things that is cut back when times get tough, both in schools and in purchasing priorities. The price of just about everything has gone up in the last few years. When people have to pay a lot to fill their vehicle’s tank so that they can get to work, they probably don’t feel like buying artwork from galleries, art fairs or online.

 The other night, we watched a special about a man by the name of Rene di Rosa. This man was passionate about art. He bought what he loved and what made him feel great. Although he had wealth, he kept it a secret when he went to art shows so he could get a good price.  He had a profound affect on the artists whose work he purchased, for he made them see that what they created touched his heart. He believed in them and what they created. He dressed in simple clothes and referred to himself as John Smith at these shows. He collected throughout his very long life and created a museum of his collection. Although I did not particularly like all of the art that he collected, I was very impressed by his passion. He accumulated the largest collection of Bay Area art in the world!

Now you may think that it was easy for him to collect art, since he has a lot of money. There are many places to find reasonably priced artwork that you can afford. Fund raisers, art fairs, art schools and art centers have great works that middle class people can afford. The quality of the art is not necessarily in direct proportion to the cost of the piece. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if you love it, it is great art! We have purchased many pieces of art at fundraisers that we were able to get at a fraction of the cost of the artist’s regular work. I have donated my artwork to fundraisers that has sold way below market value. If you feel passionate about the cause, then the donation comes from the heart. You just hope that your work sells for the best it can to help out that cause.

The piece that accompanies this blog, Stormy Skies, represents to me rough times.  I love thunderstorms, although when they become tornadic, I worry as much as my friend who is afraid of thunderstorms. When the storm hits, you don’t know how long it will last, if there will be damage, and you may feel like you won’t be able to survive. The pink strip of sky in this painting shows that the storm is coming to an end. It is the promise that bad things won’t last forever. Hang in there for times will get better. Keep concentration on getting better while you build your inventory. Give it all you’ve got, and I mean all... don’t hold back! Don’t give up hope! Like the sun that comes peeking through the edge of the clouds in a stormy sky, there is a promise of better times to come.