Black Artists Matter

 
Last October I decided to leave the crutch of a day job behind and went 100% full time artist. I had worked extremely hard the past 8.5 years solidifying myself as a significant artist here in Houston, while still working a day job and being a full time single mom. I had commissions, gigs, and private students that were scheduled all the way through the end of the year and beyond . Those first few months were great. Things slowed down after the first of the year, as they always do, but Spring, a.k.a. festival season, was about to ramp up.

And then COVID-19 hit. Bayou City Art Festival, the largest art festival in Houston-the one where I make 25% of my yearly earnings; Canceled. The week after, a smaller festival where I had been hired for a public instillation Art piece, to lead a community art class, and have a booth to sell my art; canceled. After the cancelation of this, I sat at my kitchen table and cried. After I’d calmed myself down, I started to think of ways to substitute this loss of income; I still had my son to take care of! 

A few years ago I used to teach face to face painting parties. I still had all the painting materials, so I thought, why not package them up and send them out so people can paint at home! And that’s exactly what I’d did! After developing fifteen different options for people to paint, I started promoting them on social media, and every Friday evening I would paint live for who ever tuned in!

But then the world opened back up, but not enough for festivals to come back, and not closed enough for the painting kits to move like they were. 
Being an entrepreneur means you have to always be on your toes! I am still painting and conducting virtual classes. I need your help to continue living my dream as an artist, and helping the next generation reach their artistic potential.