Lucky 7

So, its been 7 years since I posted my first painting on EBAY and sold it. Thinking back on everything and what I have been through to get where I am, I find myself humbled and grateful on this day. 7 Christmas's ago a male friend of mine gave me a Michael's gift certificate because he knew I liked to paint. His name was Johnnie and we were just friends. Sometime after the holiday I did go in and spent that certificate. I got several canvases, some terpanoid and a figure drawing manakin. I didn't touch them for over a month because I wanted to paint fantasy art and a mutual friend laughed at me. At some point I was unemployed but I can't give you dates anymore as the years have slid together. I had some free time on my hands so I picked up oil paints which I didn't know how to use and painted "Lonely Dragon" I needed money for the phone bill so on a whim I put it on EBAY. It sold for 45.00 to someone in Maine. It paid my phone bill. So I painted another one and it too sold on EBAY. It bought me some groceries and Chinese take out. This is when I wondered if anyone could really make a living off of fantasy art. A friend of mine, Paul, insisted that it was impossible to make a living off of painting dragons and unicorns. He gave me a business card of a friend of his who slaved away making miniatures in a warehouse in Baltimore and said that might be the best I could do. I threw the card out because I thought that was devastating. Luckily the man I eventually went on to marry thought differently and said as much or I wouldn't be here on my 7th anniversary blogging to you all. I might very well be in a dimly lit warehouse in Baltimore making tiny flowers to put in models. I might have been pouring coffee for someone and answering the phone. I don't think I would be very happy or fulfilled.

For a while I had a full time job while I painted on the sly, I got my first licensing deal that first year though in retrospect I don't think I deserved it. I had a solo art show and then just jumped into the fantasy fair circuit and that was that. I attended the Spoutwood Fairy Festival in 2005 and I didn't talk to anyone because I was nervous. Especially Brigid Ashwood who I really liked. Now we are best friends which I still find surprising when I pause to really think about it. Then again I find everything surprising when I pause to really think about it. Luckily I rarely have that much time on my hands.

My career has been steadily climbing ever since and I hope it continues to do so for some time. I know for most folks money is hard to come by and I sell a luxury item. I am always humbled by my fans who save up all year so they can make a purchase from me. Parting with your hard earned money is never easy and I am grateful. You guys feed me!  I have had to make lifestyle adjustments since the downturn, and more recently my move,  but I gain so much more then I give up by being able to continue to do my art. If you told me 7 years ago I would be in the UK painting full time I would have laughed at you. If you told me the most popular thing I ever created was a cat named Fortuna I might not have bothered. Not to say Fortuna isn't worth it but I did live in perpetual fear of being known as "the black cat lady" Since then I have aquired a black cat and have since vowed to always have at least one in my home so I guess I did become the black cat lady. I'm ok with it now. At least I will be known for something, if only briefly.

Life can change so quickly I cannot even pretend to know where I will be or what I will be doing seven years from today. I would like to think that I will be happy wherever I am still painting and still making people happy with my art. I think I will do so until arthritus takes my hands and they can no longer correct my already bad eyesight and it fails. By then I think I will have achieved all I wanted and I can retire with my black cats and make neighborhood children nervous. Especially on Halloween.

Many of you reading this have been with me from the beginning and I want to tell you how much your support means to me. You got me here with every encouraging word and print purchase. Without you I would have no audience to share my art with and that would be a terrible shame. So thanks to each and every one of you, old fans and new and I hope you all come along with me on the journey that is my life and my art.

So Happy Lucky 7 everyone, please enjoy 10% off your ETSY purchases today with the couponcode: LUCKY7

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AshEvans?ref=si_shop

Many thanks to you

Ash Evans