I’m so excited!  I’ve been working (let’s call it part time) for years as a commissioned portrait artist. Several years ago after a client had some pieces framed, the framer expressed interest in displaying my work in his gallery.  I was definitely interested and flattered, but didn’t have any pieces for him to show or sell.  So I drew some original pieces and started others.

It’s taken me a while to follow his advice, but earlier this year the hip new local modern eatery Zeal sent me an email asking if I’d be interested in displaying some of my work. They wanted to showcase local artists with an occasional evening of wine tasting and music.   They’d only been open a few months, had not done anything like this before, but they found me on google, liked my stuff and thought they’d see if I was up for it.

That was a pretty big kick for me. So I dug out those older drawings, and finished a big one I’d started, got 5 of them scanned for prints, 7 framed, borrowed 6 pieces, and I also had the plastic portrait of Will framed. Genius friend, Kip advised on a simple, cheap hanging solution, new business cards printed, invited everyone, arranged Jason’s AWESOME band, and had a great show.

Stunned by the follow up offer to allow me to consider the restaurant my gallery, I have been scrambling to finish promised work, securing a listing in legendary local printers Digital Arts Studio’s, Fine Art Marketplace directory, and creating new pieces for display, print and sale at the restaurant.