Here I go...

I'm making the jump - ready to actually paint something for someone for something.

In the past, I've been very reluctant to take any sort of commission - I would make a painting for a friend just as something fun for maybe a birthday or a special occassion. I felt that painting for profit would be exploiting an outlet that brought me joy, and that would result in the eventual dumping of the whole thing. I loved it that way - then.

Fast forward to now. "Then" was two kids ago. "Now", there is no such thing as a spare moment between squeezing as much time with my kids in as possible, and when they are in bed there is housework and prepping for the day ahead always staring me in the face.

Kind of funny, but this has all resulted in an about-face in my thinking. Before, taking any sort of commission made it feel dirty, now it gives it purpose. If I get a little something for my painting, I can take it and put in the boys' college accounts, and the guilt over "things undone" in that 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm timeframe before I go to bed isn't so prominent.

That's why I'm calling this site "Painting for Learning". I really am, in more ways than one. I'm painting to expand my horizons. Before, I would only make a painting for a friend or family member that I wanted to make because it appealed to ME. Now, I might be working on stuff that is a little outside my comfort zone. Also, I'm painting for my boys' learning - because let me tell you, between two daycares there ain't a whole ton to be throwing into the college accounts these days. Bring the learning ON.

So there. I'm for hire. Now how do I get someone to hire me? I'm starting out cheap. Like that's anything new.