Tithing
At least that's what they used to call it: tithing; giving a percentage of your money to the needy. I have a version of tithing that involves my giving no money (that's good, since I still hae fear over the issue of generating income), but does involve giving. I make pictures in watercolor for people and give them away to them. These are custom pictures meant for specific people, and the pictures are quite specific too. No one else could really appreciate them.
The last two weeks have seen me make a number of such gifts. Some of them only take 15 mnutes, but others take quite a bit more. I consider it an honor and my duty too, to be able to make art that has some healing properties. If the art is not able to do that , at least it shows acknowledgement and love.
One recent recipient, whose gift I left at the door of her workplace, called me a few hours later crying. She was so touched by the piece I did for her, commemorating her late husband, that she had been crying all morning. She thanked me repeatedly. I didn't say much, just "you're welcome".
Now I'm working on another most touching piece: a verbatim projection from a woman's diary, depicting a particularly vulnerable period in her life. It is a poem and illustration she did some 30 years ago, and it is most poignant. I am recreating it in watercolor.
Why do I do these things? Heck, I need to market, outreach to new clients, generate income, don't I? Yes, I do, but I need to do this too.
The last two weeks have seen me make a number of such gifts. Some of them only take 15 mnutes, but others take quite a bit more. I consider it an honor and my duty too, to be able to make art that has some healing properties. If the art is not able to do that , at least it shows acknowledgement and love.
One recent recipient, whose gift I left at the door of her workplace, called me a few hours later crying. She was so touched by the piece I did for her, commemorating her late husband, that she had been crying all morning. She thanked me repeatedly. I didn't say much, just "you're welcome".
Now I'm working on another most touching piece: a verbatim projection from a woman's diary, depicting a particularly vulnerable period in her life. It is a poem and illustration she did some 30 years ago, and it is most poignant. I am recreating it in watercolor.
Why do I do these things? Heck, I need to market, outreach to new clients, generate income, don't I? Yes, I do, but I need to do this too.
posted by Rich Sigberman at
6:42 PM
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