Art Giveaways

Some years ago, I found myself needing to make a decision about whether I wanted to be a professional artist, someone who markets her work and seeks fame and fortune. In the end, I decided I wanted to be a serious painter but not a professional one. I already have a career I enjoy, and I also write books and market them. So I began to seek ways to give my art away.

My first big giveaway was 31 paintings to the Letty Owings, a residential treatment center for women with children here in Portland, Oregon. I received donations from friends for the framing and the art now hangs in the bedrooms at the center.

My current art donations have been to Portland’s William Temple House, a nonprofit serving low-income families with counseling, a food pantry, and a thrift store. They include my paintings in their food pantry giveaway so that these individuals and families can have original art in their homes. I’ve given away a total of 188 paintings this way. If you’re an artist, you might have art work to give away as well.