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RE: Part II of Free Art Frees Art at the SUNY Oswego Campus—March 6, 2026
You need a lot of materials to keep painting so much. I can hardly imagine that there aren’t more people giving their art away. I know there are also many who, after a short period of selling, now keep everything for themselves and sometimes give a few pieces away to family and friends, though that doesn’t always go down well. The only difference between you and @jompiy is that they aren’t actively promoting themselves. It would be great if those connections could be made.
“Con” says it all...
I have received factory rejected tubes of paint (many varieties) from Golden Acrylics (Williamsburg oil paints) in a program the company sponsors to promote charity and non-profit organizations. Several of my projects/ exhibitions over the past decade have been fundraisers for schools, art centers and local art scholarships. I applied to the paint company for free paints that do not pass the factory inspection. For instance, too runny when sold on the shelf as more viscous. Golden always come through, in spades. Literally thousands of dollars worth of paint, both acrylic and oil. Of course I don’t use all of it on the projects:) I also write modest local grants as an individual artist, and and include supply cost. Finally, when I sell work, I set aside profit for paints, brushes and canvas. Unfortunately, I cannot support a life from painting, but at least I can “afford” a life of painting supplies:)
I have never known a “professional” artist (who’s not facing imminent death) to give away his or her work. All of it. No exceptions. Even @jompiy isn’t doing that!
Nor am I! After several attempts, I am still not able to cull the books on my shelf , even the ones I will never read again.
And then there is always this unspoken fear (until now):
“I'm a-tryin' to feed my soul with thought
Gonna sleep off the rest of the day
Sometimes no one wants what you got
Sometimes you can't give it away.”
—Bob Dylan from “Workingman’s Blues #2”
The painting group in the village I join also received from the Rembrandt factory years ago though and mainly soft pastel crayons no one likes except me.
The fear isn't unreasonable, unfortunately it's also the reason why many give up on creating and art isn't much in the picture as it should.
If you ask me whatever is handmade (manmade) will soon be the only thing what's left of human thoughts.
🍀❤️
@wakeupkitty
Yes to that, and why I keep doing what I do:) Gotta leave the future Winston Smiths (Orwell’s book 1984) some forbidden fruit to pluck.
And thank you!