Supporting an Artist’s Lifelong Passion

You selling art? Yeah, uh-huh. This is a one of my several pieces. Have you sold any today?

Uh I sold one uh print earlier this week. Not today though? No, not today. Is painting how you make a living?

Yeah, uh-huh. But I also need a part-time job because of the uncertainty of, you know, when a painting sells and when it doesn't, you know. Part-time job? How old are you?

I'm 79. 79? Yeah. Really?

And you need a part-time job? I'm trying to work on some other things that if that comes through, then I won't have to have a part-time job. With the internet, a lot of the galleries that I was in, uh they closed up, you know. So it's hard to kind of get your paintings out there.

Yeah. Well, I'm in a gallery in Aspen now and I sold a few things there and uh picked up a commission piece, so I'm able to keep up with my bills, but I definitely need a part-time job, so. Yeah, like your whole life. I was sort of the class artist.

And the reason I chose art was I have an aptitude for that. And I don't have an aptitude for many other things. You know, I sometimes feel that it brings you closer to God. Are you a believer?

Well, yeah, of course. Otherwise, I don't think I'd have the courage to be a painter. What's on your bucket list? Uh I would just like to do uh several paintings that that are museum quality.

I mean, I've come close. Two of my paintings were in the state capital, in the governor's reception area in Colorado. Woah. How much money would it take for you to retire, you know?

I need a thousand a month. A thousand a month? Do you accept donations? Donations?

Yeah. Uh I've never thought about that. I mean. No?

Yeah, who would donate to me? I would. Like yeah. Well.

I'm not sure. I'll take it. Yeah, thank you. I don't want you to have to work a part-time job.

You don't? No. Well, I don't either. I mean, I really would I to just have the time to do a lot of artwork because uh you know I'm not a young man anymore, you know.

If people were to want to buy some, how do they buy some? You can go to the gallery in Aspen or just go to my website. You got a website? Yeah.

What's the website? Uh thomaslebance.com. I haven't sold much off of the website. To tell you the truth, we didn't just happen to walk up on you.

Somebody from Verizon here actually nominated you. Mariah said that you've been creating art for a long time and how much it means to you. Well, I really appreciate that. If you could say one thing to the whole world, what would you say?

Share your gifts with the world. Amen.