BAPTISM. My first series of 2020. Nine paintings. Nine stories. All inspired by nine bodies of water.
I adored this series, but remember feeling conflicted about its release. It launched in April, about a month after we all went into quarantine. People were losing jobs, scared, and unsure of what was to come. Was it insensitive to sell a luxury when so many people were suffering and scared? Would anyone even feel like buying art?
But (like any series I create,) I figured the worst possible outcome would just be that it didn’t resonate and wouldn’t sell. (And while that totally sucks when it happens, it doesn’t kill you.) So I took a deep breath and decided to go ahead with the launch.
And y’all- it sold out in less than 24 hours. (I think it sold out in 16 hours!)
To say I was blown away would be an understatement. And not because I thought the work wasn’t worth it (I had more than enough confidence about the work. Those paintings were strong!) I was blown away because that many people claimed the pieces that QUICKLY. It was an amazing feeling and reminded me that while art isn’t a basic need- like food, shelter, or clothing- it’s what gives life depth. What makes it beautiful and rich.
We all crave beauty and connection, and art offers that. The right art makes you feel seen and less alone. It provides light and hope when the world seems dark and confusing. Art forces you to feel.
And when you see it that way, it makes sense that BAPTISM did so well. Because when you recognize the importance of it, art feels much less like a luxury and much more like a need.