Howdy,

I hate galleies. Actually, that's not true. I just don't want to give them half of my money. I also don't want to take their advice on what I should or shouldn't paint.

I love painting. That is true. I paint all the time. When I get a break in my work as an illustrator or art director for animated cartoons the first thing that I think of is that I want to keep painting. So I paint some more. The damned paintings start piling up. I trade with my friends, I give them as presents & once in a while I sell a few.

Money makes the world go 'round. I feel that the highest form of flattery for an artist is to have people give them money to own a piece of their art. The more money, the higher the praise. It is a bit difficult to know what "art" is worth & I think that artists have a hard time knowing what to ask for when they sell their work. I know artists who I want to strangle because they are practically giving their work away to people who would gladly pay a reasonable price for it. I have also gasped at the ridiculous prices that are asked by some. I say "Let the market decide the price".

I Love My Friends. I work in animation & illusration & I have lots of friends who do too. I know people who make some of the best artwork that I have ever seen. I respect those people for the work that they do & for the years of hard work & dedication that I know it took for them to get where they are.

A few years ago I was invited to a party called the Librafest by Vincent "Rubber Nipples" Waller (of Ren & Stimpy fame). The idea of this party was that we were supposed to bring original artwork, hang it up on the wall for the party & then, at midnight, they were auctioned off to the highest bidders. I took home one of Vincent's Drawings and a few hundred bucks!

Thus, the logical conclusion was to do what I am doing now. Every three to six months I do an auction. I get to sell my work & keep most of the money. I don't have to set the prices & I get to paint whatever I want. I give my friends the opportunity to do the same. I take a small commission just to keep myself interested. I love the results. The first two auctions have contained really great work. Everyone, artists & buyers alike, have walked away happy.

So thank you to the Librafest creators: Scott, Conrad & Murial.

Cheers - Tim Biskup (curator of the Burning Brush)