I painted better after the grant ran out

A two-year residency ended the week my savings did. The bar shifts that followed taught me what the studio never had to.

The path, in milestones.

1. 2021

   The residency ended on a Friday

   I had two finished canvases and seven unfinished ones. The studio key was due by 6 PM. I painted until 5:55.

   Lesson: Deadlines are arbitrary and they still work.
2. 2022

   Four shifts a week at a wine bar

   I painted mornings, poured wine evenings. The painting got slower and better. The customers asked what I did. I said: 'painter.' I started to mean it.

   Lesson: A second income is not a defeat for art. Often it's what keeps the art honest.
3. 2024

   First sale that wasn't to a friend

   A regular at the bar bought a small piece for €380. I delivered it in the metro in a plastic bag. He hung it in his hallway. He sent me a photo.

   Lesson: The first stranger sale changes how you describe yourself to yourself.