Greetings!
I am a 36-year-old musician and painter. I went to college for vocal music performance but did not finish my degree. I was working three jobs and bills were catching up. Since then I have worked jobs in the service industry, private voice lessons for children, security and church. I am a part of a band that is slowly making progress, but our payout leaves each member with a small take home (we have 9 members). A second band I belong to is just starting out so our payout is minimal to none.
Once covid hit, all musical performances stopped along with the rest of the world. During that time I picked up painting as a hobby and have attempted to turn it into and keep up with it as a business by attending local vendor markets. Sadly, it has not brought me any significant income and now the state is charging me outrageous amounts of money in taxes.
In 2021, my son Kendrick was born. His mother and I are not together, but we try to make things work for him. Between keeping up with his bills (child support) and paying rent, I have fallen on hard times. I have been resilient in keeping my abilities and dreams to work for myself alive. Each month I struggle to pay bills but by the grace of God and the universe I manage. However, each month presents a series of uncertainties.
My car is on its last leg, so I try not to drive it carelessly. I sleep on my son’s mother’s couch Sunday through Wednesday to take care of him, leaving me 3 days to make money. We cannot afford daycare. My bands are not performing every weekend and unfortunately no one is supporting artists anymore. Vendor markets are a “hit or miss” and I am paid once a month by the church I work for.
I am continuing my fight to live and care for my child, no matter what circumstances are thrown at me. If there is anyone out there that can help with some of these financial worries, I would be more than happy to create a painting and send it to you! Thank you for taking the time to read this and taking my situation into consideration. You can find my Instagram for my art at MosArt1987. Thank you and many blessings to you and yours!
https://paypal.me/MosArt1987?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
