I wanted to take a few moments to lift you up, and thank you for everything that you've done to carry my creative endeavors through the years so far. In 2005 my wife Rachel and I opened our own tattoo studio in Fort Collins, CO and from day-one, we had overwhelming support from clients. We were getting so many people in our shop, and sending out so many tattoos, an established shop had the windows shot out of my truck, and another shop owner kept hanging around and giving ice cream to people in our waiting room, while flaunting a shirt with the name of his shop on it, but I took that as a compliment. If we weren't a threat, we would have been ignored.
Shortly after opening the tattoo studio, we began exhibiting art there, and I realized that my true love was for drawing and painting, not for tattooing. We sold the shop to the ice cream guy and I dove into making art full-time, while substitute teaching and working with kids part-time. I offered a few of my original drawings on ebay and they sold more quickly than I had anticipated, so I stopped the subbing and focused completely on art. Now, almost fifteen years later, I've traveled coast to coast to show art at galleries and conventions of all kinds, and have connected with thousands of loyal collectors online as well. I've released two books—a short auto biography about my art journey early on, and a fantasy adventure novel called Sewn Together—and have experienced opportunities beyond my imagination.
During the wild and crazy times that 2020 has brought, you've shown an outpouring of support that I never imagined possible. When all of my conventions, local galleries, and art markets were cancelled, my internet sales rose by over 400 percent. That's all you! Then, as soon as the markets allowed me to return, there have been some days where sales are higher than before the shutdown. Without you and your support, your patronage, your sharing and encouragement, I would have been tempted to toss the art career aside and just fall apart. God has blessed me, through you, and I am forever grateful.
Thank you for being the most amazing art fan, collector, reader, and friend a guy could ever hope for.
Bryan
