This watercolor is the Bishop Maginn Artist Blue’s tribute to the LGTQ culture; she calls it “LGTQ Couple.” It’s for sale.

This an essential painting in several ways – I’m selling it for $30 plus $6 shipping – it’s one of the last ones of the Silverstein Art Brigade that I will be selling directly. If you want it, e-mail me at [email protected].

Two weeks ago, Maria and I met with Blue, Silverstein, and the other Bishop Maginn artists and we suggested that they put up their own Etsy page in the fall, and post and sell their art there.

I started selling these paintings because they are beautiful and I wanted to help establish these artists – Blue, Paw Lway Shee and some others in the Fall –  and show them how art can be made and sold, how a creative life is possible. They had no conception of their own talent.

I wanted them to understand that they are gifted, and people will buy their work. I’ve sold about 20 of their paintings here.

Sue Silverstein joined in with her own beautiful paintings to support the school, and supervise the new site, and we sold all of hers as well. She is joining their Etsy Page, coming in four weeks. Etsy is a popular forum for selling individual artworks; Maria sells her fiber works there, I sell some photos there.

It’s perfect for the Bishop Maginn artists.

But I didn’t want this to be a permanent arrangement. I have plenty to do, and I don’t wish to stay in the art sales business. I also don’t think it’s kind in the long run for these talented young people to see art as handing your work to somebody, getting paid in a week or so and never participating in the process.

I had this vision of me showing up with envelopes of cash and just handing it to them, while they have no direct connection with the marketing of their work or the people who buy it. I did feel like a hero, but that is an excellent reason to stop.

If Blue is going to make it as an artist – I don’t know that she has made that decision yet – then she needs to take ownership of her work, communicate directly with potential buyers (that can be challenging) and be paid directly for her work.

(There are only two items left on the groundbreaking Teacher’s Amazon Bishop Maginn Wish List, their list of needs for September, which is just around the corner. The items range in price from $11 to $36; they tell us a lot about the needs and dedication of teachers. Teachers everywhere are chipping in to answer this call, so is the Army Of Good. These tools are what the teachers need to do their work, their own choices.)

I’m excited by Blue and Lway’s (and Sue’s)  talent and success, but many of you know my philosophy. I’m happy to get this started, but I don’t wish to be the reason she thinks people are buying her art, she has to learn that she is valuable, and could make a living doing this. I think she could, but she has to think that, and in her world, her family has to agree.

Sue has sold her art before; she knows what the process is like. We both agreed the kids need to learn it too, mainly because they have so much talent. How can you make the right choice about your path in life, if you don’t get to see it and experience it firsthand?

I’ve learned to use what power the blog has thoughtfully and carefully; it can be overwhelming as well as helpful.

In the refugee culture, kids are not so quick to set off on their own. They’ve been through too much together. They seek their parent’s approval for almost everything.

So starting in September, and at the direction of Sue Silverstein, the Bishop Maginn artists (including Sue) are going to set up their own Etsy page – Maria talked to them about how to do it – and post their work and sell it there.

I will, of course, be promoting their work here, as usual, so will Maria on her blog. But they will make their own decisions about what to sell and how much to charge. They will decide what to put up on their site. You can continue to find out what they’re selling here.

These are things creative people have to learn if they are going to have a fair chance of making this their life’s work. In many foreign cultures, art isn’t considered serious or secure employment. That is something Blue, and the other artists will have to work out for themselves.

In the meantime, you can purchase this painting (and maybe one or two others in the coming weeks) here for $30 plus shipping. If you want it, e-mail me at [email protected]. I am not on Facebook often; I won’t be seeing or taking orders there. That is the only way to buy it. [email protected]. Thanks.

We’ll let you know when the Etsy page goes up and thanks for helping Blue establish herself as the gifted artist she is. It was vital for her to see herself as an artist and to establish herself in that way.

But I believe in boundaries and limits; I want her to know she can sell the art, not just take my word or Maria’s. Your support of Bishop Maginn is changing lives.