Hard Truths: Fools for Love

I feel like a fool. A month ago, I received an email from a foreign art collector who said he admired my paintings and wanted to buy one for his wife as a birthday present. Rent was coming up, and, honestly, it felt validating that someone liked my work. We went back and forth before settling on a large painting. He sent a check that included a few thousand extra to cover shipping and payment for the art handlers, which had to be in cash. A couple guys with a truck came to collect the work. It a