Have you ever felt a Spark?

I remember always wanting to be an artist, and it's always been the career I've dreamed of. Sure I've gone off course with thoughts of being something else. Such as a librarian, or a roller skater waitress (a kid can dream right?), as well as being a professional ballerina. But nothing stuck like the feeling of a paint brush or a pencil in my hand.

One thing I seem to think about nowadays that I never thought of as a child is, money. How am I going to get money? How will I pay for my lifestyle? My bills? My future family? While thinking of my future career as an artist, I never thought of how it would work out in terms of income. And after graduating college, I've come to realize that getting an income as an artist is harder then I'd thought.
That can be a little discouraging when you've already spent all that money on a degree, but never the less it is done. I have my fancy piece of paper and 4 years of interesting memories, but no professional income in my chosen career path.

When on yahoo news I saw an article on a doctor. ----> Here
This man brought a realization to me, that had been fogged up in the thoughts of money/bills/growing up/pressure of making a comfortable living/ect. I remembered why I got into art. I wanted to show people a different world, view, perspective. I wanted to help people make there dreams and visions real. To put on paper what they could not. Money was never involved in this equation, it was never even a passing thought. Not until college when I was taught that I should stop drawing for free and that everything I produced should come with a price tag. That was hard for me to take in, seeing that I never thought my work could have a price, I never thought it would. And I still have a hard time with this in some way or another.

It's hard for me to sell myself when I don't know how to price myself. Well I shouldn't say "how", it's more like "what am I worth?" And in my eyes not much, but other's would say differently.

Now a couple days after reading this post and coming to this wonderful realization, I came across this website. ------> Sparked
It's a non-profit website, to help those who need help with creative idea's but have no money to pay for it. To me, that's perfect. I can pitch some creative ideas, show some designs, keep my practice up, all without the stress of telling someone what they should be paying me. I know that sounds weird...almost like I have no self worth. But I do, I know I do. But I'm not in it for the money. If someone can pay me, that's great pay me. But I don't want to put someone in debt for having to pay me a butt load of money, because they picked someone with the degree in art. I like to work with people and there budgets, so they can pay me what they can. But have enough to launch there idea, get that running start, or have enough to get that book published.

My dream is to be a freelance artist, with many loving clients. That I will know, become friends with and have great relationships with. I don't look at clients and see walking/talking money signs, I see people with dreams.

And I want to help those dreams come true.

While I understand this could take a never long time, I'm okay with that. When it doesn't come thinking about artist income. I think of other ways to make income, with other passions of mine. Like working for jobs that are based and produced in the USA, and not having anything to do with China. Or jobs that support organic farms and jobs influencing a brighter and simpler lifestyle. I have other thoughts and other passions. I'm lucky enough to have a job that was born in my home state, Michigan. And though it has nothing to do with art, it does make me happy to know I'm working and with the logical part of my brain.

That side could use some exercise.