12/24/2020
The gentleman in this painting reached out to me a few months back and commissioned this painting for his anniversary. I was quite excited since most of my paintings are purchased through friends, family, and coworkers. This man found me on Facebook and just reached out. What fortune!
So I got right to work and made sure this was completed in time for the anniversary. When it was close to being finished, I reached out to ask for his address so I could ship it and he replied, "I will be sending my personal shipper to pick it up in Denver and drive it cross county to me." "Well, OK," I thought. I finished up and reached out to schedule the pick up and ask for payment.
"I would like to send you a check for both the painting and the shipping. I would like you to pay my shipper directly." said the man.
"Why can't you just pay your shipper? Why do you need me to do that?!" I asked.
After many back and forths, and explanations of wanting to keep it a secret for his wife. And not wanting it mailed so she won't find out about it when it gets delivered. And having no other friends or family or business I could ship it to. The story grew that his shipper was traveling through Denver with a shipment of something else and he wouldn't make the delivery until he gets paid...and that he would have his personal financier send me the checks so it wasn't coming directly from him... He even as far as to say "Look, $1000 may seem like a lot to you, but I'm a well off business man and this isn't a big deal to me."
I finally said, "Look, this is a side gig for me. This isn't making or breaking my bank. Either 1) venmo me the money and I'll ship it to you, 2) pay your guy yourself, or 3) I'll just keep the painting." I never heard from the guy again.
So now I have this painting of some guy that I'm pretty sure was trying to use me as a mule to pass through a payment for some shipment he didn't want on his books and was going to get me pay for with a bounced check.
Anyone else have thoughts on what this guy was up to?
Anyway, it's a great sample painting that I can use to advertise my work. Hit me up if you want a personalized painting of you or someone you live. Or if you want to buy this one, it's kind of weird to have a painting of someone you don't know...but I won't judge you.
