Now that Black Friday is over, I'm going to write something about what it means to me to put a price on my work, my designs, my creativity and my time. It is a really difficult subject and deserves its own reflection, since not everyone values the artist's work as a job, that is to say, as something that deserves an economic remuneration. It is very frequent to have to "justify" that creation needs an economic support that allows the artist to develop those works that make people feel.

"Art for life" is the motto that gives meaning to my vocation, I say it many times because it is true. I could not live without it, without what it gives me as an artist and as a person. Art allows me to share what I feel or perceive of the world around me, of what I would like, of what I have lived and dreamt. To be able to pour my emotions into a melting pot where they melt and take shape so that I can look them in the face, accept them and move on... My works tell what we cannot express in any other way, they are silences, laughter, pain, joy, peace, loneliness, love, despair, encounter, distance... life itself and the hope that sustains it. Art keeps me sane, it always embraces me and also gathers what many of us don't know how to explain... In a way it heals me, it gives me a breath, it gives me energy, it tells me that everything is possible, it allows me all the time I need to find myself again, to isolate myself, to take a deep breath, to connect with myself so that others can connect with themselves when they see themselves in my sculptures, my paintings, my drawings, my texts. If we think about it, art is also part of everyone's life, even if they are not aware of it. I believe that music and dance are two arts that we carry with us, we sing and dance to express ourselves in a natural way and we would not conceive of a celebration without music and dance, we sing and dance alone often (at least I do). Enjoying the plastic arts requires a little more effort, we have to get a little closer to them, to our inner self... but the beauty of everything that surrounds us and that we perceive with every sense is the artistic manifestation of a universal reality: "Art for living". The moment art comes into our life it will stay with us until our last breath. That is the wonder.

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The artist needs to acquire knowledge to find the medium in which to express himself, he needs to reflect, to evolve, to develop his work, in short: to investigate . From this research will emerge music, dances, works, stories, poems, that will heal our soul, that will give meaning to a heartbreak, to a reunion, to a goodbye, to a new hopeful heartbeat, to a joy, to a challenge to overcome, to a goal reached, to a mistake made, to a sincere apology, to a new beginning... What price a medicine like this has to have? Art is, by nature, a light that cannot be hidden, it shines on rich and poor alike, on children and the elderly, on every human being, generous and with a value that is difficult to calculate. We do not question the price of a professional, we ask for an estimate and if it seems right we hire him or not, depending on the work to be done, on the references we have, on multiple factors such as his experience, his image, the need that moves us... etc. I am incapable of haggling, I admit it, if I can't pay I save or look for another option, my respect for the work of others is sacred. I know very well all that is hidden behind the price tag of the services of all honest and honest professionals, I value their effort, capacity, training and dedication to what they do or offer.

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The value and the price of things are not the same thing. The offers arise from a specific situation and, I believe, always out of necessity. Black Friday" arose after the 1929 crisis in the United States to free up stock that had not been sold, bringing forward Christmas shopping and allowing people to buy products at a much lower price; they were one-day offers in which everyone won. Now it lasts more than a week and I think it creates a distorted view of the reality for most shops: it suggests that the consumer is being cheated the rest of the year. If we were to take a closer look at what it takes to open a shop or start a business, perhaps we would change the way we see things and not wait for these impossible offers. It is totally acceptable for everyone to manage their products and stock as they see fit, of course! In my case, I offer occasional discounts on my ideAndo designs and my reversible C'UP mugs as a thank you or on specific dates. I developed these design lines precisely to be more accessible and to have exclusive designs, treated with the care of a numbered series and so that other establishments can incorporate them into their catalogue. Giving visibility to my creativity and reaching another public is an exciting challenge, finding the balance to move forward is always an adventure.

Making a living from art is another story and staying afloat is a titanic effort... I know it well. I'm not going to go into details, but I want to thank once again (it will never be enough) the support of all those who have helped me and help me to get here, without them it would not have been possible. I would also like to say, once again, that putting a price on my works of art is the most difficult thing of all, behind each one there are countless hours dedicated to realising that idea, materials, venue expenses, petrol, time and creativity to make something unique, that moves, that expresses and makes the spectator feel. Enjoying them in my exhibitions is free, but having them at home has that price that is so difficult to put, that is why I created my Patrons Club, they are the only ones who have advantages in the acquisition of my works, in each one of them there is a little piece of me and that is a value that works of art cannot convert into a price. How much is an emotion worth?

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"Art as a gift" is the second part of the title of this publication, a statement that invites us to consider this possibility at any time and for any reason, to surprise, to reward ourselves, to say without words what we feel, to always be moved when we see it, to live. I have always wanted to share my vocation with anyone who comes to know my work and I do it in many different ways, each one offers me a channel to express myself and each facet of my creativity adapts to unique moments.

I just want to make giving art as a gift an option for you too.

Thank you so much for your time! It has been a gift to me that you have made it this far.

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