Like many other artists, I’ve found myself in a tight spot due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn. It might sound like malarkey, but I believe the only way to get through this is together.
As you may know, my part-time graphic design job with a coffee shop franchise had to let me go because they didn’t have cash coming in — they had to close dining rooms due to safer-at-home measures. Cash is oxygen for a business. Families, too!

A few weeks ago when this whole situation began I started seeing these red squares on Instagram, with #artistsupportpledge on them. I saw something about £200 which doesn’t mean much to me since I’m American, so I kind of ignored it for a while.
But I have seen it a few more times since, and realized that the way this works is for every $1,000 an artist makes, they turn around and spend $200 on another artist’s work. And they price their own work at $200.
The point is to sell small works at a low price point and turn around and buy other artist’s work in the same fashion.
That way we can all support each other. It’s a win for everybody. People buying art win because it’s inexpensive artwork, and artists win because it’s a sale, and other artists win because it’s a sale for them, too. I don’t believe in artists competing with each other, so let’s all help each other out.
So, I am committing to the Artist Support Pledge now.
For the foreseeable future, I am committing to selling $200 artworks, and for every $1,000 I make, I am going to buy a $200 piece of art. I would love to build a really cool collection of other artist’s art in my home! (I have plenty of my own art! 🤣) Just check out my Instagram.
This crisis is the perfect time to practice generosity.
When things aren’t going perfectly is the perfect time to practice generosity. It takes the focus off yourself and puts it on those around you. It’s not that you have it better than somebody else, because we are all suffering. It’s about helping your fellow artists (and ultimately, your fellow humans.)
Let generosity be infectious.
If you want to know more about the pledge, visit the FAQ page on Matthew Burrow’s site.