How did you get your start as a pro?

[Lon Haverly]

I for one started drawing portraits in Eugene, Oregon down at a little Saturday Market in 1972 for some extra money. I only charged $3 for my little pencil drawings, but I was busy all day long and made as much money in a day as I had made in a week at my construction job.

After a couple of Saturdays of that, I took my earnings and my wife on a trip to California to visit some of her relatives in Sacramento. There happened to be a huge new mall a mile away. I thought it would be grand to draw there a couple of days to offset my expenses. I went in to the offices armed with a drawing pad, and drew a portrait of the promotions director. He said I could draw there for $25 a day rent (alot of money for me then - a whole days wage!) So I did. I worked in life size charcoals on quality charcoal paper, and I was swamped! When I was finished, they asked me to stick around and draw. I sheepishly said that I had a job I had to get back to in Eugene. (Hah! What a fool!) I went home, and relayed the offer to my wife, and she sent me trotting back there to accept, urging me to quit the job in Eugene. Thank God for wives! I drew there for two months at that rent. Then they cancelled my rent and let me work there for free for two years! I henceforth drew portraits in charcoals every day for twelve years!