Being "discovered"

I haven't been "discovered" in the sense of "making the big time."  I have about as much a chance of being struck by lightning, I think.  

However, I recently donated two of my older pieces (2004-2006 time frame) to Goodwill just to move them out of my studio.  Don't be aghast.  They never sold, they were in the way, I was tired of them, etc...  So, I sent them out into the wide world.  Most people buy artwork at Goodwill for the frames, I thought.  So, I was surprised to get an email from a man who bought the two pieces and liked them enough to contact me.  Turns out, he bought them on Craigslist.  Interesting.  It had not occurred to me that people bought works by unknown artists at Goodwill, garage sales, etc., to re-sell them.  He bought them both for a total of $175.00.  He is interested enough in my work, he wants to see more.  So, I will be arranging to do so.

Here is one of the two pieces I donated to Goodwill:

Titled "The Coyote Shawl," acrylic on board, if I remember correctly.   I donated this piece to a silent auction fundraiser a few years back.  It didn't sell.  Oh, people liked it.  But not enough to buy it.  Why would they buy a painting of someone they don't even know, after all?  I would say, "Because you like it."  But, liking it isn't enough.  Buy a piece because you love it and don't want to live without it.  And, I hope, perhaps one of mine will be on your short list.