Laura's artists journey

SO MANY ARE HURTING

I have been reading through many GoFundMe stories. My heart breaks for the families in them and for the situations they find themselves in. If I was to compare my pain to other I would bow deeply and back out of the room. But there can be no comparisons. The cliché holds that we are not in a race with others, we are only in a race with ourselves. All I have is my story…

Although art figures prominently in my story, this is not a pretty picture and it is not a creative request. I need the help of compassionate and understanding people. This is an EMERGENCY GoFundMe campaign because I am no longer "treading water," and find myself in a sinkhole that I can not get out of on my own. I need a lifeline to secure a simple live/work space and work equipment so that I can support myself again.

MY STORY…

My name is Laura Andrews , I am a hard working botanical artist in Los Angeles and have supported myself through the sale of my art during the last 10 years.

I create art that celebrates and honors nature. I press flowers and leaves of every variety. I dry them, handpaint them to avoid fading and then embedded them in resin creating grand and expansive gardens that will be at the peak of their bloom forever!

But recently..a series of devastating events have occurred in my life. Now my art is packed away and inaccessible.

All of the grand botanical art that I created in the last year is in a storage unit in Canoga Park California. And I am fighting to keep an artist dream alive….

EVICTED: HOW IT HAPPENED

1. Despite the Covid Eviction Moratorium, I was evicted as the result of a predatory ad on Craigslist. I had a moment of contentment as I moved to a nice area in Woodland Hills California. I happily set up my art studio in a 600 sq ft garage that opened up onto a garden. But it was a scam! The man who I rented from was collecting rent from multiple people on a property he did NOT own! I was forced to rent a short-term storage space for my art studio materials and my personal belongings.

MY TRUCK WAS STOLEN

2. My truck was stolen a couple of weeks after the eviction! This old but reliable truck had become my impromptu workspace on wheels. I loaded up my truck with my artwork every day and set up popup art kiosks around the Valley, I worked tirelessly from sunrise to sunset with the goal of recouping my finances so I could get back on my feet again. When my truck was stolen I could no longer do it on my own.

MY PURSE AND WORK COMPUTER STOLEN

3. Fortunately, a week later, my truck was found but everything inside was gone. My purse was stolen along with all my bank cards and important medical items. Also stolen was my laptop computer that I had just bought to set up an online shop. I was hoping to give my body a rest after years of loading and unloading my truck to sell my artwork. An online shop was what I needed...

NEXT, MY MEDICAL EMERGENCY

4. The day after recovering my truck, I suffered a serious medical emergency that I was fortunate to survive. I woke up in the emergency room after passing out in a parking lot. I had developed MULTIPLE blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) that traveled to my lungs in the form of multiple pulmonary embolisms. I had fainted as a result. My head struck against the asphalt so hard that I developed a huge bump on the back of my head.

Important treatment for the blood clots in my lungs was delayed as the doctors focused on scanning my head three times to determine if I had an intracranial bleed.

I spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit as well as the Cardiac Unit. I was discharged from the hospital while I was still short of breath and was given a three-month prescription for blood thinners. At the time, I had nowhere to go.

PRESENTLY (AFTER THE HOSPITAL)

The timing of these events was unrelenting, like waves crashing over my head. It did not allow me to catch my breath before the next wave came. I am presently recuperating in a safe place thanks to a friend.

MY GOAL

I want to be able to work again and support myself as I have for many years. I've accepted the fact that I need help right now and humbly ask for your consideration.

My goal is to raise $26,000. This amount will get me back on my feet quickly and safely. I will use the money to pay for storage for my art and belongings while I secure housing and an art studio.

The money would go towards deposits for these spaces, food, medicine, a few months of rent until sales start to flow again, (I have always had consistent sales), and I would love to replace the items that were stolen from me, most importantly a computer, my tools, prescription glasses, and other important personal items.

Your gift will measurably transform my life. I need to get back to a safe place… and then a place of creating. And ultimately a place where I am giving back!

Any amount will very much help to transform my life regardless of whether I reach my goal.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU

As my gofundme goal is realized, I will post regular updates that chronicle my rise

from

a physically compromised, short-of-breath, tapped-out, depressed artist

to a

"DARLING OF THE ART WORLD"

(and everything in between)!!

MY HOPE AND GRATITUDE

This is an artist journey that may not happen. But this campaign represents my fight to keep hope alive.

I have so many good things going for me in life. I am a committed artist who has a lot of beauty to add to this world. I make art that glorifies and honors nature. I recently received a compliment…that my art “brings the heavens down to earth" . I am grateful for that talent.

I am grateful for my life and my body’s ability to heal. I am so grateful, but I need help right now.

PLEASE HELP BY SHARING MY STORY

I questioned how gofundme could work if one had little family and circle of influence.

I had to read articles on benevolence and charitable giving and they stressed an HONEST STORY, TRANSPARENCY and A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW SOMEONE’S GIFT WILL MEASURABLY TRANSFORM THE LIFE OF THE RECIEVER.

They also stressed the power of ASKING PEOPLE TO SHARE YOUR STORY.

With an open and humble heart, I’m asking you to please considering contributing whatever you can.

If you are unable to contribute financially can you please consider sharing this story with others on social media.

Thank you for listening to my story

Namaste

An artist journey, Laura Andrews