Starving Artist

Fiorella posted a painting of her younger son on Facebook and her heart warmed when she was asked if she still takes commissions.
Art was Fio's first talent, from when she was two years old and drew a identifiable picture of her mother's vacuum cleaner, but art is not big business these days. Photography is not only cheaper, but more accessible. Besides, Fio is of the old school--Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Wyeth, and the like--and realism is so old hat. And then there's the fact that Fiorella, aside from being in an after-school oil-painting class class for about five years, was self-taught. Still, she's convinced that about a hundred years from now, her paintings and drawings will be valued at millions so if you find anything signed by Fio's real name, save it and hand it down to your grandchildren.