Dear DDV,
Well its been some time since hearing from you I had thought you maybe sick or something happen. As I stated in your letter some months ago I received the money $100.00, as for not writing its not clear to me what your trying to say. You had given me the impression you were an artist and where doing well with that as well as being involved in other things. That I assume shows to me you have many irons in the fire. So now when you say your forced to take a job apparently you haven't been telling me the whole truth. Of course I don't claim to know all the customs of your country. I know in this country if your on welfare you have to be willing to accept job interviews or they will cut off the aid. However your not forced to take the job so I giess thats why I don't understand where your coming from. In any case sorry to hear that. Now what I am wondering is I also thought you were into music,so what happen to your group? also what happen to your magazine FORCE MENTAL I thought that was all doing well for you?
Regarding my latest list of paintings you were sharpt in attacking me by assuming my price to you was going up too. If I quoted you a price early on then thats what it stays I don't go back on my word, but don't assume you know how I think because I amsure your wrong most of the time. Of course I am still waiting to see the photo of what you want done unless you have decided something from my list in either case the price is just as good from the old list and my price increases have nothing to do with you. I also felt your comments about taking my words about my talent being a gift from God has anything to do with my raising my prices. Hey while my talent maybe a gift from God the art materials I have to buy from the prison. And in July they raised art material cost 25% so I have to pay that as we don't get a chance to shop around, plus last April our postal rate went up and I send out all paintings in first class mail. This is the first time in six years that I had raised prices, and yet I am told my prices are too low, but I kept my prices low to cover my costs and to pay all my expenses while in prison since I won't accept money gifts from anyone. In regards to my running my art like a business, hell I was and am a business man, so I structure most every thing I do along a business line. however in the United states when your in prison your not allowed to run a business, so its not. its just seem that way becauseI personally handle it like one. We are not allowed to advertise, so the only way people find out about my paintings is if they request my oil painting list or I send them to people I write too. I don't think I have ever considered myself an artist, that is left to the critic and how people view my work. If you define artist in the dictionary its one who paints and sells his work, so you can assume that after I sold my first painting I was known as an artist. And what the media prints about me I have no control over so your question as to why the press releases,all I did was send you what has been printed about my art work from newspapers so what you find rather strange is also assumed on your part as I have nothing to do with what is printed.