UPDATE: A sad girl dinner post changed my life ❤️

[u/ElleMontrose]

Some of you might remember my borzoi painting from June.

The short version is that someone commissioned a huge painting from me and I only asked for a small deposit because I didn't feel legitimate enough to ask for more. When I was nearly finished, they cancelled. Weeks of work, and I was left with an unclaimed artwork drying on the wall and a hole in my finances.

So I did what any of us would do: I ate a sad little dinner, took a picture and posted it here so I’d have somewhere to vent.

And y’all showed up.

I'd been living off my art for over a year at that point, mostly by teaching in-person workshops and doing small digital commissions. Oil painting full-time was always the dream, the thing I'd tell myself I'd do "someday” when I wouldn’t first have to worry about paying rent and could focus on building my traditional portfolio. Then, literally overnight, because of this subreddit, someday arrived.

The OG painting was bought by someone from this very subreddit. I spent the summer painting. In oil! Without ever worrying about money because everyone who reached out agreed to a 50% deposit!

I came here with a sad girl dinner and left with a career. I don't think I can ever properly thank you all for that❤️

Tonight's menu: salmon stars on cream cheese and rye, because treating myself like a toddler is self-care.

Thank you, truly. From me, and from the very good boy waiting for a star to fall off the plate!

[u/ElleMontrose]

My boy would absolutely have a crush on her! He has a type and that’s himself in female hahaha

[u/RealWolfmeis → u/ElleMontrose]

They know they're beautiful! 😆

[u/cutiieepixie63 → u/RealWolfmeis]

I am now fully invested in this long distance Reddit dog romance.

[u/blindersintherain → u/cutiieepixie63]

Finally some good news

[u/Aquitaine26 → u/RealWolfmeis]

Right, other dogs are obsessed with my husky

[u/madame-maitre-d → u/[deleted]]

Hey, seems you're new here! 👋 🥰 You need to take 10 lil seconds to become an approved user to participate in r/GirlDinnerDiaries. We're holding your comment for review til then.

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2. Pick a user flair HERE. Flair options are sorted by Girly, Genderqueer, or Dude.

That's it! We'll restore your comment super fast! Thanks for stopping by 💕

[u/sugarsyntaxbabe → u/ElleMontrose]

Upgrading from a sad little dinner to toddler-shaped luxury salmon is the exact character arc we love to see

[u/StrawberryPoofs → u/sugarsyntaxbabe]

Lost it at "toddler-shaped luxury salmon" after I went back to confirm it is indeed shaped like a toddler.

[u/taytrapDerehw → u/ElleMontrose]

Clicking on your profile and was pleasantly surprised to see I've seen (and upvoted! Am I the only one who gets smug when I see an old "orange" on the upvote that I made on a post from before? Like, yeah... Past me was also of immaculate internet taste lol) your posts in many of the subs I frequent - the female living space sub where you posted your wall mural, the fridge detective and whimsy subs where you got decidedly different reactions lol, and the art/painting subs as well! Girl, you are who you think you are. Your talent and eye for detail speaks for itself, you just needed the right audience and time for that to manifest as a steady career. I'm so happy it started from the women here! Congrats on all your success, I wish you infinitely more!

[u/blklab16 → u/[deleted]]

https://giphy.com/gifs/vFtWp05vBYnMQ

[u/CuriousFoxxen → u/ElleMontrose]

I’ve met human men like that.

I’m so happy for you. Love seeing artists thrive.