I get so lazy sitting at the market all day. Sometimes I don’t get out of my booth unless it’s to use the facilities or get ice cream. That worked out quite well for me this weekend since I made my little helper Emilia bring some of her artwork .

I’ve known Emilia for over 20 years. An SVA graduate, she has always struggled to make ends meet in the real world while working on her paintings. She is currently managing a successful art studio for someone else. Her work, as well as the other studio artists, goes unappreciated. Judging from the stories I hear, the place is a step above a sweatshop. Oh wait, do sweatshop employees get paid a week late?

Emilia has always had this idea to paint on found objects, but she doesn’t have much free time these days. Last week I twisted her arm to get some paintings together to sell at my Brooklyn Flea booth so I don’t have to pay her as much. (What? Did you think I was doing it out of the goodness of my own heart?) The small paintings are done on pieces of reclaimed wood and coated in oil polyurethane for protection. They are $35 online and as always, negotiable at the market. People seemed to really like them yesterday and they make lovely holiday gifts, kids!

If you’re in need of faux finishing, murals, gold letter painting or any skilled artist work in your home, Emilia is the one to contact. Whatever she can’t manage, trust me, she knows someone who can. She has access to all the struggling artists in NYC looking for work.

The paintings aren’t online yet, but check out Emilia’s wooloo site.