Arsh Pal, a 12-year-old artist from Dubuque, Iowa, has been selling his work since he was eight years old. The adolescent wished to raise $1,000 (approx 82,000) for charity. Four years later, he has far surpassed his goal. Arsh has sold hundreds of acrylic and watercolour paintings for more than $15,000 in total (around Rs 12 lakh). Except for a small portion for supplies, every dollar has gone to charities that benefit children.
Arsh believes that young people have the power to change the world. His mother revealed to The Washington Post that he has always been artistically inclined. Divya Pal and her husband, Sanjeev, enrolled their son in activities such as piano, karate, and gymnastics, but he preferred art.
Arsh received a watercolour set as his eighth birthday gift from Divya and Sanjeev. He learned to paint by spending all of his free time in front of a canvas.
When a stack of finished canvases began to accumulate, he decided to distribute them to friends and family. He also displayed some pieces that were purchased by students at his school.
Inspired to sell his artwork for charity
Arsh was frequently visiting a local nursing home where his mother works as an occupational therapist around the same time. Spending time there inspired him to start selling his art for charity. As a result, he launched his Art by Arsh fundraising campaign. His paintings can be purchased at local art shows, restaurants, and libraries, as well as through his Instagram and Facebook pages.
In 2018, he gave his first $1,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and he has since expanded his support to include organizations such as Easterseals, Compass to Care, the Riverview Center, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
He told the leading daily that the cost of his work varies depending on its size and complexity. Small pieces, for example, have sold for $10 (over Rs 800), whereas larger paintings, which can reach five feet in length, have sold for $800. He earned $10,000 (nearly Rs 8 lakh) by auctioning two pieces at a charity event last fall.
“One of my future goals is to make art accessible for kids who want to express themselves,” Arsh told Washington Post. The little one has already started providing free art lessons to local children and is hopeful to grow his classes in the future.
