Congratulations on ten years on the internet. The New Colonist inspires so many people. I have received many responses to my article in 2005,.... Congratulations on ten years on the internet. The New Colonist inspires so many people. I have received many responses to my article in 2005, "An Artist's Life in New York City." People wanted to know how I survive and combine a day job with my art' and where is a good neighborhood to live that is not too expensive. All I can say to any artist in 2009 is surviving in NYC takes a lot of stamina and perseverance. Be realistic; keep the day job to pay bills and create your art after work and weekends. Use this down time in the economy to build a new body of work. Your work is what defines you not how you earn a living. Some of my highlights since 2005... last year had a TV spot on OvationTV, My Work, My Life, My Art. My work was chosen from thousands of entries. I also had an article written about it in Art Calendar magazine by Kim Hall, Seize the TV. January 08. My work is currently exhibited at the US Embassy in Lima, Peru. The Queens Courier newspaper featured an article by Marianna Nash, Queens Artists Works Hang in US Embassies along with my artist/husband, John Ferdico. Working and living in New York makes you an international artist. Go for it and never stop doing what you love. Diane Leon

Diane Leon-Ferdico