When a Pennsylvania art student learned that he owed $7,000 for his tuition fees, he shrewdly used his artistic talent to raise the money to pay back the debt.

The Huffington Post reported that the bill caught Noah Hamilton, of Temple University, off guard as he was under the impression that his tuition was covered by a scholarship.

The artist’s mother, Jane Hamilton, admitted that her son didn’t tell the family about his financial problems because “he didn’t want me to worry.” She explained that persistent health issues had forced her to give up her job.

When Noah’s mother eventually found out about his plan to leave school and work at a grocery store until he could repay his debt, she launched a fundraising campaign titled Will Paint for Tuition, which invited internet users to donate money in return for an original artwork by Noah.

The young artist set his prices between $25 for a sketch or caricature, to $1,000 for commissioned works. Within two weeks Noah raised $8,110, surpassing his $7,000 goal. He told the Huffington Post: “I never expected to make my goal in time, let alone surpass it before the fundraiser finished.” Jane Hamilton told Penn Live that she was “amazed” and “completely blown away,” by the success of the fundraiser.

Noah is now back at Temple studying towards his bachelor’s degree. It will be a busy semester—he still has a list of “40 or so” benefactors waiting for paintings.