Skip to main content

Adventures in Unemployment!

Carrying a heavy load? Me? ALWAYS!

I know this is going to be a great productive and creative year for me. My art is wanted by several venues right now and my job on the planet is to create, paint and make paintings appear. I've been so focused getting works ready for gallery showings that I havent been able to do "affordable" art or focus on small commissions right now. Hence why theres a big beautiful termination notice sitting next to me on my work table. Nothing will make you appreciate the wonder of fire on your stove and being able to cook or take hot showers than a termination notice. AI AI AI! But no fear. Like I said, I know good things are on their way to me it's a matter of juggling, being patient and WORKING MY ARSE OFF! My fingers are crossed some of the newer works sell and I do have some freelance jobs that are going to save me this month. A graphic design job popped up and a mural gig. Ah, the ol' mural crew! I'll be up on ladders and floors in no time. I'll post more about that when it's all set to happen but know it's at a medical place and will require me to get shots before I can start working there. Fun? Of course! So while I'm totally feeling elated about my works being appreciated I'm still sitting in the hot seat for a bit. Coinstar machine yielded me $13 yesterday, I was able to get a chicken and some veggies. This photo reminded me of the very tough times of having $7 to my name and having to ride hard and carry everything on my bike....which really, is still my reality LOL!
Working on some horizontal format pieces today and trying to find the energy to go to PiYo class. Really and honestly I am not feeling it. I will regret not going but my energy is at zero. Maybe breakfast will help.
Anyway- an update from the really Real world of freelance artist land. Keep a positive mental state and weather the punches!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jim Rockford was keeping me broke

Ah Rockford files, a comfortable and silly way to unwind after work. Yes, I am completely aware that I've turned into my Dad and watching Dad shows totally cements that theory. I had to start looking at the handsome James Garner in a new light though... He was a rich and famous star in his time and every evening spent curled up watching Rockford Files was an evening a painting wasn't getting worked on. No painting, no art show material. No painting, no galleries. No painting, no money. Would James Garner be watching TV every evening in a tired drowsy ball and not getting stuff done? Probably not.  So I pulled myself away from TV land in the evenings and devoted at least a little time in the mornings as well. Even if it's just ten minutes. Even if you are just filling in all the blacks, blues or whatever... It is progress. Something is better than nothing. I'm proud to say this little habit tweak has totally kicked my butt into gear and I'm producing at a rate I'
Post a Comment
Read more

How I had the best art year

  This was the year I got rejection letters from every open call I applied to. Granted, it wasn't very many I applied to because I am very picky about what I sign up for AND I am also very jaded about these things of late.  However, this was my best art year to date and I kinda love that it was all rejection notices this year and I STILL HAD THE BEST ART YEAR EVER. Takeaway: Today's open calls are very "agenda based" and the jurors they choose to judge have their agendas. Some want more millennials and younger artists and shun the older artists, some want you to tackle race, gender identity, politics, feminist, pro this or that.... And my art does not. I'm going to stick by  my "Nature is more important than most bullshit" stance till I die because the very atom of life and Nature is more important in my eyes than most of the stuff humans do to feel more important than another group.  But I digress! I did not get into the velvet rope clubs and it was gre
Post a Comment
Read more

The Backstory- cliff notes edition

  Skip navigation  little backstory I was totally working for myself as an artist and you know what? It was HARD! Harder than hard and harder than any job ever. But it was the most rewarding experience and I learned so much about so many things and I want to share that knowledge with you guys... My VIP art club. I didn't get a fair shake from the very beginning of my art career. I suffered a back injury at my "muggle" job which required a lot of physical therapy to get over and which I will have with me forever now. It was actually the impetus for me to quit my job and start being an artist! So I turned my bad luck into fuel for my fire. I saved 5k (painstakingly while enduring all the BS at a terrible job) and then I made the leap. I was so excited and optimistic about working for myself! I had sold little pieces here and there and was sure it was only upwards from there. 2 weeks into my freedom- my Dad died unexpectedly. What came next was indescribable DEPRESSION and a
Post a Comment
Read more