What Do We Need, When Do We Need It?

  As artists we run the spectrum from frugal to generous and as artists we can change the definition of these words for ourselves. Each of us must define for ourselves what feeds our artistic soul and what starves us.
 
  For the "traditional" artist, it's generous to shop for supplies. But for an assemblage artist for example it's generous to regularly hunt for unique objects, not necessarily at a store and not necessarily new. Classes, workshops, art related events, books and magazines. All of these things feed the artists soul. The most important element of anything that feeds an artists soul is time and space.

  So what about place? Does an artist really need to have a particular environment in order to not just produce but to thrive? Many would say no. That artists should stop making excuses and just do it anywhere. My opinion is yes. Yes artists need an environment to live and not just work which feeds their artistic soul. If an artist thrives in any rural community to large city in any country then that artist is very lucky and an exception.

  An artist of any kind is usually sensitive to their environment and needs things from it that most people do not. An artist may thrive best in a quiet, non bustling community while another would crave opportunities and events at their fingertips. Then there is the issue of safety. Some artists have no thoughts to issues of safety. But there are many who do. Safety includes a community that supports you and the work you do. It also includes crime and whether or not there is adequate medical support available.

  Sometimes it takes time to realize that a choice that you thought was good for you as an artist was not a complete vision. But that is the great thing about being an artist. We are trained to be spontaneous and creative with our solutions because we can look at everything from different angles. We know when something isn't working. Sometimes it's staring us in the face. Sometimes it's sneaking up on us. We have that feeling that something isn't right and that we can't just sit on our hands hoping that it will be acceptable. Because it isn't and won't ever be. We have to listen to ourselves. Generously listen to what we have to say about exactly what it is that we need and when do we need it?

  We can know what we need but say that we can put it off. Putting whatever it is off becomes a habit and at some point there will be a day where it all crumbles down on you. Why would anyone put off getting themselves something that they have admitted that they need? For one, an artist puts off what they know they need until later because though they have admitted they need it, they aren't quite surrendering to the idea. Whatever it is could be quite overwhelming to them. Such as, the choice to pick up your entire life and move to another part of the country or even to a new one. Or it can be as simple as doubting oneself to be able to do something well.

  Part of generosity is to allow imperfection, allow mistakes and to chant the mantra "Whatever will be, will be." This is very hard. We feel safer when we believe that we can control and manipulate our lives and things in it to be the way we think it should be. Yet sometimes we are wrong. There may be one of our creations that we loath. And then a friend will fall in love with that piece and have to have it while you stare in awe, not understanding.

  We need to feel safe enough and at the same time we need to also let go of that need for safety in order to do anything new and fresh. Part of what builds our confidence is to generously believe in ourselves to take that leap and to generously accept wherever we land. It's stuffy expectations and controlled visions that make us frugal and choke the life out of our creative flow. We are most fed when we pick a direction but also allow a flow for us to follow. We sniff new directions rather than analyzing them to death.

  Whatever work you do as an artist choose everyday, some way to be generous and to know the particulars of what that means to you.

The Art of Frugality

So I haven't posted a pic of the painting I did a few weeks back and I haven't started on any new projects. Why?
1. Holidays are distracting.
2. Financial issues are distracting
3. Hard decisions to make are distracting

People can say that there is no excuse for not being a productive artist and in most situations I would agree. But in this particular situation alot of thinking and discussing and planning has had to go on.
First decision was how are we going to get rid of debt before EI runs out at the end of next year?

Yes I'm airing my dirty laundry because when your an artist it's not like you can go off skipping off into lala land with your yarn and your wool and your paints. There are a lot of decisions I have had to make and still some I am considering.

My first decision was to not get any parts for the spinning wheel I have and then I decided that I would take all of the money that I got back from leaving school would go towards getting rid of a card because that would mean saving approx $69 a month.I had gone back and forth on if I was getting parts or selling the wheel I have and I have decided to sell the wheel.

Second decision after this was turning off the heat in our apartment during the very coldest time of the winter here in Fredericton N.B. With the heater off and living in a small room with an electric heater and floor heater most of the time, keeping our cats and our bunny rabbit in the room to stay warm. Our apartment runs on ventilated heat with some rooms being controlled by electric heat. Luckily the bedroom heater has a controlled dial switch on it rather than for the whole apartment.

Third decision was to sell some of the supplies I got from the store at the school which I thought I would make use of. But at this point it will sit there because I only have part of what I need. The other issue is that all money should go towards expenses and debts etc rather than a bundle of yarn or two for a small project. As an artist there are start up costs.

Fourth decision was to not have prints or greeting cards done up of my work at a local business because that means money. Again start up costs.

Fifth decision I have yet to make. Do I sell my beautiful loom, my warping board, my books that came with them, the knitting machine, the extra parts and the books that came with them.

I am mostly leaning towards selling them.

But I will never sell the two guitars that I own! Not ever!

Most books written by artists and for artists are trying to teach artists how to be less frugal with themselves because making art of any kind is not seen as a necessity in this day and age. And whatever is not a necessity is a waste of time or perhaps a gluttonous sin. But those books are for artists that have everything they possibly need except their own permission to be an artist in order to do what they wish. Those books aren't for me because I give myself permission to do all of the things I wish, that I am good at and have an intelligence for but I do not have the means and I cannot trust that there is no end of the line waiting for me in the semi near distant future.

Artists can be purely logical and intelligent to make those kinds of decisions. It is a myth that artists are completely indulgent and so indulgent to the point that they can't see beyond the end of their paintbrush or studio. I have always known that homelessness is a very true reality to anyone including me. I am not and cannot be ignorant of reality, especially not with my yogic training.

So if your an artist scraping by like so many people are these days, whether they choose to be artists or not, do what you can and take comfort in the fact that this won't be a permanent situation as long as you are very very smart. You may have to make some sad decisions like I have. I will be sad to see my store of wool disappear out the door but I can get more someday and I can get a spinning wheel in the future. In the meantime I can still develop as a painter and drawer. And I can still post them here. That is what I have available to me.There are dozens of techniques and styles and I am not opposed to any of them. Abstract and real. It's all abstract and it's all real.

Intelligence is a choice in the game of life.

Use it before it's too late!