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!

What I Do and Actually Did the Month of September and Early October

Here is a section of dyed BFL wool  for spinning class which was about to be drum carded. The other half was spun onto spools on Friday the fourth. The wool was arranged in a layered circle and then zig zagged back and forth and then a circle again in the dye pot. The acid dyes used was Chestnut, Magenta and Turquoise!

Here is my second scarf still on the loom with the Walls of Troy pattern. The warp and the weft was dyed by me. 

Here is the first scarf which as you can see has some of the dyed warp coming through the pattern. Looks neat!

Here is a watercolor life study done in class with Linda Kelley using warm and cool washes.

                         

And here is the home-work watercolor study of warm and cool. 

 

                                          

In class study of complementary colors

                           

And here is my home-work study of complementary color washes. I think this kitty turned out quite handsome!

This is the most recent watercolor done on Oct.4th in class. It's a study for developing more attention to detail and representing colors from reality. They also happen to be cooling and calming to the eye. The magenta contrasted with the green are complementary. The blue with the yellow are also complementary.

                 

This one was done earlier on in September as a home-work study for light and dark.

So far my favorite paper to work on is hot press but when I get into more abstract and textured pieces the cold press will probably be my favorite for working in that way.

I enjoy working with color combinations and contrasts as well as setting up interesting life studies. I do actually have a lot of practice setting up life studies from setting up ritual altars, christmas displays and other arrangements at home. I like my pieces to be displayed and shown off to best advantage in a way that attracts my eye as I walk through my home.