Thursday 17 March 2011

The Glass Cannon

Glass cannons are a popular trope in television, games etc.  A thing of immense power that is also incredibly fragile....Allow me to introduce my artistic self esteem!

I can make absolutely beautiful and astonishing things but every tiny shred of pride can be cut down by the well placed criticism. I am not including constructive criticism or even the shit sandwich here. (Shit sandwich equals 'Good thing as bottom slice of bread' Something to improve/not so good thing for a filling 'Good thing as top slice of bread')

The criticism most probably will not come from an external source either, it stems from my eternal, internal uber critic. The voice that points out I still haven't made 'insert long procrastinated project' or made contact with 'insert business/gallery name' Unfortunately for me and like many other people attempting to make their way as artistic professionals, I am constrained by budgetry concerns...Essentially meaning that I do not have an art budget at the moment. That push for a new level of profesionalism and perfection....well I need a powered rotary tool...awww too bad!

Quite often this inspires me to push against the boundary and use my skill to make some money. In the four months that I traded full time as Purky Products I made a fair amount of gross profit but once the expenses came out my Net was hugely underwhelming. I now realise, I undercharged for my work in an attempt to breach the more general market and that I should not have been trying to breach the general market!

I spent the two months after Christmas looking for work. The plan being that I would find some temp or part time work, reboost the coffers and get Purky rolling again with a new collection in Spring. Work took 8 weeks to find and so of course now I am working to pay back my overdraft that I ate into!

So is, he is having a moan and a bitch? Not really folks, I am laying out to myself and the world that actually this 'Quit your dayjob' shit is incredibly hard work and that you may have to take steps back on your way up the mountain.

Currently I am working in a warehouse, in a hyper masculine and non-creative environment and must say I am holding my own. The tedious menial work is giving my brain the space to breath. Of course thinking time equals a fair amount of self-beration time but it also means external stimulation and new ideas.

I geniunely believe in the glass cannon analagy and will be bringing new products to life soon.

So you know, I did do my garden and some designing on Saturday. I also enjoyed a lovely Sunday lunch with DB, Supervixeyasbo and her husband and took some time to chill out.

This Saturday, more gardening and designing is planned.

To everyone who reads, thankyou very much

I also wish to thank the artistic creative people around me who offer me their technical and emotional support. It is very much appreciated.

xx

2 comments:

  1. Ahh dude I supra love you!! (supra incase yo don't know is one up from super!) I hope the garden planning goes well. I'm kitten shopping at the weekend we're off to all the rescue places :-) Take it easy x

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  2. Awwww thanks Dude, I Supra love you back! Good luck kitten shopping :) xx

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