Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Thanks be to Dan.

So there comes a point in every artists life when they suddenly realize that a studio is absolutely imperative in order to maintain sanity.  This usually happens about..... oh, the second week of art school.  

If you're a financially stable artist, you can afford a place that's big enough for your all of your basics like a bed, your clothes, some decent furniture, a TV if you're into that, and maybe even a kitchen that's big enough to prepare more than Ramen if you can fit additional food groups into your budget in addition to all of your art goodies.  

But if you're a starving artist, you've got your bed (or an air mattress for 8 months, not saying any names, though), and some cheapo furniture from Target and whatever mom didn't want anymore, your clothes, your desperate attempt at a healthy diet, and the remaining 50% of your belongings are your art supplies.  If you're lucky, you've got enough space to make this work.  If you're not, then you're doomed to always have a messy room, always have paintbrushes and tronies in the drawers next to each other, and to always be forced to clean up after yourself when you're done just so that you have enough space to walk around the next morning to get dressed for work.

Not anymore.  Right now, my bedroom IS my studio and has been for the last year.  But starting August 15th, I will have what so many artists dream of and have to fight tooth and nail for to make it happen.  I will have a bedroom AND a studio.  Not only that, but I'll be paying for both of those rooms for the price of one!  This is right about where the clouds part and a ray of sunshine beats down like a spotlight on a young twenty-something covered in paint holding a half-full wine glass in one hand and a paintbrush in the other raised triumphantly in the air and with her mouth in a "O" shape makes a faint heavenly "oooooooooooooooooooh" sound with a bewildered look on her face and wonders how the hell this happened.

Long story short, through a series of crazy events, I'm moving into a new place (my 4th apartment in less than 12 months), but I think that this one by far will be the best living arrangement ever.  My good friend is giving me the hook up.  Not only do I get to be roommates with him, but I also get both my rooms for a sweet deal for the Metropolitan area, I get to shorten my commute to work by about two-thirds, as well as watch what happens when you put a chihuahua in a confined space with a cat that's twice it's size.  

This is going to be fun.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

The Starving Artist Goes to the Hardware Store

It's common knowledge to anyone in the artsy-fartsy-crafty world that Home Depot and Lowe's has a scrap wood pile that's a conglomeration of of pieces of wood with minute imperfections, or pieces with slight knicks, or pieces that people had cut and then changed their mind for one reason or another.  The store can't sell these pieces, at least not at full price, and the flawed pieces usually sit in a pile until it becomes a fire hazard and then gets thrown into the garbage to rot... unless of course, some creative, desperate individual teetering on the edge of Ramen being the only thing on their grocery list decides to come in and rescue it from the dumpster.

Enter Me.

I go into Home Depot, in a dress, at that, which is always a huge mistake/the easiest way to instantly feel better about your appearance, in search of scrap wood.  The first associate I see tells me that it's up to the owner of each individual store if they're going to give away scrap wood.  I say ok, and saddened by my sudden lack of cheap canvasses, turn to leave.  I get up to the front of the store and as I pass the Customer Service desk, I see a sign advertising for credit cards for Home Depot.  And it hit me.  I could not recall one franchise that I was aware of that had credit cards; they were corporate and there was no owner.

I ask someone else.  Anne has a much better answer for me.  "Yes, we have wood." And not only an answer, but she also takes me to the pile and let's me pick through it.  Not only that, but she also takes me to Nick who says, "Oh, we have more." And then he let's me pick through that pile, too!  As I'm doing this, I suddenly realize that it's getting late, and that I'm in a short pink and grey dress, which is a far cry from my all black outfit that I have to wear to work, and I have to run home and change, then get back on the highway and battle urban sprawl just to get to said place of employment.  If I stay and buy this now, I'm going to be late for work.  Not gonna happen.

I apologize profusely to Nick an thank him excessively for his kindness and explain that I have to leave, but I can come back and pay for it in the morning.  He said he likes art, so he'll hold it at his desk.  I got sick, and couldn't come back to Home Depot for 3 days.  I was terrified that Nick thought I was full of it and had let my precious finds go to the dumpster.  But low and behold, 3 days later when I show up, sure enough there is Nick, my treasures and all, tucked safely away in between a display of front doors.  He rang me up.  It only cost me $3.15!  

Oh, happy day for the Ramen-fearing artist.  I'm going home to eat a turkey sandwich with hummus, red onions, dijon mustard and spinach leaves on whole wheat bread.

(and yes, those will all be Giant brand...)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Coincidence? I think not!

So I'm sitting in my room, too exhausted to paint, lacking motivation to clean, but not quite ready for bed.  I'm talking online with a friend and I can hear Pirates of the Caribbean 2 on tv in the living room playing for my sleeping brother.  I was just starting to think how I should go turn off the tv, throw a blanket over my bro, and brush my teeth and hit the sack..... but not yet.  I thought to myself, "Self, you should really research The Art Institute of Washington.  I got a thingie in the mail from them the other day, and I've heard some not so fantastic stories lately about some of the other local schools I had on my list.... but no, I'll do it tomorrow.  I should sleep first."  

No friggin joke, not 30 seconds later, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom take a break from swashbuckling for some televised advertising, and what should come on, but a rather inspiring commercial for the Art Institute of Washington.  Coincidence?  I think not!

No more of this nonsense.  No more stalling.  No more excuses.  No more bs.  

I. Want. My. Bachelor's. Degree.  And I'm going to get it.  And I'm going to start with some research.... tonight. :)