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24 Hour Art Challenge?

Trollied.:D And, I haven't spent a penny. People just keep giving me stuff. 'Hey, artist - have a smoke', 'hey friend have a litre of vino tinto for free'.

Walked up the mountain for early evening. Above the caves and above San Miguel Alto. Fucking beautiful watching the sunset over the city and the Alhambra. Swifts come out, then the bats. Beautiful, beautiful colours and a million miles away from the hubub of the city. If I make one singñle recommendation to anyone it is; go climb a mountain in summer with a bottle of wine or, summat in hand and watch the world wake up after sunset. Wherever, it's fucking stunning.

The caves are interesting but, I'm going to leave them alone here for a number of reasons. The campsite is even more interesting. I think an Urban mini weekend fest should happen there soon. They're so fucking wrong they're right! Love the place. best thing I've discovered in Granada so far. Cheap Ryan Air, cheap bus and you're there in 3 hours!!!

Off for a big fat spliff in me bed. Without company but, it ain't a disappointment tonight. Lovelly, lovelly days.
 
that sounds like a truly excellent evening

Stanley Edwards said:
Trollied.:D And, I haven't spent a penny. People just keep giving me stuff. 'Hey, artist - have a smoke', 'hey friend have a litre of vino tinto for free'.
Click to expand...

:D :cool:
 
Oh dear. Poorly, poorly, poorly. Sweaty hangover. That'll teach me. Don't want to think to much about the quantity of booze consumed last night. Beautiful night mind. An incredible view from the top of those mountains. For a couple of hours I was back in the Welsh borders on an August evening with a bottle of wine on top of Brown Clee.

I have bought:
1. A tin of lighter fluid from the sell everything shop for cleaning spoiled tiles.
2. A shoulder bag from the second hand shop. Grey and black with a tacky Pizza Hut logo :D
3. A seriously expensive and new shirt from the second hand shop for just €2. Quality clothing item in bright white with blue pin stripes.

I am now possibly the uncoolest artist in the world.

Plan for the day - take it easy in the heat. I've bought a postcard view of the Albyzin from the Alhambra (framed by an ornate window). I'm going to sit in the shade and sketch a few tiles from the postcard and sell this evening in Plaza Neuva.

The mini market guy who wants a painting kept going on about an article in a magazine about Ghengis Khan last night. No idea what he wants. Perhpas I'll find out tonight :confused:
 
Struggling today. Paying the price for last nights excesses. Completed just six tile sketches. I have about 10 to display this evening. If mini market guy comes up with a commission and I sell five tiles I'll be more than happy.

Big King and Coke = €5.60.

Chorizzo bocadillo and beer = €2.20.

I don't get it. It's the shittest Burger King around. It stinks. The bogs flood into the restaraunt and still idiots pay to eat there. Why?


There's an american singer/guitarist here who I often bump into. Just seen her sticking flyers for a gig on Monday night with her performance partner so, that's my Monday evening booked. She bought a sketch so, I buy a ticket for her gig. She is actually a very nicehappy person. I'm sure it will be worth going to.

As for tonight; I want a quiet one. Need to be fit to sketch, sketch, sketch and sell, sell, sell tomorrow. May visit the campsite bar to check it out for weekend atmosphere :D But, only if I clear €50 in sales/commissions this evening.

Think I need a beer or, summat. And a huge onion salad.
 
Morning routine was a big fucked today. Went to my regular cafe for a con leche y tostada only to find it completely gutted. Thoroughly burnt out. Don't think anyone was hurt. It was a nice little place run by an old lady who gave good service for good prices. Shame.

What a difference a shave and a crisp white shirt makes. Even the gypsies are trying to sell me heather again! Things are definitely on the up.

Off to Mirador San Nicolas to sell and sketch this afternoon. I have a few more spoiled tiles to clean and sketch. Could realise €80 today if I'm lucky and the mini market guy is bringing photos this evening. Still not sure what he wants or, if he's genuine.

I need to make time for a laundrette tomorrow. Mondays are usually quiet for sales so, I plan to wash my clothes, collect new box of tiles and sketch in the afternoon to build up stock and visit the Tarantula bar to see the american duo perform. Can't believe how quickly the days are passing.
 
What a difference a shave and a crisp white shirt makes!

Didn't go down to well amongst the hippys and drop-outs at Mirador San Nicolas :D

Big moan about the fucking cunting american fucking waster who repeatedly let her dog run over my tiles smashing two. Like she hadn't just watched me clean, draw and carefully display them. Fucking lazy, smelly, unclean fucking hippy yanky bitch woman. She's gonna get trouble. :mad: Just passing through town so, she thinks it's a good idea to get a dog :rolleyes: I really, really, do not like that woman. She fucking stinks as well. Jealous bitch.

And, the local 14 year old fuckwits who think it's clever to pull a knife on me. Don't ever fucking do that again. I was so very close to not walking away without saying anything.

And, the cunt who threw their chewing gum down on the ground I was sitting on. Luckily I spotted it this time.

Jealous fucking cunting tossers the lot of them.

There are some good folk there also :)

Some good people from South America and a French girl who travels around selling jewellery and stuff she makes. Says she's ready to head for an unspoilt part of the coast.

Took €25 before I got sick of the hippiness of the place. Will sketch and sell in Plaza Neuva this eveing. Clean white shirts go down better there.
 
Okay. I've calmed down a bit now :)

Ended the day €90 up. A commission to complete by Thursday. A big stock of small tiles completed and a new box to collect tomorrow. All is looking good once more.

French girl stopped for a chat in Plaza Neuva. She seems to be a nice person. Happy free spirit. Currently living in a squat. There are lots of squats here but, TBH I'm not sure I fancy that anymore than a redundant cave.

Provided I continue as I am I'll be sorted for a flat very soon anyway.

The american singer caught me at the late shop. Bought a sketch she had asked me to do and restored my faith in americans (but, I really, really do not like the other one who's dog smashed my tiles :mad: ).

Food and wine before I end the day. A very strange day.

Oh, and the Pizza Hut shoulder bag is shit. Ripped already. Who's brilliant idea was that? A marketing cock-up surely. Does anyone on this planet really aspire to be a pizza delivery person?
 
good to hear stanley, nearly 4000 views on this thread, loads tuned in. see when ya get ya flat sorted, bet there'll be some here up for blagging a stay :D

i think pizza delivery kiddies are one's who want their own scooters and that's the only job they can get? dunno

take care, any chance of any more pics of the work?
:)
 
ddraig said:
any chance of any more pics of the work?
:)
Click to expand...

I'll try to get a scan of a couple of tiles today. I'm planning a full photo feature of a weeks stay at the wonky campsite very soon :D


Just chucked my posh white shirt in a mixed hot wash at the laundrette. May well be a dirty shade of grey when it comes out. Bought a T-shirt from the second hand shop (off white with navy trim and a 'La Sport 24' logo). Slightly to small. I am putting weight on once more. Eating and drinking far to healthily.

Collecting tiles this evening and popping into the campsite on the way back to enquire about prices and find a cheap tent. Then off to the gig at Tarantula.

I have a commission from the mini market guy. He has given me a photograph of his two children wearing very grand arabian headress. Just wants me to paint them without the crowning attire but, super-imposed onto a backdrop of the Alhambra. A difficult job but, it will make a change to sketching tiles. The photograph has good light. Sure I can come up with something half decent. I need to visit the little art shop to stock up on supplies.
 
when I stayed at the place it was around 20-30 euros for the pitch, we had a car so maybe you will get a place for cheaper, the pool is good size and great to cool down in, but there food shop is expensive I seam to recall.
 
Police confiscated my tiles :(

Only 11 of them representing about €4 and three hours work. Not a big loss and if my spanish worked and my trust in the policing system is not misplaced I can get them back. Possibly. May not be worth the time but, I'm intrigued to know how the system works.

Changed my plan and shouldn't have done. Went to Mirador San Nicolas to complete the portrait commission because I was worried about how long it would take (as it happens it's going very well and will be complete within the time budgeted for). Left tiles on display. Have been leaving them on display when police arrive for the past few days without problem but, tonight they took them. They also took the 'write your name in arabic' guys stuff and the jewellery that the guy from Uruguay makes. Not sure how they got caught - they seemed to have packed up in plenty of time but, the police got to them before me.

They didn't take the painting I was working on and I tried to explain I wasn't selling tiles, just giving them away as business cards with my web address on the back but, it made no difference.

€70 up for the day. Should have been another €50 to take this eveing but, I have nothing to sell other than my body now so, I'm off to see the singing duo.

Pretty sure the police can't just nick your belongings for leaving them on the pavement. I'll know for sure tomorrow.
 
jms said:
My jaw dropped at that
what a bunch of.. not very nice people. :mad:
Click to expand...

They were very nice about it :D


I'm in one of those 'I've walked past that bar a hundred times but, can I find now' sort of moments.

FFS I can visualise the frontage and the wooden signage and the adds for tango nights and everything. Which fucking street was it?

No one I ask seems to know.

Google can't help me either. It's here somewhere. Very close I'm sure.

:confused:

Trantula bar. I think!
 
Burnt out bars. Kids with knives. Police confiscating my stock. And, it all seems like a regular couple of days to me!


Change of plan. The portrait I'm doing is going extremely well. I've surprised myself again. Had no idea I could do this. So, I'm going to finish it from a photograph working in Bib-Rambla whilst trying to pick-up another commission. Three a week would be excellent. I won't be displaying tiles.

The tiles I will complete with a sktech of Albyzin viewed through a window in the Alhambra. It's an imaginery design that sells very well. All 100 of them will be the same design. 100! I'll varnish all of them and sell to shops at €5 a time. I'm sure they'll sell in the shops at €10.

I'm not going to bother collecting the confiscated tiles. They can keep them to stick on the wall of the station pisar or, something :D
 
Portrait almost finished. Way to hot to do anything at the moment.

Two young children in traditional morrocon dress in front of the Alhambra. It's provoking some interesting reactions :D

I've been trying to decide what it reminds me of. Firstly I thought it was like something from the cover of the Watchtower without and white kids. Then I thought it was more like a Ladybird book about culture and religion from the 60's. Whatever, I'm happy with it. Hope the guy from the mini market is.

May go back up to Mirador San Nicolas this evening to see if the other people who got their stuff confiscated got it back. I'm expecting a bit of stick for not getting my painting confiscated. One guy is already refusing to acknowledge me. Perhaps they've been reading my posts on Urban? :D

What to do in this heat? A bar? A swimming pool? Nothing?

I did actually look at a luxury 2/3 bed flat with communal roof terrace and swimming pool. Very nive for €550/month all inclusive!
 
elcuadroentero said:
Well......!

Did you find the Tarantula Bar for the live music???
Click to expand...


No!


Finished portrait and delivered to happy customer but, have yet to collect cash. I have a feeling that may be a little tricky. Mini market owners are hard business people who know how to hang on to every penny for as long as they can.

I've bought a small canvas to complete a view of the Alhambra. Still not displaying tiles on the street - can't afford to lose anymore at the moment.

Spent a good three hours practising my spanish last night with some students and ex-students who live close the Plaza Nueva. My vocabulary is building by the day.

This evening I plan to share a few drinks with an old irish guy who lives in one of the caves behind the wall on the hill. Interesting guy with a very interesting story to tell. Not suitable for the public domain. Just to say he used to arrange big time stag weekends for well known UK names until one day he made the front pages of The Sun for all the wrong reasons. May take a look at what's available and see if it's worth saving some hostal fees for a few nights. TBH I don't really fancy it but, if it's going to save €25 a day I may have to.
 
Very hot and I'm bored. Finished Alhambra painting and I don't know what to do with it. For some reason I have become struck with apathy. The heat possibly.

Falafel eating travellers who hark on about the beauty of a simple way of life in a 'theres a lot of poverty but, they're the happiest people I've ever known' sort of way can fuck off back to their commercially driven home lives.

'I know a great falafel place that does a great tandoori chicken'.

Fuck off. Fala fel is bland shit with no substance. What is it about travellers and fala fel? Bet they even eat it in Iceland.

Travel the world to broaden their horizons and eat nothing but fucking fala fel and vegemite (OK this is an anti-australian rant).

Fala fucking fel. Why :confused:
 
Managed to collect €20 from mini market guy (now known as Ali). Think I'm going to have to accept installments :confused:

The police are becoming a real pain. Can't sell at Mirador San Niciolas now. They've been turning up every hour all day today. Possibly looking for someone but, more likely planning a 'clean-up' on traders or, perhaps unregistered dogs again. Everyone seems to have a cute little puppy on a bit of string once more. So, probably dogs.

One of the shops I supply has been closed for the past three days and I have no idea why. Hope all is OK. I need a new source of income. Thinking about finding more shops as outlets. I'm beginning to get very tired of selling on the streets.

I have sold two photographs recently but, I have no access to money in my UK bank account :( Still, it's all being saved for a rainy day. I'm told we can expect one here in about six months time.


Anyone still reading or, is it getting a bit boring now? If I don't come up with more income soon it'll start getting poor and dangerously interesting again :D
 
Still reading Stanley. Keep up the good work. It is enthralling stuff as your fortunes seem to change all the time. It looked like you had cracked it and now the shop you sell through is closed. I suppose if you could sell enough through shops only, then you could concentrate on painting on the streets and the police would have nothing to worry you about.

I am waiting to read that you have got yourself a flat. Have you got back your belongings that were in storage at a hostel somewhere awaiting payment?

Good Luck

Hocus
 
Hocus Eye. said:
...
I am waiting to read that you have got yourself a flat. Have you got back your belongings that were in storage at a hostel somewhere awaiting payment?

...
Click to expand...

No. It's suits me to leave them there until I have a flat. Clearing debt slowly.

I thought I had it cracked but, today has been a bit of a loss. May just be my hungover and tired state of mind. There are more and more flats becomming available as students leave so, perhaps I can negotiate something.
 
If you have trouble with things blurring when you put varnish on them, a solution is to spray them with cheap hairspray before the varnish goes on. (Leave to dry thoroughly in between.) Ideally you want the kind of hairspray that will hold a mohican upright and doesn't ponce around with conditioners.

Oh and a tippex pen is great for drawing (chunkily) on coloured surfaces (but does need the hairspray treatment).
 
RubyToogood said:
If you have trouble with things blurring when you put varnish on them...

Oh and a tippex pen is great for drawing (chunkily) on coloured surfaces (but does need the hairspray treatment).
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I did spoil a few tiles initially by spraying to much varnish in one go. I now give each tile a quick dusting of varnish and let that dry before giving them a thorough coating. I used a Tipex pen for a commission on a very large bronzed tile. Very effective.


I've bought two small canvasses today. Plan to do a stylised painting of a church on one and a view of Albyzin (still cant remember how to spell it) on the other. €30 to collect this evening. I would like to sell two paintings today and hopefully collect a total of €100. The hostal Im currently staying in have reduced my daily rate and I now know how to control the air conditioning. I would like to stay.
 
A painting on canvas in acryillic and pen (about 25cm x 20cm).

A View of The Alhambra at Night.

alhambra.jpg


Taken the time to scan a small painting because I haven't photographed any for a while now.

Sold just one painting today. And, collected just €20 from mini-market Ali.

Something has to change! Quickly.
 
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