Paul Russell
Psychogeographer
Maybe this could be a new photo challenge -- best pic of Senor Pintor. Where's the nearest airport?
Stanley Edwards said:
24 Hour Art Challenge?
- Thread starter Stanley Edwards
- Start date
Not a good sales day. Reduced my prices dramatically (€8 for a 1 hour tile painting) and sold four in quick succession. I have the evening. Probably sit down somewhere with a beer and baked potatoe. You never know.
I need a miracle tomorrow. The weekend hasn't (yet) provided what I had hoped for.
Spanish people love anything you do with your hands, body and mind. Whether it's carpentry, painting, juggling, dancing or, just carefully crafting a joint, it's all appreciated on a level that we miss in England.
Spent the past two hours watching a very good clan of clowns. Very talented, great performers, great gymnasts and most importantly great characters. Very entertaining. Great city this.
Whilst Paul Russell is reading; there are many great characters here. One old lady in particular comes to Bib-Rambla everyday to feed the pigeons. She then chain smokes about 20 cigarettes one after another (literally chain smoking). The fringe of her grey hair is nicotiene yellow
Social services picked her up today but, they should really let her out more often.
Onwards and upwards!
I need a miracle tomorrow. The weekend hasn't (yet) provided what I had hoped for.
Spanish people love anything you do with your hands, body and mind. Whether it's carpentry, painting, juggling, dancing or, just carefully crafting a joint, it's all appreciated on a level that we miss in England.
Spent the past two hours watching a very good clan of clowns. Very talented, great performers, great gymnasts and most importantly great characters. Very entertaining. Great city this.
Whilst Paul Russell is reading; there are many great characters here. One old lady in particular comes to Bib-Rambla everyday to feed the pigeons. She then chain smokes about 20 cigarettes one after another (literally chain smoking). The fringe of her grey hair is nicotiene yellow
Social services picked her up today but, they should really let her out more often.Onwards and upwards!
It's me innit!
Horribly big .bmp but, thanks to the unlikley Urban75 reader (that is why I love Urban - it's so varied the only common ground is tolerance).
--/ One portrait commission to be completed from a photo next week. Big learning curve but, a skill worth learning.
Oh for a future in my own flat with me PC and broadband...
WHEN not if!
--/ edit. If anyone can reduce the file size - could clog the thread. Cheers.
Horribly big .bmp but, thanks to the unlikley Urban75 reader (that is why I love Urban - it's so varied the only common ground is tolerance).
--/ One portrait commission to be completed from a photo next week. Big learning curve but, a skill worth learning.
Oh for a future in my own flat with me PC and broadband...
WHEN not if!
--/ edit. If anyone can reduce the file size - could clog the thread. Cheers.
Paul Russell
Psychogeographer
That's great to see.
The three blue tiles in particular are very eye-catching.
The three blue tiles in particular are very eye-catching.
I feel like shyte today. Got totally wasted last night. Not a good idea as I knew I had a monster ugly day ahead of me. Probably the reason I got totally wasted.
Hostal management gave me an ear full this morning. Grateful I could only understand half of it. However, I fully understood the critical bit.
I have to complete a small painting on canvas for a regular customer. Need new brushes, paint and canvas. If I'm lucky I'll collect a profit of €15. Not enough and no time to walk out of town and buy some small tiles.
Most annoying thing is that I have a load of work I could be completeing for proper money if only I had my PC up and running.
An all time low
Thank fuck for the sunshine!
Big news in Spain today is; 'A British woman is to become a mother at the age of 63'. WTF!
--/ The three blue tiles are the Iglesia de Santa Ana. I've painted loads and sold loads but, now the pitch outside the church has been spoiled it looks like I'm stuck with the two larger tiles.
Hostal management gave me an ear full this morning. Grateful I could only understand half of it. However, I fully understood the critical bit.
I have to complete a small painting on canvas for a regular customer. Need new brushes, paint and canvas. If I'm lucky I'll collect a profit of €15. Not enough and no time to walk out of town and buy some small tiles.
Most annoying thing is that I have a load of work I could be completeing for proper money if only I had my PC up and running.
An all time low
Thank fuck for the sunshine!
Big news in Spain today is; 'A British woman is to become a mother at the age of 63'. WTF!
--/ The three blue tiles are the Iglesia de Santa Ana. I've painted loads and sold loads but, now the pitch outside the church has been spoiled it looks like I'm stuck with the two larger tiles.
Blimey! Just in time. My internet credit was about to expire.
Sold fuck all today. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Not even much interest which is a worry. I am at the mercy of hostal owners. Management have now been by-passed.
How shit was my day?
I even got crapped on by a pigeon. Badly crapped on by a pigeon. Small bird - lots of shit.
Could well be out on the streets tonight.
Went to little art shop. Sold out of small canvases so, bought a smallish canvas. Not small enough for regular customer - no sale. Lovelly painting mind.
I've hit a new low. Hanging on by a thread ATM!!!
Sold fuck all today. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Not even much interest which is a worry. I am at the mercy of hostal owners. Management have now been by-passed.
How shit was my day?
I even got crapped on by a pigeon. Badly crapped on by a pigeon. Small bird - lots of shit.
Could well be out on the streets tonight.
Went to little art shop. Sold out of small canvases so, bought a smallish canvas. Not small enough for regular customer - no sale. Lovelly painting mind.
I've hit a new low. Hanging on by a thread ATM!!!
hiccup
King of the Vagabonds
Jpg version of Señor Pintor:
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1636/stanleyedwards1tc.jpg
Jazz hands!
Hope things pick up sales-wise tomorrow
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1636/stanleyedwards1tc.jpg
Jazz hands!
Hope things pick up sales-wise tomorrow
Not quite roughing it yet but, getting very close. This is so precarious. I have a lot to thank the hostal staff for (apart from the cunt - if he had been around in Franco's time he would have been given a gun and he would be using it).
Collected just €5 so far today. I really need to make about €40 so that I can buy some small tiles. Can't find any in skips at the moment. Small tile sketches are my only chance. It´s the only realistic way to make enough money to save. Potentially I could make €18/hour turning out tiny tile sketches. There's a lot that could spoil the potential mind.
I think this is a great theme for a reality TV programme. Dump 6 people in a strange foreign city with just €20 and see if they can cut it. I reckon 4 of the six would give in very quickly.
My shirt is covered in paloma shyte. Perhaps that's putting customers off
--/ Anyone wanting a sketch and wondering how to pay for it could buy me a copy of next weeks (this Thursdays) BJP and post it to me. Looks like being a very useful issue for all aspiring art photographers and exhibitioners.
Collected just €5 so far today. I really need to make about €40 so that I can buy some small tiles. Can't find any in skips at the moment. Small tile sketches are my only chance. It´s the only realistic way to make enough money to save. Potentially I could make €18/hour turning out tiny tile sketches. There's a lot that could spoil the potential mind.
I think this is a great theme for a reality TV programme. Dump 6 people in a strange foreign city with just €20 and see if they can cut it. I reckon 4 of the six would give in very quickly.
My shirt is covered in paloma shyte. Perhaps that's putting customers off
--/ Anyone wanting a sketch and wondering how to pay for it could buy me a copy of next weeks (this Thursdays) BJP and post it to me. Looks like being a very useful issue for all aspiring art photographers and exhibitioners.
Shattered. Very long day and just €10 collected. I have two days to turn things around big time. Hunt for tiles. They have to be out there somewhere.
Those floresterias work bloody long hours! They're often set-up (which takes at least an hour) when I arrive in Bib-Rambla at around 10.30am. They don't close until after 9pm and have to pack everything away again. Bloody long days.
Speaking of which, I need to adjust my working hours. Paint in morning to sell midday to paint afternoons (no siesta) and sell in the evenings. The evenings are getting much longer and look to be profitable hours.
It is extremely tough going at the moment.
Taking a walk to Plaza Neuva to check out late selling potential.
Those floresterias work bloody long hours! They're often set-up (which takes at least an hour) when I arrive in Bib-Rambla at around 10.30am. They don't close until after 9pm and have to pack everything away again. Bloody long days.
Speaking of which, I need to adjust my working hours. Paint in morning to sell midday to paint afternoons (no siesta) and sell in the evenings. The evenings are getting much longer and look to be profitable hours.
It is extremely tough going at the moment.
Taking a walk to Plaza Neuva to check out late selling potential.
In the way of stock I have; three tile paintings and one canvas to sell. I also have two new tiles to paint/sketch on. Still haven't found a skip with any off-cuts. I think the best I can hope for is €30 but, you never know.
Plan for the day is to climb up into the Albycin to complete two pictures of views of the Alhambra whilst selling (hopefully) and then return to Bib-Ramblas via Plaza Neuva selling this afternoon and this evening.
I seriously need to be good today!
Would love to have a couple of Euros to waste on beer and taps watching Seville v Middlesborough tonight (listening to spanish people trying to say Middlesborough is almost as funny as me trying to pronounce spanish).
Onwards and upwards.
Plan for the day is to climb up into the Albycin to complete two pictures of views of the Alhambra whilst selling (hopefully) and then return to Bib-Ramblas via Plaza Neuva selling this afternoon and this evening.
I seriously need to be good today!
Would love to have a couple of Euros to waste on beer and taps watching Seville v Middlesborough tonight (listening to spanish people trying to say Middlesborough is almost as funny as me trying to pronounce spanish).
Onwards and upwards.
Oooooooooh, oooooooooh, oooooooh!
They have a camera obscura here. I didn't know that. You have no idea how badly I want to spend a couple of hours viewing a camera obscura with a little perceptionally enlightening something. But, it costs €5 to get in
Still, I've collected €16 already today. If I sell the canvas painting this afternoon I may just have to treat myself to a break tomorrow or, give the footabll a miss this evening.
BTW; I have I mentioned yet that there are some stunningly beautiful women here. Lots actually and they seem to like artists. Even ugly, smelly ones
They have a camera obscura here. I didn't know that. You have no idea how badly I want to spend a couple of hours viewing a camera obscura with a little perceptionally enlightening something. But, it costs €5 to get in
Still, I've collected €16 already today. If I sell the canvas painting this afternoon I may just have to treat myself to a break tomorrow or, give the footabll a miss this evening.
BTW; I have I mentioned yet that there are some stunningly beautiful women here. Lots actually and they seem to like artists. Even ugly, smelly ones
Yuwipi Woman
Whack-A-Mole Queen
Stanley Edwards said:BTW; I have I mentioned yet that there are some stunningly beautiful women here. Lots actually and they seem to like artists. Even ugly, smelly ones
'Tis because they're so sensitive, loike.
Yuwipi Woman said:'Tis because they're so sensitive, loike.
Not sensitive enough
€28 total for the day. Things have improved a little but, not enough. Essential supplies for living means I don't have enough money to buy little tiles yet and I NEED little tiles. Hope the skips turn up something.
Another miracle is needed tomorrow.
Some guy tells me that Krakow is the place to sell paintings on the street. Not sure it's worth the gamble just yet. Don't fancy the beaches for sleeping on in Poland.
No football and no camera obscura yet
elcuadroentero
New Member
Things look like they're on the up, the next corner you take may turn-up a skipload of tiles!!
Didn't miss much re. the footie, BIG game is next week!
Hope you're selling to the 'stunners'!
Didn't miss much re. the footie, BIG game is next week!
Hope you're selling to the 'stunners'!
Fuckshitwank!
Rain
A real pain. I have come up with an absolute gem of a seller. Guaranteed €60/day profit and I need to collect at least €30 today before the shops close to save my bacon tomorrow.
I have a winning formula that turns €1.51 cents into €5 in five minutes. It's a piss easy sell and it's weather proof but, I need supplies by this evening. Fuck off rain!
Security guy and council bods in the square today. They don't seem to be very interested in me mind. My only hope is to sit in the dry but, cold sales pitch and pray and hope.
One canvas sale would be great. Just the one - that's all I need and I'm sorted.
Rain
A real pain. I have come up with an absolute gem of a seller. Guaranteed €60/day profit and I need to collect at least €30 today before the shops close to save my bacon tomorrow.
I have a winning formula that turns €1.51 cents into €5 in five minutes. It's a piss easy sell and it's weather proof but, I need supplies by this evening. Fuck off rain!
Security guy and council bods in the square today. They don't seem to be very interested in me mind. My only hope is to sit in the dry but, cold sales pitch and pray and hope.
One canvas sale would be great. Just the one - that's all I need and I'm sorted.
"Mummy, that tramp had a phone!".
Oh dear. Perhaps I needed that. Then again perhaps I didn't.
Totally shit day financially. Seems all commerce no matter how large or, small stops for the rain in Spain. Gave it my all for 12 hours and collected just €5 quickly blown on food, booze and nicotiene. I need a huge miracle tomorrow. The most frustrating thing is that I have definitely found the winning formula. Just need the magic €30.
Could well be roughing it tomorrow night. An almost certainty in fact.
But, far from beaten - just another simple lifestyle adjustment
Oh dear. Perhaps I needed that. Then again perhaps I didn't.
Totally shit day financially. Seems all commerce no matter how large or, small stops for the rain in Spain. Gave it my all for 12 hours and collected just €5 quickly blown on food, booze and nicotiene. I need a huge miracle tomorrow. The most frustrating thing is that I have definitely found the winning formula. Just need the magic €30.
Could well be roughing it tomorrow night. An almost certainty in fact.
But, far from beaten - just another simple lifestyle adjustment
Sleep, shower, shave and sunshine. I feel envigorated once more. Big day ahead of me.
I need to downgrade my accommodation once more. Accommodation in Spain ranges from fucking shyte pensions (bed and a sink in a box without a lock €8 - €15/night) to hostals (some of which can be as good as hotels like the one I've been staying in €15 - €25/night) to hotels that are rated from one to three stars. Rooms can also be rented by the month/week in private houses in Granada. The city thrives on short stay visitors.
I'm hoping I can remain in my present hostal because it's a great building with good staff. Just downgrade to a crummier room (no fridge, no TV and little light).
Or, if a miracle has happend in my bank I can stay put.
I have to sell this canvas painting today. No idea why it hasn't sold. It is a very good little painting of Bib-Rambla with the cathedral in the background. Most likley to sell from Bib-Rambla so, I'll start the day there.
Praying that I raise enough cash to stock up for my new line before shop closes for the weekend. No sales and I'm roughing it with about 200 kilos of luggage
I need to downgrade my accommodation once more. Accommodation in Spain ranges from fucking shyte pensions (bed and a sink in a box without a lock €8 - €15/night) to hostals (some of which can be as good as hotels like the one I've been staying in €15 - €25/night) to hotels that are rated from one to three stars. Rooms can also be rented by the month/week in private houses in Granada. The city thrives on short stay visitors.
I'm hoping I can remain in my present hostal because it's a great building with good staff. Just downgrade to a crummier room (no fridge, no TV and little light).
Or, if a miracle has happend in my bank I can stay put.
I have to sell this canvas painting today. No idea why it hasn't sold. It is a very good little painting of Bib-Rambla with the cathedral in the background. Most likley to sell from Bib-Rambla so, I'll start the day there.
Praying that I raise enough cash to stock up for my new line before shop closes for the weekend. No sales and I'm roughing it with about 200 kilos of luggage
hammerntongues
Well-Known Member
I hope this thread is being backed- up somehow , it doesn`t need turning into a book , its compulsive just as it is .
Well done mate , the good times are just around the corner ..........
Well done mate , the good times are just around the corner ..........
First night on the streets last night! Basically safe and warm. Saw very little violence and just one drunken car accident. Very funny, nobody hurt. Safe for sleeping from 5am to 11am (very broken sleep).
Camera number one has been hocked to raise working capital and buy a bed for tonight. I'm going to need it.
I have bought FOOD and cigs for the first time in two days. That's how bad things got. I have also bought;
Strong thread and needle to repair my boots. At best they will last another month.
A selection of small picture frames and a new pack of index cards.
A new set of pens. The others have been sketched into the ground.
Socks and underpants.
A nice café con leche.
I feel totally fucked. Hardly surprising having not eaten. I've taken my jeans in by another inch. My 36" waist is now about 33".
Post of a sketch to follow. Plus a few thoughts about homelessness and vulnerability to post tonight.
Camera number one has been hocked
to raise working capital and buy a bed for tonight. I'm going to need it.I have bought FOOD and cigs for the first time in two days. That's how bad things got. I have also bought;
Strong thread and needle to repair my boots. At best they will last another month.
A selection of small picture frames and a new pack of index cards.
A new set of pens. The others have been sketched into the ground.
Socks and underpants.
A nice café con leche.
I feel totally fucked. Hardly surprising having not eaten. I've taken my jeans in by another inch. My 36" waist is now about 33".
Post of a sketch to follow. Plus a few thoughts about homelessness and vulnerability to post tonight.
A quick sketch in gold and black of Iglesia de Santa Ana. I have a bag full of these postcard size sketches. My plan is to stick them in small frames and flog them to death at any price. It's up to the customer to make an offer. These will be sold whilst completing paintings for commission and saleable views of the Alhambra. I reckon it's a safe bet for €50/day. Very long days mind.
I really need to work my spanish and get talking to a few of the other street sellers at Mirador San Nicolas. Most seem to be very cool people.
Long day ahead...
--/ another BIG pic. Actual size is about 12cm x 20cm.
All baggage is in hostal store room. Perfectly safe and accessible. I'm staying out tonight also. It's very warm and there are parties on. A very different thing.
I am quite literally being stopped on the street now. And, in the supermarket just 10 minutes ago. Some guy meeting me to but a painting tomorrow, a painting which already has interest. I thought it was a dud but, now I have two bidders
Roughing it is very harsh. Much easier here than in London but, harsh nonetheless. I'm a well built bloke who can take care of himself if he has to (HAS TO - I'm still a coward). But, you still feel vulnerable on the streets. Primarily it's knowing that you're utterly defenseless when you're asleep and finding a safe spot in a city is very difficult. I've seen and heard many stories of some horrendous shit that happens in London. It's not nice. There are some ugly fuckers out there. People can be vulnerable in many ways. Not just physically vulnerable. To much to list here. I'm sure you can all imagine the dangers.
The other thing is that you do feel like an outcast. Or, even a weirdo. Or, even a suspect. And, I guess you are as far as society is concerned.
Have to say that what I've seen of the policing here I'm very impressed. And, that's from someone who would very reluctantly trust the police. There is no CCTV that I'm aware of but, the police seem to appear within minutes at the slightest sign of trouble. For a holiday city it is very effectively, efficiently and IMO, very fairly policed. If you're not bothering anyone else or, blatantly breaking laws you're pretty much left alone. There is a bit of a game going on with the street sellers in some areas but, I have yet to witness anything other than 'move on please'. Fair enough.
It's very much hands on, in the streets, community policing. It works.
Tomorrow looks like being a good day. May even buy some news jeans on Monday. I have my eye on a pair in the sell everything shop. They're the baddest, most unfashionable jeans ever. I like them
I am quite literally being stopped on the street now. And, in the supermarket just 10 minutes ago. Some guy meeting me to but a painting tomorrow, a painting which already has interest. I thought it was a dud but, now I have two bidders
Roughing it is very harsh. Much easier here than in London but, harsh nonetheless. I'm a well built bloke who can take care of himself if he has to (HAS TO - I'm still a coward). But, you still feel vulnerable on the streets. Primarily it's knowing that you're utterly defenseless when you're asleep and finding a safe spot in a city is very difficult. I've seen and heard many stories of some horrendous shit that happens in London. It's not nice. There are some ugly fuckers out there. People can be vulnerable in many ways. Not just physically vulnerable. To much to list here. I'm sure you can all imagine the dangers.
The other thing is that you do feel like an outcast. Or, even a weirdo. Or, even a suspect. And, I guess you are as far as society is concerned.
Have to say that what I've seen of the policing here I'm very impressed. And, that's from someone who would very reluctantly trust the police. There is no CCTV that I'm aware of but, the police seem to appear within minutes at the slightest sign of trouble. For a holiday city it is very effectively, efficiently and IMO, very fairly policed. If you're not bothering anyone else or, blatantly breaking laws you're pretty much left alone. There is a bit of a game going on with the street sellers in some areas but, I have yet to witness anything other than 'move on please'. Fair enough.
It's very much hands on, in the streets, community policing. It works.
Tomorrow looks like being a good day. May even buy some news jeans on Monday. I have my eye on a pair in the sell everything shop. They're the baddest, most unfashionable jeans ever. I like them
I got locked in the park!
And, I've developed a limp. Didn't realise how tired I was. Went to the park to eat, drink and chill and fell asleep. Last look at the time was about 11PM. When I woke it was 4.30AM! All gates locked and no way out. Missed the party and tried and failed to climb the fence so tried to sleep again. Woke up at about 10AM and I can't walk properly
Feels like half my left foot is missing. No pain. Just can't use my foot Feels like it's slowly waking up.
Minor argument with the hostal owners who had the painting I'm selling today. Still have a debt to pay and they're now holding all my belongings until it's cleared. Looks like I'll have to pay the debt off on a daily basis.
A quick explanation of how things went wrong; firstly, the rain - two days of it, was a killer blow. Then on Friday I went to my regular, reliable pitch only to find 12 glass recycling bins there. A weekend long kiddies recycling educational/play programme event kind of thing. No pitch totally threw me. Wasted most of the day walking around from place to place rather than actually selling. With no cash in hand I panicked and dramatically reduced my prices thus reducing the 'worth' of my art. With a good marketing education I should have known better. However, I have a good education in english and maths also but, still can't spell correctly or, do sums correctly all the time.
Golden rule of marketing yourself - always raise your prices. Start cheap and get expensive. Never reduce your prices. It tells people you're failing and your work is not worth anything. Raise your prices and you're succeeding and your art must be good.
Woke up a little 'sun-kissed' this morning. Need a shave and a wash and a new cheap T-shirt. Hope my leg can cope with a walk up the hill.
And, I've developed a limp. Didn't realise how tired I was. Went to the park to eat, drink and chill and fell asleep. Last look at the time was about 11PM. When I woke it was 4.30AM! All gates locked and no way out. Missed the party and tried and failed to climb the fence so tried to sleep again. Woke up at about 10AM and I can't walk properly
Feels like half my left foot is missing. No pain. Just can't use my foot
Feels like it's slowly waking up.Minor argument with the hostal owners who had the painting I'm selling today. Still have a debt to pay and they're now holding all my belongings until it's cleared. Looks like I'll have to pay the debt off on a daily basis.
A quick explanation of how things went wrong; firstly, the rain - two days of it, was a killer blow. Then on Friday I went to my regular, reliable pitch only to find 12 glass recycling bins there. A weekend long kiddies recycling educational/play programme event kind of thing. No pitch totally threw me. Wasted most of the day walking around from place to place rather than actually selling. With no cash in hand I panicked and dramatically reduced my prices thus reducing the 'worth' of my art. With a good marketing education I should have known better. However, I have a good education in english and maths also but, still can't spell correctly or, do sums correctly all the time.
Golden rule of marketing yourself - always raise your prices. Start cheap and get expensive. Never reduce your prices. It tells people you're failing and your work is not worth anything. Raise your prices and you're succeeding and your art must be good.
Woke up a little 'sun-kissed' this morning. Need a shave and a wash and a new cheap T-shirt. Hope my leg can cope with a walk up the hill.
