24 Hour Art Challenge?

[Stanley Edwards]

Advice above taken in

It is a seriously dangerous way to live. I've come close to possible death on three occassions already and sleep deprivation can totally screw your mind.

I have a new plan for nightimes mind. I'm going to try sleeping on a night bus to somewhere, doing a painting/taking photographs, and then sleeping back. Hostal every other night. Should save a tenner a day (tourist season is well and truly underway - hostal prices are increasing).

The secondjand shop didn't have any cool clothes for me. I am now a very respectable, safe, middle aged spanish man wearing smart beige slacks and a blue/grey shirt. No more artist close to the edge look.

Sales are going well. I may even run out of stock before the weekend finishes. Spotted sandals for €16. They're mine tonight. Socks would have been €4 anyway so, they're only really costing me €12. I will be very normal and boring once more by the end of the day.

I'm getting great support from locals. All sketches sold this morning went to spanish people. Saturday evenings are usually good for me also. Off to buy food and drink ready to put in a solid 6 hours selling session (with a brief break to get my shoes).

Things look very encouraging. Think I've sussed it. Took me long enough mind!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Good news first; I came within a hairs breadth of cracking the €100/day barrier

Came with a lot of help from locals.

The bad news; I would have cracked it if I had chanced another 15 minutes but, there is obviously a crackdown going on and I'm still not sure about my rights. All the nigerian CD sellers are packing up in discrete corners.

I think you can display and it's upto the police to prove you were selling. Not difficult. Especially as I have a bag full of price tags and I lost one the other day whilst police were about.

I have been told that they're more tolerant to hand made stuff than counterfeit or, cheap imported jewellery. I'm not so sure. So, I quit whilst I was winning. I can't afford to lose the stock I have at the moment.

No new sandals. The Zapateria is closed on Saturday afternoons. I've decided to wait until monday and stink the town out instead. My feet are now slowly stewing.

Going out with a bottle of beer and sketch block tonight to restock for tomorrow. If I'm going to maintain these sorts of sales I need to manage my hours very carefully and I'm very aware that to much sleep deprevation will not only fuck the mind but, will also fuck the body in time.

The guy who wanted me to paint churches returned again. I've changed my mind about him. I think he could be a genuine wannabe patron. He offered to wash my clothes for me Dunno. We'll see what happens next.

Off to sketch Parque Garcia Lorca. It's a very modern park set infront of 9 story appartment blocks. It's very cool but, possibly not a seller.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Oh fucking hell. I think it's a holiday or, summat. I'm shit at keeping track of these saints days and stuff. The city is very busy and even the scummiest hostals are quoting €30 for one night. I can't bring myself to do that at the moment.

May try the night bus plan. A trip to the coast possibly. Or, possibly not.

I need a decent shower. They have showers on the beaches at Almeria. Perhaps an early morning swim followed by a shower followed by a sleep on the coach back in time for midday trade?

Dunno. The bars look very inviting tonight.

My feet are sore as fuck. Salt water is good for sore feet isn't it?

Bus to Almeria and back is probably about €30 mind.

Am I thinking out aloud or, talking to myself? Anyone listening?

Malaga? Torremolinos? Nerja? The mountains maybe?

 

[hiccup]

People are listening I think people are probably worrying a bit too. Take care of yourself matey.

 

[BEARBOT]

it would be great if you could find a FREE or perhaps just a few euro a night in
contribution place in granada.shame no-one local or expats can help you out with this ...after all u could help them out with a bit of cash..30 euro for a hostel sounds crazy, i paid far less than that but it was winter(in that moroccan style hostel place)

sleeping rough isnt good and im not so sure about this night bus idea..good luck whatever you do
but why dont you try contacting the travellers in the caves(provided u feel they are alright)offer to buy them some food for a place to kip.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

No need to worry people. I'm not taking anymore chances even if I am sleeping rough. There are safe places. I may rent a room in a private house if they'll accept 2 weeks payment in advance rather than a full month.

Went to the bus station this morning to check out times and prices. I'm still tempted to give this a go. No doubt I'll fall asleep and end up in Barcelona or, somehwere 10 hours away.

When I went to the bus station I stumbled across a huge mega sunday market with loads of sandals €10 buys a pair of very comfortable, durable, quality leather, black sandals. My feet are saying 'thank you'. They feel alive, fresh, invigorated, naked and vulnerable. Give them a day and they'll start moaning about being neglected for so long. My trusty old boots have been binned. They served me very well for over two years. I'll be buying more come winter.

€3 buys a pair of comfortable summer trousers with lots of pockets. €3 buys a pack of six pairs of cotton socks.

I can see this will become a weekly Sunday morning trip. Loads of stuff there I like the look of but, aren't exactly essential at the moment. Saw a large black canvas shoulder bag. Perfect for my sketches, frames and all painting and drawing materials.

I've picked up a commission to paint a picture of someone's house for €50. Hopefully more will follow. It's nice easy work from a photograph that can be completed anywhere.

Got loads of sleep last night. Mostly drunken coma like sleep but, sleep nonetheless.

Hoping to collect €40 this evening. I have just four frames left. I need to re-stock at the sell everything shop tomorrow morning.

Just to recap; I am sketching on blank index cards bought for €1/100 with OHP marker pens and a black rollerball. Frames are 80 cents. Selling at €5 to clear a €4 profit for 10 minutes work. I'm also selling sketches without frames for €2 or €3. Even though I say it myself, they are beautiful little things and they're selling as fast as the little tile off-cuts sold.

Picking up occassional commissions as I go and completing small panoramas of the Alhambra in acryllic on canvas to sell at €30 a time. I'm sure I can average €80 a day like this. That's €560 a week cash in hand And, it's lovelly work.

 

[extra dry]

good to think positive stan, should work out alright for you. if you give your clothes to that guy to wash, you may never see them again, maybe.

 

[jms]

Yay.

nice to see you so optimistic, money-wise.

got some good feedback on dA about it

 

[scathed]

I wonder if you could make your blank index cards into post cards. Would be interesting to see the result. Admittedly you can't sell them for as much.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

See the crazy pintor Inglesé - muy rapido. Muy bueno. Could be a Van Gogh you know.


Word is spreading that I am actually a profesional and successful artist and photographer from London. Caught in limbo (they say that in Spain also) and in need of dinero - an opportunity to grab yourself a bargain that will be worth a small fortune in ten years time.

My spanish is just about good enough for some more subtle marketing.

Out all night. Sketching the Alhambra at dawn (I've already sold over 30 Alhambra sketches). It is what Granada is all about as far as the tourists are concerned.

Many students are buying before they return home. I have about 10 regular local buyers who drop by as they're passing. Tourists make up about 30% of my sales. I need to win before I exhaust the local market. Constant new lines may become essential.

Plan for the day; sell, sell, sell until 5.30pm when I go to the sell everything shop to re-stock on frames. Hoping hostal prices have dropped a bit after the weekend (I doubt it mind) but, will pay €30 for a bed and shower if I have to - totally shagged.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The old guy who wants me to paint churches dropped by again. I think he is genuinely just giving me a bit of support - he always buys something and gives me a brief spanish lesson. Lots of good people in this city.

And, some bad...

I do need to be careful now. There are a few guys who watch me very carefully when I'm selling in Bib-Rambla and Plaza Nueva. Watching how much cash I'm taking. One of them tracked me down to my favourite tapas bar the other night. Problem is that selling goes well into the night way after the banks are closed. Pretty sure the trouble the other night was from these guys. Basically trying to get me to run down a blind alley. Romanian guys as skint and desperate for cash as I am but, with a very different set of morals.

Speaking of which, I really need to clear some hostal debt!

Lots of flyers on telephone boxes for rooms to rent now the students are beginning to leave. Some in english.

Hopefully I can sort out temporary accommodation very soon.

Don't worry about the muggers. I'm not nearly as stupid as I let people think I am and I've walked this city so much I know how to lose people and where the safe places are. Best stay off the vino tinto

 

[mrkikiet]

Lots of flyers on telephone boxes for rooms to rent now the students are beginning to leave. Some in english.

Hopefully I can sort out temporary accommodation very soon.

try loquo.com. i guess they have a listings section for granada, they do for most spanish cities, ther is normally stuff on there as well.

 

[babymoongeese]

Stay safe and positive Stanley - you are an inspiration

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Time for a price increase I think

Come and get them while they're still affordable people. The crazy english guy is going places - you all know it. See his dedication. The man is obsessed with your beautiful little city.


I am actually making big in-roads. If I had arrived in Granada with plenty of spend I could well have ended up meeting nobody and not learning the lingo. I am meeting loads of people and progressing very nicely with my spanish. Not just meeting people but, meeting the right people as far as I'm concerned. The desperate artist of just a week ago is now succeeding. He's smart, he's selling, he's enjoying Granada. A small display of money (posh slacks, new leather sandlas, quality shirt - not a lot but, these things are relative. To come back from the gutter impresses) gets results.

Big display of frames is called for tomorrow. I've been circulating just four at a time today for the sake of bluffing those to interested in my takings. Big sales tomorrow and I have no need to worry about staying out all night for a while.

It's quite cold this evening. Yeah - look at them all now in their T-shirts and shorts. Not laughing anymore are you. 'Be Prepared', that's my moto and I've got a lovelly warm coat

 

[scathed]

Will you still say that in July/August?

 

[Paul Russell]

Glad to hear it's going well.

This thread is so amazing that if I hadn't seen the photos, I would be beginning to suspect it was all a hoax, and Stanley was typing it all from his penthouse flat in Chelsea.

Anyway, good luck and take care...

I am actually making big in-roads. If I had arrived in Granada with plenty of spend I could well have ended up meeting nobody and not learning the lingo. I am meeting loads of people and progressing very nicely with my spanish. Not just meeting people but, meeting the right people as far as I'm concerned. The desperate artist of just a week ago is now succeeding. He's smart, he's selling, he's enjoying Granada. A small display of money (posh slacks, new leather sandlas, quality shirt - not a lot but, these things are relative. To come back from the gutter impresses) gets results.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Relatively hassel free night. I did get woken by the police for the second time though. That may well raise an alarm.

Shared very early morning coffees with a bunch of big lady prostitutes from Poland. These things happen when you live this sort of life Very entertaining.

I have exhausted the supply of 10cm x 15cm frames. Not a huge problem but, a nuisance. Need to source a suitable alternative. I'm also not to sure I'm going to get away with selling from my regular pitch for much longer. I need to have a contingency plan at the ready.

I'm thinking about putting some flyers up and getting my mobile topped-up now I can just about communicate confidently in spanish. Paintings from photographs - houses, portraits, pets etc etc. Tacky but, I'm in no position to be choosy. Also plan to approach a few shops and get spanish PayPal account sorted within two weeks. I am now able to get my NIF number and enter the spanish system proper.

All cash is invested in new stock. I need to turn it into €200 within three days!

 

[Dr. Furface]

Keep up the good work Stan and stay outta trouble! buena suerte!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Double clicked. Repeated post.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Doubled my prices and sketches are selling just as quickly

And, I've found a new supply of frames. The wind is a bit of a problem today. For the sake of profit and displaying in the wind it makes sense to reinvest every penny as quickly as possible. Afternoon plan is to sketch, sketch, sketch until 5.30pm when I can buy new frames. Then I'm going to sell, sell, sell in Plaza Neuva from 6pm - 8pm and then either Bib-Ramblas or, Mirador San Nicolas until my head falls off.

Met a spanish guy here who lived in London for five years. He's told me where there's a hostal that always charges €15/night. That is good news!

A stunningly beautiful student from Gdansk who bought sketches on Sunday returned today to see if I had any new ones. I realised that I had sold all new sketches since Sunday. I must be improving.

People are pasting flyers for flats all over the place at the moment. Hope I don't miss the boat.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Yellow pens have run out so, I'm taking a one hour siesta until the office supplies shop opens.

May as well take the time to explain the spanish system. In short, if you are a student, working legally or, a pensioner that has paid into the spanish system or, does not intend to collect from the spanish system you do not need a residents permit (new law passed very recently). All I need is an NIE number to set myself up as a professional artist/photographer. For an NIE number, I need a permanent address (which may be sorted for the sake of officialdom).

The residencia application is a nightmare that I was keen to avoid.

Hopefully, I'm just a couple of weeks away from earning proper money.

 

[fractionMan]

Sounds like you're going places

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Sounds like you're going places

I fancy a trip to Gdansk if the women all look like that Although every polish person I speak to here tells me Krakow is the city for artists.

Long term plan is to travel from here. Perfect base; international airport, ferry to Africa not far away, best place to learn spanish for S.American trips, cheap living and plenty of people to rent your pad whilst you're away.

 

[scathed]

Argentina is by far the nicest country to visit! I thoroughly enjoyed it last year, although I'd not suggest you tried doing what you're doing in Spain.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Argentina is by far the nicest country to visit! I thoroughly enjoyed it last year, although I'd not suggest you tried doing what you're doing in Spain.

Everyone tells me Argentina is the place to visit. Especially Buenos Aires.

The temperature range by day here is huge. Can almost drop by 30 degrees from peak to low. Quite fresh again this evening.

I have reached the point where many of the homeless recognise me and know I'm sleeping rough myself. Some probably know where. The biggest risk I'm taking is posting here! I'm looking for a hostal bed tonight.

Have an appointment tomorrow with a souvenir shop. Plan to sell in the morning and then see what the souvenir shop has to offer. I now have a fairly reliable income. However, I'm spending far to much time outdoors

Plenty of flats and rooms available. Just a matter of selling as quickly as possible. You never know, I may even still get paid for my real work. Or, sell a photograph. One thing's for sure, it's going to be very difficult convincing prospective landlords that I have the money!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

No bed!

I have a very tough and very dodgy night ahead of me. I'm shagged. Totally. Physically exhausted although my mind still seems to be coping.

I had no idea just how many homeless people there were in this city. Seems they all knew about me though. I am being tailed not in an ominous way but, in a way where others see hope. I'm still coping on the streets but, I haven't had to cope for to long. I'm relatively clean. I have food. I have drink. I have cigarettes. I have money. There are plenty of people here who have none of those unless they get lucky begging or, find a fellow homeless person who got lucky. The vast majority of homeless people are not homeless because they're ex-murderers or, violent people. Far from it. The majority are broken souls. Very sad and very vulnerable people who switch off with booze or, whatever is available. They're harmless.

Other people are not harmless. The sort who take it upon themselves to police the streets the way they want to police them. Tossers. Cunts. Bigots. The kind of people who screwed me into this situation in the first place. Be very careful what you say on the web!

I know how to stay safe for the night and I know I'm sorted tomorrow. It's just going to be a fucking hard one.

This post could go on forever. I'm going to cut it short and come back to explain in full later. It is a very small world we live in.

Priority number one: food and sustanence. Kebab or, falafel? I can't track down where I saw the sign for the Pizza Pakistani which is a bloody shame cos I really, really, want one NOW.

-- some posts may go a bit mellow and deep from now on (the lifting yourself above your fellow man is the very difficult bit) but, don't worry people, I'm on top of everything. Inevitably some of the people I've met on the streets I will leave behind. Some have already 'disappeared'. The tougher characters I will no doubt bump into for months or, years yet.

Hasta Mañana!

 

[Cerisa]

good luck

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Right. Got that one out of my system. Seems to be the way I deal with crap situations. Shut them out and don't think about it until the thing is sorted. Then have a huge sulk.

Freezing last night. No sleep at all. I'm totally wrecked now. However, I have totally sold out today already. Supplying a small gift shop and caught the early trade at Mirador San Nicolas. I'm sorted for a bed and now I'm off to make myself a huge cheese and onion salad to clean me blood.

It gets better. I have also picked up two commissions. The house picture came through and someone has given me a huge bronze tile to draw an Alhambra panorama on. I'm really going to enjoy that.

And better. I have also been asked to supply a shop with more small tile pictures of a local church. They even supply Grenadian Blanco tiles.

Pretty much sorted for a while and well on my way to more ongoing work. Some good people here are looking after me

Put myself through some right shit there but, it looks to have paid off. You want work in a new city where you know no one and don't even speak the language very well, then you have to get noticed. Be seen. Be seen doing good stuff.

A new genius artist has found his way to Granada

I'm respectable and clean once more courtesy of the little second hand shop. I now wear a smart pale blue cotton shirt with very comfortable dark blue jeans and my new black sandals.

Extremely hard work that called on some unkown talent and resources but, I think I'm almost there and I timed it perfectly for finding a flat privately and cutting out the agents one month fee.

May sleep for a day and a half now!

 

[scathed]

You know, the church tends to still look after poor weiry travellers. Get a crucifix and in times of sorrow and such-like get your little saviour out from under your shirt, knock on the door of a big church and bleed your story out to the priests... they love to give sympathy and hospitality. Language barriers make your story last longer

I have to come over in July (another court case). I may rent a bike and ride up to see you in Granada... long way off yet but I'll keep you posted on that

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You know, the church tends to still look after poor weiry travellers. Get a crucifix ...

I have little paintings and sketches of churches instead I'll take charity if I have to. Tiredness has just hit me. I'm going to get every euros worth out of that bed.

Absolutley no doubt that this is playing a part in some recent sales. Some guy even asked me if I had faith. My reply? "I remain open minded".

However, students and tourists are buying purley because they like them. A german guy bought four this morning. My faith in germans art appreciation is returning. Or, perhaps he just saw how utterly wrecked I was and thought death could not be far away - a wise short term investment.

TBH, if people pay I don't really care what their motives are. If it helps them get to heaven then I've done my bit to help them. Seems fair to me.