Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Alternative Ibiza?

The contemporary band of travelling artist and musician folk.

Already spending time with Rania who I first met in Malaga, and today another Malaga reunion with my friend Bo from Mutefish.MUTEFISH

We just shared beers and food remembering the tough January in Malaga Two years ago when we were barely making enough to cover bed, food, beer and smokes. When he isn't playing on tour with the band, Bo works the streets with his mandolin on a loop pedal. Fabulous sound. Perfect for busy streets.

More and more people are living this nomadic life. Not for the money, but we all need enough to survive. Now I know through experience that people are not going to give me coins for having a good time painting what I want to paint in the sunshine. I am 'finishing' the first painting in various places around Ibiza whilst handing out pamphlets. I need to save €100 for canvas Nº2 - A large 2 Meter x 1 Meter piece. I have everything else I need. Then, I need to get some prints of the first picture printed. No decent money in this yet, but I am surviving very happily meeting old friends in the sunshine, and waiting for my big clients to return. Big shed is getting closer.

w2.jpg
 
Painting 1 of 21 is now properly finished. Found a nice place in Parque de Paz to paint. Very relaxing with few interruptions. Enjoyed myself so much I forgot about money. I am not making a penny on the street doing this in winter. First large oil painting I have completed for over Five years! Here is where I left it then...

darro.jpg

Suza and Milo. V7 is very different in style. Took me a while to get back into the groove I wanted to be in.

Three takers are waiting for paintings, but we have yet to talk about money seriously. This bit I find very difficult. I know what I need to make, but at the same time I enjoy it so much it just doesn't feel like work I should get paid for. Pretty sure prints will bring in cash. Each painting is going to cost around €300 in materials alone. Looks like each will take a month to complete. This is not going to be easy.

Anyway, next up will be a re-working of Steffi and the Prickly Pear at about 1.7 Meters x 1 Meter.
steffi.jpg

I appreciate this thread seems to be becoming less about travel and more about me and my art. Hopefully, I can make it more relevant to travelling by introducing you to other itinerants lives. It isn't just about street art and street musicians. It is also about Premier League opera players and the like. You would be surprised at the mix within these nomadic circles. Interesting Travel stuff will return.
 
Fooking freezin!

Like Scotland fookin freezin. WTF? The other night I was sweating and tossing blankets away. Cold camping tonight.
 
This may just read like a bit of a rant. I feel it is an important insight into how I live as a travelling artist, and all the stuff I have to deal with. Used to put things like this on my blog, but prefer to keep my blog less cluttered these days.

I just fell out with Rania. Obviously, I am saddened - I like her much. However, she has crossed too many boundaries. Hopefully she is big enough to get over it and appreciate where I am coming from.

My 'sleeping arrangements' and studio is occupied with the owners permission. A small pedestrian street with bars and resto's. Lots of terraces, and a slow trickle of passers-by. People may stop and watch me. Have a chat. Potentially order a sketch, painting even, or just drop a coin. I am not a nuisance to anyone. The local businesses have no objection. Some even recognise the extra interest I am providing.

I do not want people coming up to my potential clients asking for money, cigarettes, or trying to sell drugs. No begging. For one thing I may lose a customer. For another, the bar owners may get pissed off with people upsetting the chilled ambience. Rania has been asking people for cigarettes whilst sitting with me when I paint.

I do not want people to introduce random drug addicted/alcoholic strangers to where I sleep with my valuables and paintings. Twice I have been woken at early hours by people wanting beer, tobacco, or cash. Rania brought these people.

My place is discrete and clean. I pack everything away where it will not be noticed. Rania is a bit of a hoarder. She has left with me a large suitcase, several bags and a chair (which I specifically told her she couldn't leave) with me. It makes my place look very obviously like a homeless den - not a good image for business for myself, or the bars.

Personally, I don't understand why I should have to point out common decency and respect, but I do, and when I do people get very offended and start off on a 'the streets are for everyone - what gives you the right to tell me what I can and can't do here' sort of rant. This makes me feel guilty. It is very, very difficult trying to keep everybody happy and protecting your own peace (and safety).

Hope she gets over it. She is a very temperamental sort mind. Much as I like her, I have to put my own interests first in this instance.

There are many people with issues on these streets. It is like walking on egg shells much of the time.
 
Sorry you've been having problems Stan.
I think maybe you are a bit too kind hearted with people and they take advantage of you.
Is it possible for you to be friendly without being too accomodating?
 
blossie33 said:
Sorry you've been having problems Stan.
I think maybe you are a bit too kind hearted with people and they take advantage of you.
Is it possible for you to be friendly without being too accomodating?
Click to expand...

Well thanks :)

No big problems really. Nothing I am not used to dealing with. Just a bit under the weather ATM - windy every bloody day. Gets to everyone. Gusts whipping round every corner blowing dust and shit about from all the building sites. Fences still up all over town. People will be very glad when this has finished.

Ibiza off season is nothing more than a small provincial, Spanish city. No tourists, no parties, just everyday folk doing everyday stuff. I like that, but I am not feeling the community spirit here this year. The more I look at taking on a lease for a studio, or industrial unit, the more I realise Ibiza is just a temporary plan for me. If I am going to commit to a long term plan I should probably look at returning to Granada. Here for the year at least now. Probably without shed.

Onwards and upwards!

Waiting to start painting 2, and getting prints done. All should be much easier from now on. Trees are beginning to produce fresh buds - the worst of the weather has passed. Possibly. Spring can be wet, but warm at least.
 
Sold for quite a lot of money. Borrowed someones expensive Samsung Note 4 to photograph this in good light. I do not want to mention the black lines to them!

Will photograph it properly for prints in the next few days.

s12_sm.jpg
Obviously, photograph is not doing it justice. I am happy. People like it. It has sold. That is all that matters immediately. Tough going, but I am getting there. Plan is to use this painting as a 'prop' whilst selling prints (€220 for a signed, limited edition, archival print, or, a Tenner for a small, litho print at A5), and completing the next 20 paintings. I HAVE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN 20 TIMES!!! This could be a very long year. I may lose weight. Possibly.
 
Some details...

d1.jpg

d2.jpg

d3.jpg


Just for the lols, I will post my own critique later after a couple of beers and something :D

I'd like to say "I haven't a bloody clue what goes on in my painting mind", but I know all full to well where it is all coming from!
 
OK. Here we go...

Evolution of a Goddess/Maya/Suza and Milo. V7.
AKA 'Middle aged artist going through heterosexual, midlife crisis'.

An explanation.

There is very obviously a running narrative starting from the bottom left hand corner. The colours are bold, confrontational, and yet harmonious at the same time. Blood runs to purity. Light washes all. I'll start with the symbolism. Most important are the snakes, or serpents. Almost always, in almost every World culture snakes represent wisdom, or knowledge. The reason I like Suza so much is for a mind that is Ten times more clever than mine. This is partly why she is Maya - Goddess of the Earth.

Fertility is the riding theme. The cycles of life. Suza stands with one foot in water, one foot on the earth and all else bathed in fire by the brightest star. Milo is her son. The flower and the butterfly are her daughters. They play safely whilst the stork (probably me) stands on guard to provide food whenever needed. He is managing whilst Suza creates.

The tree is a mirror into an external universe. A hole as deep as the unknown sky and the ground we walk. Both are infinite and beyond belief. A far away constellation of stars and atoms. The river is a continuous flow - it must never stop. From the mountains to the sea, or from my bollocks through the tubes to the fertile egg. I think they must be sperms.

This painting was completed with a very specific client in mind. Hope you like it mate :p

--/ e2a; I forgot to mention that the last few posts need to be read and viewed whilst listening to the genius Terry Hall as posted above. Happier Times!
 
Last edited:
Last post from me on this thread. It's a good read!

Thanks blossie33, many people seem to like that corner. I'm very happy that many people like the painting as a whole.

I have been posting here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, and most importantly to myself is that there is a record I can read back through myself if I ever dare. Secondly, I didn't want to post in all honesty on my blog - some of my clients read my blog with very different expectations. Some of my clients read here. I guess the Third reason of a couple rather than a few is that many people I consider friends are here. U75 has been a great comfort at times.

I hope people see the whole picture - not just the lazy, boozy me having fun in the sunshine. I work hard for this life. 99% of that work goes totally unrecognised.

Today was a nice day. But, my mate (who was almost dead when I found him) kept going on about strange smells. He has lived on the streets for the majority of his adult life. You have to be hard to do that. Stay tough. Always be perceived by others as being tough. Possibly, the biggest sacrifice street people make is personal space. There is no bedroom to lock yourself in when you are down, down, down. We all go there sometimes.

This evening he came and found me. Distressed because he had been given a jumbled message about contacting the hospital. Eventually, we get to the bottom of the bad news. His twin sister died today from a heart attack. I have no warm, safe room to offer. No hot mugs of tea, or whisky. He just came and found me to cry.

He can use my phone. He can use my laptop, take my shoulder - whatever. He knows everything here is confidential (beyond me telling you lot without putting any names - I tell you lot, because I need a release also). I am not going to judge him in anyway. Others will, because he is a street person and obviously an alcoholic, or drug addict just trying another sympathy vote for his next fix. I know him very well. He is very welcome at any time 24/7 to open up to me, tell the truth he is trying to deal with, or just tell me his fantasies - I am good company for him always.

This is not work of course. I don't expect recompense. I like to be able to help if I can, or just provide a little support. His twin sister has just died. He doesn't have good family relationships and has made many mistakes in his past, but hey... for one thing he always listens to me when I pull him up on a view he expresses which I don't like. For giving me that much respect he can expect all I can give.

I guess we will drink tonight and deal with tomorrow as it comes.

Alternative Ibiza could go on and on, but if you haven't got the point by now...

--/I like the thread. It has good humour and wisdom.

Next adventure may well be here, or just on my blog. Thanks for this one U75.
 
What's up Stan. Need a thead, you're adventures are my soap opera. Don't force me to watch corentation street man!
 
I'm around in other places. To close this thread...

I have spent almost an entire year cycle on this island. Winter was very tough financially, and the extra bad weather was no fun. Placa des Parc has reopened with a very bland, soulless look. Fewer seats, fewer trees and extra bright lighting to deter illicit traders.

The island is warming up. My phone has started ringing again - my clients are back. I've just bought a huge €100 framed canvas for my next Goddess and a 4 Meter x 2.20 Meter canvas for a job for a bar. That will keep me busy and cash happy for a couple of weeks.

The down side? All the new wronguns will be returning to town soon. All the regular street people here know me, like me, respect me and know not to mess with me. More importantly, they know I am good for help at any time. The new crowd will not give a shit!

People are arriving with C.V.s looking for work for the season - now is recruiting time.

My free bed is good for just another 11 days. With all the shit I am now lugging around town I need to find a secure place soon. This is much more important in summer than winter. Ibiza is 24 hour drug and booze filled craziness in summer. No point whatsoever trying to find a safe place to camp out.

My best clients here are opening a fitness club that will open onto the beach. Peddle your way to body perfection whilst sipping on a €10 bottle of water watching the sun set over the Med'. I don't get it.

This is a very peculiar place to live and watch. I'm in until I have at least 21 large paintings finished. Largest gallery on the island have already found me. Tough winter, but nobody could miss me - mission accomplished.

Can't wait for familiar good faces to return. It makes a huge difference. And, it will be extra nice to see fellow urbanites yet again :) Look forwards to that.

I could write much more, but I need a new thread. Probably going to transfer to 'Art' here on U75, wake my blog up, and, and, and... look out for TheWorldsMostExpensiveChocolate. This one is going to be especially good fun and highly lucrative, or messy :D

Thanks.
 
Seen some cheap flights for December.

Would Stan and others actually recommend off-season Ibiza? It looks like it could be fun eh! Chilled and interesting a few weeks before xmas...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
A log cabin alternative
Replies
2
Views
465
Minnie_the_Minx
Minnie_the_Minx
C
Marokko -Alternative places
Replies
0
Views
330
Choc
C
S
Mate missing in Ibiza
Replies
9
Views
792
subversplat
S
Mrs Miggins
San Antonio, Ibiza?
Replies
16
Views
789
Mr_Nice
Mr_Nice
mod
Goa to Mumbai: An alternative route is needed.
Replies
4
Views
440
upsidedownwalrus
U
Back
Top Bottom