Always Find The Golden Opportunity In Bad Events
Posted by Keith on Saturday May 17, 2008 Under Creative Process, Painting / Drawing
Last night, for about 10 seconds, I could have made the most jaded sailor blush but after that, it opened up some guilt-free possibilities for me. What happened was pretty simple: I had two new canvases sitting next to me in my work area and put very noticeable holes through both of them when I accidentally dropped the scissors I was using to cut open a package I received yesterday. The first reaction, being a struggling artist with not a lot of money for supplies, was to immediately curse my luck and be mad about the loss of money. After that initial “I’m glad my daughters were asleep and didn’t hear that” moment, I felt liberated. Why?
Because I now had a guilt-free ability to practice some techniques on canvas! Because my supplies budget is so low, I am unwilling to practice my techniques on canvas and instead use heavy watercolor stock (which I DO gesso when I practice oils) but it’s not the same. My easel does not hold paper in any stable way so I have to practice with it lying flat on a table. Needless to say, it’s not the best solution. But with these two damaged canvases, I now have free license to practice on them and know that I am practicing on the surface I will put a final product on. It’s a nice, refreshing feeling to know I can do that. The lesson? Always find the golden opportunity in bad events. They’re almost always there, and can open new avenues for you!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Sorry to hear of the accident, but good luck with the experiments! Really exciting- definitely post the results
May 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I am sure that your “practice” pieces on the canvas will turn out to be saleable. Do show us your work.
I am learning the same lesson right now. I am working in a retail shop and learned recently that it will be closing down. It was a convenient, flexible, relatively easy job for me, so I was sad to lose it.
I meet lots of teachers in that shop for various reasons, and I was talking to one of them about what I’m going to do after the shop closes. The subject of my being fluent in French came up somehow. This teacher told me that I should teach, and that she got her teaching certificate in one single year at a certain local university.
Long story short…I am applying at that university, and because of my work, I am surrounded by experienced teachers who are writing me glowing letters of recommendation.
Oh, and buh-bye, grouchy people trying to return obviously used merchandise two months after you bought it! Heh.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Isn’t it amazing how life works out sometimes? Good luck venturing into your newest art endeavor-I’m sure it’ll work out magnificently. Here’s to low budgets and letting life’s mishaps lead us to bigger and better experiences!!
May 21st, 2008 at 5:38 am
Somehow, couldn’t that hole become part of the painting?