The Plan, 2008
As you recall, I hate New Year’s resolutions. They’re easy to make but hard to keep, especially if they include words like diet. Although I’m reluctant to post a year long plan, there are many things I’d like to get accomplished this year.
The number one goal this year is to eliminate the clutter and turn this overstuffed basement into a working artists studio. I can live in a mess, but I really can’t work in one. I also can’t work in the dark, so adding some overhead lights to this area is imperative. I’m so tired of tripping over electrical cords and knocking into floor lamps that I could just scream, although I should probably be thankful I haven’t broken my neck.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels this way about his/her studio. The start of a new year seems to be a global holiday in studio cleaning. What has really surprised me is the number of artists working on wood floors. How do they keep those floors looking so pristine? Our house has hardwood floors, and I’ve thought about moving everything upstairs more than once. However, I’m determined not to ruin them with pigment stains, which is how I ended up in the basement.
Goal number one has already begun, but I’m dependent on my husband for the construction of some storage cabinets and the installation of the overhead lights. I swear, sometimes husbands are worse than contractors! As you can see, it’s bit disorganized at the moment.
From left to right:
1. It’ll be a good sized area once the rest of the clutter is gone.
2. My supplies have been stacked in the corner, out of the construction zone.
3. The new 200 amp electrical box will allow the installation of more overhead lights.
4. The cabinets are going where the big table used to be. The basement was apparently flooded at one time, and all the old paneling needs to come out anyway. There will be bookshelves on the end of the storage cabinets.
Thursday and Sunday are “scheduled” construction days, and I’m really excited. It was a dark and dingy place long before I moved in, but I think this room has great possibilities. The walls need a coat of paint, and I’d like to paint the floor a nice light color as well, but once the storage cabinets are done, I can put my things away and have the necessary floor space for lighting installation.
Other things on the 2008 agenda:
1. Fill remaining pages in the sketchbook.
2. Improve my draftsmanship.
3. Eliminate old work from the portfolios.
4. Try some new mediums and supports.
5. Participate in at least one SketchCrawl.
6. Continue study of art.
I began studying Monet quite by accident, and feel that there’s much more to French Impressionism than studying only one artist can provide. Degas is on the list, as well as Renoir. The “plan” is to copy at least one work by each artist I study. I also feel that there’s a lot more to 19th century art than is covered by studying only French Impressionism, and I’m trying to form a “lesson plan” that will allow a smoother flow of the material. After studying Monet in a rather backwards fashion, I think I’d rather start at the beginning of the artist’s career rather than the end of it.
These goals aren’t specific, and I may add or delete items as they fit into my schedule.
If you included a business plan this year, I’d love to know if you needed a business license where you live in order to use services like Paypal.
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Lisa,
I have seen nothing indicating that I need a business license in order to use a Paypal account, regular or merchant. I have done a nice chunk of business through my Paypal merchant account. The fees they deduct are annoying, but there aren’t any other restrictions that I’m aware of.
Thanks for the link, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. If it’s any consolation, I STILL haven’t finished organising my studio.
Thanks Meg. I don’t want to be a business yet. I think there’s a fee for just about everything anymore, and it won’t be much longer before the IRS calculates a tax for air.
Kirsty, we haven’t quite finished the demolition yet. There’s still some old tile on the floor that needs to be pried off, but the new drywall should be in this week… hopefully. I think our home improvement store will do well during the recession.
It looks like you have a terrific studio space, Lisa - I look forward to seeing it finished. I love both your favourite pastels from 2007 and really enjoyed your story of having to cover ‘that orange’ - a great outcome and a very lucky accident indeed.
Have a great 2008!