24 Hour Art Challenge - part 3.

[Firky]

Low setting on the non-branded 3mp point and shoot means I can't do widescreen I'll sketch you one.

There is a particular road here (the one I live on actually) that has a big sign in English (for all the thick Brits and Yanks) saying '1.5M maximum width - physically impossible' and yet you still find people trying to squeeze their 4x4 through the one way street.

Americans just don't know how to handle narrow lanes even when they're driving a tiny Citroen.

You should write under the conversion in feet underneath. For all the thick brits

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You should write under the conversion in feet underneath. For all the thick brits

I'll go and do that now.

All the council really need to do is plant two bollards the width of the impassable right at the road entrance, but I guess that would spoil the architecture or, summat like a dirty great red and white triangle above a red and white circle with foreign type pasted all over it doesn't

Still very warm here. You can smell the sea on the wind. I'm expecting a big storm


Right. Off to find some human interaction. I'm turning into a computer!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

That was shit. No one around but tourists and American students.

Bought a kabab. Home with a bottle of Estola 2001 reserve and spliff for me this Friday night.

I need some very mixed social interaction

Where's everybody gone? Where's my favourite person in the whole of Granada?

May go out on a midnight stroll later.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Pissing it down and cold today. Just Four degrees centigrade. If the thermometer is to be believed. I'm beginning to suspect it isn't to be believed. Very different to yesterday.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Yay! Spring is back.

Strange thing about living with so much sunshine is that you miss it ten fold when it goes. Like all of the gloom of England's rainy days hits you in one foul punch of a day. It's fucking depressing when it rains here.

Anyway, sunshine is back and my heads definitely full of Spring.

Took a long wander around town this afternoon. Another disconcerting thing about Granada is it's transient population. People come and go and people pass through, but relatively few actually live here fulltime. You get to know someone. Find a bit of social life routine then, suddenly everyone's moved on. City is beginning to fill with traveling types ready for the Spring festival circuit.

Very busy today. Teaming with tourists and new arrivals. May go for another long stroll this evening. Will take a camera.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Been raining lots again.

My hair clippers have broken. I have a head of fluff varying in length from a zero to about a number 5. Could leave it as it is. Think I will. The only other option is to level it all out at zero. I am way to ugly to get away with that.

Feel as though I've been stagnating a bit for the past couple of days. Unproductive and unimaginative. Shyte toothache and weather hasn't helped.

Exactly one more month and I will have completed a full year. Despite still being relatively poor on the financial front I feel as though I have achieved and experienced a great deal. What I haven't really documented here in full is what has become a bit of a social experiment. When you appear to be obviously down and out people change! For every person offering help there will be another all to ready to manipulate. But, most ignore. It's been very revealing at times.

Almost a whole year has flown past at lightning speed. Really enjoyed it despite the lows. And, still one more month to really get my act together and build on what I already have. Or, fuck off somewhere else The idea of trying this in other cities around the world is appealing more and more by the day.

 

[Firky]

Before you do - get pissed and go on the wind up again

 

[Stanley Edwards]

My favourite sketch from a fantastic year just being an artist

Big scan. Seriously, I can still remember every second of fun sketching this:

 

[Firky]

your name is one initial away from mine

DHC

 

[Stanley Edwards]

your name is one initial away from mine

DHC

You ain't Jeeeesus. I am

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Just as things were going rather well...

Here comes trouble stirred up by the totally bonkers, posh twat of an Irish artist from Dublin circa 1934. He's out to spoil big time and he's mental enough to do so.

Really not sure what his problem is

Just mad I think.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Nice Spring day again here after a bit of a bout of greyness. Went for a stroll to see who's still about.

Did say I was going to forget any mention of Totalist Angels again but, I'm very happy to report that 'V' has just taken a job with a world renowned touring theatre company. Opening gig in Peking! Best news for a couple of weeks. If anyone deserved it...

Snobby Irish artist (who isn't actually Irish) has retreated to the coast and is doing his best to cause all kinds of probs. He's trying to convince everyone (police included) that I'm some sort of psychopathic ex-murderer on the run Unbelievable.

Good weather means more painting for me very soon. I'm missing it. However, photography is still my biggest goal.

No pics tonight, but will almost certainly post stuff tomorrow.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

It's Andalucia Day. Nearly got caught out again. Off on a Green & White themed shoot later. Plenty of green here ATM. Lush spring. Lovely time of year to visit.

The air is full of the scent of aniseed coming from the convent bakery. Beautiful smell that lingers over the city.

The convent bakery. Worth a mention. You can buy sweets that the nuns make but, you are not allowed to make eye contact with them or, see them or, summat So, you place your order and cash on a little tray in a hatch. It goes upstairs and comes back down with your sweets. Covert sweet buying. I'm sure it's against the law of God and a crappy little lift will not go unnoticed by the all seeing eye ladies. YOU'RE ALL GOING TO HELL - prayers or, no prayers

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I've just spent an afternoon around town. Revisiting my earliest selling haunts. The trees in Bib-Rambla are about to bud - just the way they were when I first arrived here. The trees in Plaza de Trinidad have been severely chopped.

Reading the first few entries on the original 24 Hour thread. How fucking naive I was! How fucking naive I still am I'm sure I've learned loads but, I'm buggered if I know what.

Found an excellent secondhand shop. Bought lots of new clothes for next to nothing. Quality stuff

Just three more weeks until it's been a full year.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Two of my favourite patrons are in town

Looks like I'll have a bit more cash to spend on my LostPhotographer project.

What's more, I've just learned that some of my sketches have found their way into very respected private collections. I'm told they like and think I'm very good Excellent! They will be buying more. Possibly commissioning

Very good day so far

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Aliijbe - the network of irrigation channels and wells that used to supply water throughout the Albycin. Most are purely decorative now although, some still supply fresh spring water from the Sierra Nevada. And, people still buy bottled water

View from the Alijbe just below San Miguel Bajo.

View West.


Beautiful days here now. Summer already Consistently in the mid 70'd degrees F. I need to buy a new hat.

I've also bought a very beautiful small, leather bound sketch pad which I'm going to fill with sketches and words and stuff over the next two weeks. Then I'm going to auction it on the web whilst drumming up as much publicity as I can. Possibly. Or, I may just give it to someone I like.

Moon was very cool last night. Climbed up the hill to watch it. No photos.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Granada 10

Old German CocaCola ad in the plush Granada 10 cinema. Going again tonight

Fantastic Korean film - Time.

After I've been to watch the sun go down somewhere like this;

I'll do a couple of sketches in the beautiful little, leather bound sketch book. Getting busy here again now. Semana Santa is not to far away. I'll make a killing this time now I know what and how to sell

 

[hiccup]

Are these recent photos all done with your cheapo 3mp camera?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Are these recent photos all done with your cheapo 3mp camera?

All yesterday on the cheap as chips digi point and shoot. Will be doing some new proper photography very soon.

 

[hiccup]

Cheers, was wondering. Not bad pics for a cheapy camera I reckon.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

...Not bad pics for a cheapy camera I reckon.

Tar. Not even sure what size the sensor is. It's an LCD 3.1 something or, other bought from Lidl for next to nothing Not bad for the money. The lens is smaller than most camera phone lenses. Seriously itching to get out and do some proper stuff.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Someone's just commissioned me to sketch The Alhambra by night Free, access all areas entry. Posh meal. And, then they hand over lots of dosh for sketches.


Will take camera also. May even get to find the elusive four colour stained glass window

Exciting!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

A view South West from Mirador de San Cristobal yesterday evening about 7.30pm.

Excellent day so far. Just sold the little leather bound sketch book before I'd even started it! 'I'll give you X amount for it when you've finished' someone said. Deal. 50% secures. Done.

Fucking shattered. Worked through the night last night. I have almost reached the point where I have to make the bold leap into self-employment in the Spanish system. That means a fixed monthly NI contribution of €250 regardless of income or, anything Also need to be sure I can be an artist practicing in different media so that I can do photography also. Otherwise it could be €500/month regardless

And, it will be time to move very soon. I need to seriously get it together and arrange an exhibition or, something. Just a few more months and I'll be sorted

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The State of 'Play' with just two weeks left of my first full year.

I am living in a very nice old townhouse in Albycin Bajo. It's secure, but I need more space desperately so, am looking for a place pronto.

I can rely on income of around €250/week and expect more.

I have Two wedding jobs lined up for the summer. One in Jerez and One near Valencia. More may come my way.

I have Two travel photography jobs lined up.

A book is on it's way sooner or, later. It may or, may not sell/make money.

www.lostphotographer.com may provide income. Or, it may cost lots!

In the next two weeks I hope to meet up with a Gestoria to arrange all paperwork for self-employment here. I want to get exhibition space confirmed for a summer exhibition for paintings and sketches and space for photography exhibition by autumn here in Granada and I also have to meet a wedding planner very soon.

It's all getting a bit more business rather than art, but I guess that's inevitable in a modern world anywhere.

Just two more weeks! It's all looking pretty good. New web projects may generate a bit more income also. Thinking about selling postcard sketches online. Need some good publicity to make that work mind.

At worse, I'll still be poor, but living the life in a magical city

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I've just been offered a One month pass to all areas of The Alhambra to go sketching and painting for a favourite client

What a way to spend a month

 

[hiccup]

Nice one

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Well done Stanley

I won't wish you luck. You don't need that, you have lots of bottle, and it works.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Thanks Hiccup and Hocus.

Things really are going very well now. Picking up work left right and center. Off to Jerez next weekend to do a reccy for a wedding location shoot. Never been to Jerez before. Looking forward to it.

As well as my painting/sketching/art photography/travel photography I've also started marketing myself as a traditional B&W reportage wedding photographer using film and traditional materials. The old fashioned romance seems to appeal. Lots of people from other countries get married here. No one has sniffed at a day rate of 1K plus expenses

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Interesting people you meet in Granada number 173.

Stefan:

It's an old tradition - hence the old traditional dress - from Germany. Way back when knights were bold... German apprentice craftsman would be sent on the road shortly after qualifying. 'Go travel young man - see what new stuff there is to learn'. So, they did. For Two years and a day newly qualified carpenters, builders, blacksmiths etc would travel the world exchanging new ideas and skills to take home to Germany. When they returned home they were awarded full professional status and allowed to set-up business.

We live in an age when all sorts of old skills and old knowledge are being forgotten so, I have much respect for Stefan for hanging on in there. Maybe, one day, his knowledge will be passed on to another generation. Maybe, one day, it will be much needed.

Stefan checking the results on his Sony Cybershot



Went up the hill this evening hoping to find someone home who wasn't. Nevermind.

Very strange skies. What is this weather phenomenon?

It was like a spiral of low lying cloud being lit by the setting sun. Very nice.

And, a very reassuring twilight scene:

It is a truly beautiful and magical city!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I am so happy that I managed to document the past year in some way. It's a good thing to read back. Posts over the next few days are very likely to be retrospective and introspective.

Took a long walk around town this evening. Sketching, drinking, eating and conversing.

In just one year I've seen people grow, die and tonight I saw a fully smacked up addict who was far more potentially a year ago. Long road out. Hope he finds it.

People come here full of idealistic wisdom and fall hard. On the other hand, many come here and grow.

This is Jean. Met him first time about a week ago. His girlfriend is here completing an ERASMUS thing. Nice guy, but he needs to hang on to his girlfriend cos I fancy the fucking knickers off her

Nah - I wouldn't really. Unless, unless, unless

Jean and his lovely girlfriend joined me near San Miguell Bajo where I was sketching. We were soon joined by another couple of ERASMUS students from Germany. Nice bunch. I like them all.

I like these guys also. The graffiti crew. One kicking his leg is a total piss taker Called me a 'dimpling'? tonight. Asked him what that meant and his mates very quickly said 'he's only joking - he's loopy'. No problemo but, what does it mean? 'no, he's loopy', 'he didn't mean it'. Yes, but what does it mean? I was never going to get anywhere. I can guess I'm sure.