24hr Art Challenge part 2.

[Stanley Edwards]

A nice easy weekend so far. Very socialable and cash in pocket to enjoy.

Slept in Triunfo Jardins on Friday night. Or, at least I tried to. Twice some twat thought it would be funny to wake me up by poking me in the stomach. Twice he wouldn't accept "NO" to an invitation to go back to his house to watch porn movies and masturbate together Perfectly natural for two hetrosexual men to do apparently. Horrible guy. I moved on and then got invited to stay on the sofa at a prostitutes house. I declined.


Spent last night sketching in the grounds of the Alhambra. Very beautiful. I love it up there at night. Met a very lovelly girl from california also. Says she wants to buy a print this evening. She can have a commission for free

Large stock of sketches as I haven't been selling this weekend. Spent lots of time painting and decorating and sketching by night. Off to find a pitch to sell by.

Still can't collect my keys. This is getting very fucking annoying and a little stressful. Had to buy some more new clothes yesterday.

Not much else to report. I seem to have found a steady routine. That's good for cashflow mind.

Regular 8am starts mean not so much boozing and stuff by night although, I'm hoping someone may accept an invitation to explore the Alhambra by moonlight tonight.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

More and more artists are arriving in Granada

Met a Spanish artist on Saturday who is planing to sketch and sell on the streets. Flashy git in posh clothes smoking a big fat havana.

Yesterday I met a family from New York. The youngest son wants to stay here and do sculpture on the streets. Think they like the place so, he may well be staying.


Had a good day yesterday. Sold six sketches after a full day painting and decorating. Then took the lovelly girl from California on a tour around Albycin. She insisted on not drinking to much but, wanted tapas. So, I got to drink the wine she ate the tapas. Works for me

Well and truly back on track. Still sleeping out to save money. Fell off a bench last night and nearly broke my arm. Cash is being safely banked in various trustable places. Carry no more than I need for emergencies now.

Off to buy new pens and sketch from Rio Darro.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The slimey turd who works in the shop close to my pitch tells me a very big man in dark glasses is looking for me

I have a feeling I know what he's about. He's coming back tomorrow apparently. I'll make sure I'm there.


Beautiful evenings here at the moment even if the days are a bit hot. I'm struggling to sell by night. It gets dark here at about 9pm now and people don't come out until about 8.30pm. Really need to change my selling tactics to get better results.


--/ writing here for my own record until I get access to my PC. Sorry if it's a bit boring. Working very long days (8am - 11pm+) and can't get into the writing mood. The book will be far more interesting

 

[ddraig]

not boring mate!
keep it all coming, good n bad, just bloody stay safe

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Seems I may have been a little paranoid about 'hombre muy grande con gaffas'. Still no sign of him. Perhaps he's a potential client afterall?

Think I've been doing some of my best sketching to date the past two days. The painting and decorating break from fulltime art seems to be a good thing. The fact that it's guaranteed income everyday helps ease financial stress also. Really enjoying myself at the moment. Meeting good people and doing good work. I'll try to scan my latest work to post here before I sell it.

Off to my regular pitch. The big man with glasses curiosity is bugging me. He better bloody well show up with good news or, bad news.

Slept for a solis eight hours last night. Think I've found a new safe outdoor bed with a fab view.

I have a new shirt from the second hand shop. Green and white stripes. Think BetterBuys middle management and you'll get a good picture. Trousers are filthy artist style black denims

 

[jms]

havent read this in a while, just went through about a page and a half of entries. great stuff as ever. i always say this but it does sound like the more you go on the better and more established you get.

Tut tut What's that warm patch on my chest? What's that hot patch on my chest? What's stinging my chest? Oh FUCK! I'm on fire.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Very nice evening.

Firstly, the slimey turd deserves an apology. He just works in very hot conditions and understandably gets a bit judgemental at times. He-s alright really.

Secondly, the very big man in glasses turns out to be a physically small man of high social!money status. Lost in translation I guess. He-s actually a regular patron!client who has supported me thorugh the toughest times. A good egg. I like him. He-s ¿somenes fucked the defualt settings up on my keyboard? also introduced my work to many established artists and art buyers here.

Had a good conversation with a guy from the Czech Republic. He is blind in one eye and the eye is scarred. As someone who is very, very interested in human visual perception I had to ask him loads of questions He seemed to appreciate my honesty and told me about an accident with a rocket fuelled model plane when he was a kid. He also told me that 3D perception was a problem initially but, it isn-t now. He has learned to perceive all that he remembered seeing with one eye only.

Sold the recent sketches that are my best before I had a chance to scan them - sorry. ¿at least I know where the - ¿dash? isª - fuckers.

€90 evening. Very pleasant evening it is as well. I will go socialise. However, my current employer tells me I stink of alcohol EVERYDAY. This is a problem that needs addressing. Difficult to sleep without it on the streets and there-s a new bunch of tossers in town. Already drunk two litres so, I guess I should quit now.

Nice days but, less booze would make them nicer.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

"It-s raining it- pouring, the old man is snoring"

Some twat here was just singing that. In the ineternet cafe in Spain. Is it going to rain tonight or summat


I need non-alcohol induced sleep and I need it to be dry.


That nursery rhyme scared the fuck out of me as a kid. What-s it all mean+




==! went to bed banged his head could not get up in the morning.

Anti boozing song innit. Possibly+ Who knowsª

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Very tired. I need a late siesta.

Looks like I have two BIG and fun commissions on the way. Two bars want murals painting. It most probably means painting from 2am onwards after the bars have closed. That's good news. It'll keep me off the booze during the night. On the other hand, me all alone in a fully stocked bar during the early hours

Perhaps I'll need a helper.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Did you know that just 3.27% of Granada is seen by tourists?

Very sickly sweet tonight. I've had enough of the visitors and pretenders. I'm off to the real city with the real people and the real coffee and the real bars and the real danger for a night out/off - I need it.

I may make it into work on time tomorrow.

For crying out loud people. There is so much more to this city than a view of the Alhambra and a kebab.


Loads of patronising shit from people who think they know it all in my life at the moment.

A night off. That's all I need.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

No sales yesterday. Hardly surprising as I was in a right grumpy twat of a mood. Just as well I did 8 hours painting and decorating before evening.

Good news; money has finally been recovered from the banking adminisphere. Took long enough. Most probably becuase my Spanish is still not good and no bank is going to take me seriously when I look and live like a tramp

Off to check out another bar mural painting job

Things got a little dangerous last night. A little bit of hassle easily dealt with but, I need to keep a look out for these three guys. I'm sure they'd take the opportunity if it was handed to them.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Seasons.

I'm still not sure if the summers are long here or, if the autumns are just very hot. How do you measure? I know when autumn happens it happens fast and short - a flick of the switch as they say.

Beautiful light for about a 20 minute window ATM. Looking east from west at sunset is very, very special and I don't have my cameras Thinking about painting a scene over a week (20 minutes x 7 days) but, I'm struggling to see the point of painting a photograph I want to take Surely the painting would simply be a 'show off' of technical/manual ability if I just want to copy the photograph in my head? Dunno. Some good people gave me a joint whilst I was studying the view. Never REALLY helps

Autumn. The temperature here is dropping by a degree a day this week. Perhpas the switch has been flicked? A little earlier than I expected but, best to be prepared for very cold nights if sleeping out. Can't access all my belongings and clothes until the 14th because the bitch who has the keys wants it to happen that way. No other reason that I can think of. Can't move into my new place until the 19th AFAIK. Cheapest hostals are around €25/night short term. I'll see how cold it gets tonight. The concrete of the city holds it's heat until about 5am when the cool winds come.

To many tourists are photographing with their digi-compacts. "Oh look isn't it beautiful" arm lengthy snap, then they're off. FUCK OFF YOU IDIOT YOU DIDN?T EVEN LOOK! What a fucking waste. It really sickens me. Why didn't they actually look? Hundreds, if not thousand of miles for a 2 minute fuck all

I need the real city again!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Can't find the real city tonight. Some fucker moved it or, something. So, I'm internetting before getting wasted for an eight AM start. Could get wasted with others but, then that would put a 12am start out of the window


What cunt took the real city out of me head? Fucker


Glad no one important is reading this. Just me and me own thoughts innit. Secret internet and all that. Boring fucker lost in Granada. Stoned and pissed now


Totally fucking bonkers.

It's all going crazy.

Autumn - September 21st innit. Not many people know that these days apparently.



Life!

 

[hiccup]

No-one reading this vs 940 page views

 

[Stanley Edwards]

No-one reading this vs 940 page views

Cheers.

Toughy tonight. Good to know someone is reading.

 

[elcuadroentero]

Checking in most nights, Stan the man...!

Always interesting to read your posts, if I've had a bad day, they always make me count my blessings

Trying to make my own, different, way in Spain. Love it as much as you do!!
Ain't got the balls to 'expose' myself like you do though.

Stay safe, hope ya get your cameras back soon!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Have no idea what was in that joint last night. Didn't agree with me and certainly wasn't just chocolate. Perhaps I should ask what it is next time someone offers a free spliff. Not uncommon here and mostly clean and fresh.

All went a bit crazy for a while Didn't upset anyone her did I? The web is good for venting spleen.


Very tired today. Not surprising. Off for a siesta then plan to replace my mobile and buy a new quality sketch pad and possibly a pair of trousers if the secondhand shop has anything in my size. Or, perhaps another bus ride to El Campo for some €11.99 jeans. This pair look like they're going to last and last.

No beer (perhaps just one, a BIG one). No spliff and a bed for the night. I need a recovery period.

 

[Robster970]

you did seem a little out of sorts. get some proper kip.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

you did seem a little out of sorts. get some proper kip.

Sorry

All change on the clothes front. Trip to Al Campo buys €11.99 heavy denim, charcoal jeans and €3.99 buys an oversized stripey white and blue shirt - it'll make a great artists shirt once I've broken it in Shirt worn baggy and lose over the belt of course.

Can't find a quality sketch pad and I can't afford the €3 a sheet paper the posh artist uses. He's actually alright. A true 'eccentric' English artist from the old school. If you think I can get a little mad at times, you need to meet this bloke!

I've decided to leave the new phone for a couple of more days to see if my old number can be recovered in one way or, another.

Off to sketch on cheapo pad and sell from what's left of the expensive pad.

 

[Robster970]

you don't have to apologise. it's just sometimes a little disconcerting reading some of the bad shit that happens to you....suppose may of us are just concerned about you.....

 

[Stanley Edwards]

you don't have to apologise. it's just sometimes a little disconcerting reading some of the bad shit that happens to you....suppose may of us are just concerned about you.....

That bothers me. No one should be concerned - it's my choice. And, I'm thankful that we still live in times when we are free to make that choice.


I sold just one large sketch today and just one yesterday. Both at €40 which is good going for an hours sketching and half an hours selling. However, I've just been doing a thorough maths check

I have more debt than I thought. I have more outgoings than I thought. I have less money available than I thought. I'm currently averaging €75/day total. Outgoings without bed are about €18/day. I have a lump sum debt to pay in one go of around €300. I have other debts to pay as I can (cool people). I have access to just €250 in the bank and a small pot of around €100 to come from work completed.

Fuck. These numbers are boring.

Blah, blah, blah. In short;

I have to save a further €480 in nine days. It's possible but, I need good sleep. Being locked out of my flat not only means no income from PC/Photography work it also means I have to pay a minimum of €25/night for a good sleep. That would mean daily outgoings of €43 leaving a potential daily net of €32. Not enough by a long shot.

Calling it a day today and thinking of a way to increase profit further. May well plan the real 24 hour art challenge for next weekend. I really think that is the key. May have to clear the plan with creditors first!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Lovelly afternoon.

Took the bus upto the Alhambra with the intention of visiting some free gardens undergoing restoration. However, the sky went all black - clouds and storms approaching from every direction, so I continued upwards and found a viewing point that covered about 280 degrees. Very beautiful and very invigorating. Thunder storms encroaching from three directions.

Completed a sketch looking east to west from a very elevated position. Caves in foreground with Realejo and Alhambra bits in midground and mountians and plains in the background. Very tempted to add lightning

No facility to scan it and I suspect it will sell quickly. May try to scan tomorrow but, I'm saving pennies.

Only when I returned to the city i realised just how big a threatening those clouds actually are hanging overhead now and about to tip it down through the night. I have to get a bed and I've only made €40 so far today. Very tempted to rough it but, the sky is looking very ominous.

Besides, I fear my new cheap charcoal jeans will run into my bright white and blue striped shirt if they get wet. Off to find cheap hostal/fuck with a bed (sorry, I'm stooping to all time new low standards). I need that money by Friday!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Trying to make my own, different, way in Spain. Love it as much as you do!!
Ain't got the balls to 'expose' myself like you do though.

Stay safe, hope ya get your cameras back soon!

I am suffering serious camera withdrawal. Sketching is not the same hit!

Good luck with your stuff.

 

[hiccup]

I am suffering serious camera withdrawal. Sketching is not the same hit!

Good luck with your stuff.

Buy a disposable? Might be something you could sketch from if nothing else.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Buy a disposable? Might be something you could sketch from if nothing else.

I shouldn't be moaning. I'm selling half hour sketches for €15 and one hour sketches for €30 comfortably today. It's very, very hot. Plenty of Brits around and they're buying!

Slight brain melt moment when I gave the couple from Rugby the wrong sketch. They should be happy though - it was definitely the best sketch in my book.

€85 and two commissions taken so far today and a whole evening to go


Strange thing happend on one of the resto terraces I use often. Another slight brain melt moment when I sat in the seats of the next door terrace by mistake. One of the guys from the place I had actually ordered from came out pointing his finger fairly agressively and saying 'you always forget, you were here before. Remember?'. Erm... yeah, yesterday, the day before that possibly and countless other times. Never sat in the wrong seats though.

Ate my meal and drank my drink and when I asked for the bill I had to ask; 'when was I here before and who was I with?'. His reply; 'you were here the other day with the chicas'. I know exactly who he means and I'm not surprised he remembers them and that I was with them. Just a bit pissed off that his false familiarity for the countless other visits was so believable. Very beautiful young ladies being looked out for from all corners it seams!

It is exactly that about the tourist bit of Granada I can't live with. The rest is great. The Albycin and Realejo are aethetically charming but, they've had all their edges smoothed for the sake of easy in - easy out cash-flow.

The crags are being cut clean and polished. All to easy for someone like me to slide off unoticed whilst the pseudo liberal/socialist/environmentalists get all preoccupied with business stuff and house developments. A tad cynical and generalising possibly. There are genuine people here also. Some very, very good people.

Off for my third caramello ice cream of the day. It's very hot.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Taking a day off. I slept till 12pm today

Trying to get a few people here to come for a picnic in the Sierra Nevada. I need a break from the city and the bus into the mountains is just €4. May not happen today but, needs to happen soon. Will take a camera even if I have to buy/borrow/steal one and post some pics here.

I'm off for an early 'day off' beer and tapas.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Went out sketching anyway. May even sell this evening - nothing better to do ATM.


Went upto the caves last night. A couple of young american students wanted to see them. One is actually thinking about living there

I went because they were going with the crazy street performance poet from Norwich. He's no longer (or, very rarely) doing poetry. His act has been reduced to begging these days. He's drinking loads. Taking lots. Getting ill and losing the plot. Young amercian student could quite easily follow him with very little persuasion. Free world. Free choices. I have no idea how clued up he is but, he's mixing with some right twats. Clever twats at that.

Many of the 'street people' are turning against me as I gain more and more work. Some of them are right sad tossers. Others are OK.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Stanley

Keep on keeping on. I get the feeling things are changing around you as you yourself change what you do. I hope you get your keys to your accommodation and your camera back in your hand soon. Will you stay in Spain through the Autumn, and what about the winter?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Stanley

Keep on keeping on. I get the feeling things are changing around you as you yourself change what you do. I hope you get your keys to your accommodation and your camera back in your hand soon. Will you stay in Spain through the Autumn, and what about the winter?

I plan to base myself here permanently. If work and money allow I will be travelling for 8 months of the year. Winters are effing cold here. Autumn is very cold and it's coming soon.

Work and prices are getting better by the day. I really believe I can make this work.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Spectacular thunder storms last night. Spent most of the night wandering around completely awe struck. Huge streaks of lightning everywhere. Some stretching a full 180 degrees across the skyline. No camera

I sense I could have trouble on it's way. People sticking oars in where they aren't needed mostly. Think it's inadvertent but, may well have been very purposeful. I'll explain more once it's been dealt with

Hot and sunny again now. Off to sketch in the shade with a bottle of beer.