I have had the opportunity to watch some folks I know wade ever deeper into the business of creativity.
One friend, Lizzie Newell is a writer. She explores a world with its own sexual and environmental situations. But in addition to the pure writing there is the whole editing and marketing process.
She is blessed with the talent to design book covers for herself and a few others, but the effort she takes to understand self publishing, because her stories do not fit into a neatly defined mass market box that publishers push on unsuspecting readers is amazing. There are places for independent sellers and small scale publishers to get their product made and on the shelves, but it takes a lot of hustle.
Other friends have opened businesses as the outlet for their creative endeavors. Happily Carol at the Screaming Weasel in North Pole has recruited other artists (including me) to sustain and diversify her inventory.
I have also seen the efforts of other artists who network continually to get shows and their name out to galleries and businesses to hang their work for first Friday art walks or in pop up shops. or marketing through Facebook groups, Etsy, Ebay, Craig's list, and their own websites.
I find myself wondering if I would ever really have the energy and drive it takes to follow any similar paths. Because as many hours as they spend marketing their work they still find time to create new works for the public to enjoy and desire and buy.
And more than anything I would need the confidence in what I produce to market at the intensity that I would need to to make it pay me.
The first rule of dumpster diving is try to avoid it if you can.
If you see something out on the curb or in the back alley that is going to be thrown out you can either just take it or politely let the former owner know that you restore furniture, create art from found objects, have a specific purpose in taking the object if they are ok with that.
If you happen upon a house being renovated ask what they are going to do with any of the materials they remove. Things like older counter tops and cupboards may still be usable for you. Wood scraps can also be a great resource. The more you can take away the less haulage fees the home owner will have to cover.
If you actually see something in a dumpster that you really want you might also let the owners know. You should also make every effort to remove things without actually climbing inside. Sticks, rakes, something that will let you hook onto an object and draw it towards your arm's reach. And remember all that glitters is not gold. Wear gloves and old clothes to protect yourself from the icky things like wet food scraps, bodily fluids, dog or horse droppings...
Today I drove through some amazing scenery. Snow capped peaks, glacier fed rivers, wildlife in all its glory and dotted here and there were houses.
Some of them were quaint cottage size cabins, others full blown mcmansions, rambling ranch styles nestled by old time A frames. And I though about how the home was so secondary to what it would be like living in these settings. Some of them were pretty remote or at least back on roads that would not be fun to drive daily in the middle of winter. But OH my! The view from the window/deck/balcony was amazing!
So if I found myself living in such a place I know there are some things that would have to be in place first.
1. No job. Like I said those roads would suck after a storm
2. Capacity to hold a month's worth of food and supplies so I could enjoy each day without thinking about milk, eggs and waiting in line anywhere.
3. Art supplies and electricity. I want to be able to let the inspiration take me in any direction. fabric, paint, carving, glass, metal, clay...
4. Space to work and seclusion. If my place was right on the road there would be a constant stream of noise and lost travelers. If my lot was too small any neighbors might complain about me running an angle grinder at 2 am.
So do I expect to ever find myself in one of these perfect settings? Of course not, but I can bring some of these ideas to where I do live. and it may not quite as spectacular but it is pretty damned nice.
