Why an artist should give up a full time job.

Time seems to be an universal disappearing act for most of us. It has been a year since I committed 100% to my art. I gave up my full-time job in retail that I had for 7 years, I just got tired of being tired, miserable and unmotivated. I gave myself a year to prove that I can make art every day without having a “real job” even if that means very little money.

Honestly I thought that it will be extremely difficult but it turned out that if you do what you love it comes easier than you could hope for. To survive financially I needed to stop buying clothes, take out foods and all the other usual suspects like Starbucks (totsiens aan al daai lekker aero’s by die britse winkel). But amazingly I got so busy completing my sculptures that I did not have time or interest in shopping. I also realize in the past when I was unhappy in my job I will treat myself with a shopping spree for new shoes, but since I am a full time artist I feel much more fulfilled and do not need to fill such a void. I can not believe that I have not done this earlier. My reward is that I have grown as a human being and artist, hopefully this comes through in my work.

By having a full time job without making any sacrifices – to fulfill my creativity as an artists – was just an excuse to avoid potential failure. I survived this year and I am trying for another (hopefully a grant or two will come my way). I am still focused on my paper sewing projects.

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In Art School (My UNISA dae in Pretoria) one of my teachers Gwenyth Miller told me that by not having any money as an artist should be counted as a blessing, because you are forced to look for creative means with what you already have in your direct environment, and that can only lead to authentic work. – Gwen waar jy ook al nou is dankie vir al jou wyse woorde, jy en Elfrieda Pretorius is seker my beste mentors gewees.

Hey, and all I had in my studio was a pile of paper . . . .

This piece comments on how fast time is flying. (*WORK IN PROGRESS*)

“Time Scampers on Six Legs”

Hand sewn Paper (this is from my 2004 and 2005 day planners, the pages is full of to do lists), foam, wire and rubber mouth and teeth.