Notes from a conversation

Notes.
Back from a long weekend in Dunedin and somehow this came up on my phone. My notes from a conversation with a gallerist in October 2019.
Notes.
Back from a long weekend in Dunedin and somehow this came up on my phone. My notes from a conversation with a gallerist in October 2019.
Circles.
The start of a 30-day experiment, a drawing a day.
Why?
It’s been an age since I’ve picked up a paintbrush, and this will get me back in the habit of making. It’s also an experiment for the Change Makers course I’ve recently started.
Why circles?
I’ve no idea, but you’ve got to start somewhere.
Will they continue?
Maybe. I’m wondering if drawing circles is the best use of my time. Still, I also know trusting the process is essential, and limitations can increase invention.
Thinking in post-its.
There’s nothing like an exhibition to highlight the need for being organised and having good systems in place. INTERPLAY, opening in early November, is no exception.
Playing with post-its and the Johnny Decimal system I’m currently looking at the following areas and categories to organise the files on my laptop:
10-19 ADMIN
11 Legal
11.01 Contracts
11.02 Company Registration
11.03 Etc.
12 Accounts
12.01 Invoices
12.02 Expenses - Business Only
12.03 Expenses - Shared
12.04 Bank Statements
12.05 Etc.
13 Planning
20-29 MAKING
21 Works
22 Writing
22.01 Proposals
22.02 Newsletters
22.03 Articles
22.04 Artist Statements
22.05 Bios
23 Research
24 Exhibitions
24.01 Interplay
24.02 New Old Forms
30-39 MARKETING
31 Website
32 Social Media
33 Branding
34 Promotional Material
34.01 TAD
34.02 Exhibition Invites
40-49 MONEY (SELLING / INCOME)
41 Inventory
42 Lists of Works
43 Potentials
43.01 Sales
43.02 Funding
This structure is not complete and is very much a work in progress. While the idea of a perfect system can be both seductive and stultifying, I know (sometimes with difficulty) an imperfect and working system is more practical than an illusory idea.
Table solaire by Salvador Dalí
Oil on panel
46 × 60cm
1936
If asked, I wouldn’t have expected this work from the Surrealism show as Te Papa to catch my eye.
The technique is flawless (which may or may not be a good thing), but it was the light in this work that struck me. And the colours in the tabletop – just lovely!
New desk set-up.
While a new monitor wouldn’t go a miss (and is on my list of “things to buy for the office”) I’m enjoying having a dedicated “working desk” at home.
Having a designated, single-use, physical space to work at, rather than sitting on my bed with my laptop, is already helping me differentiate work from the other parts of my life.
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And preparation for INTERPLAY, the group exhibition I’m part of, continues. More details very soon!