An artist never gets a day off, I am full of cold and yet I have had a number of projects to deal with. Being self-employed means when I am ill I have to plan and utilise my time effectively. Number one having a cold is a set back, Number two having difficulties with my Bipolar in direct conflict with this cold. It is hard being disabled and yet it is something which can make you adapt and devise a strategy or two to make the most of time and opportunity.
Over the last few days I have struggled to work, having planned to go to my studio space on thursday which I had to abandon that plan, I had some important applications to make….
While looking after my niece in Yorkshire my sister gave me some advice crucial to applying for a job in Ipswich Museum as an Artist Ranger. Significantly while I was helping her she was helping me, giving me some confidence and faith in my application. The relevant skills to match the relevant specifications was an exciting and daunting task for me, but my sister was on hand. Then back in Ipswich suffering with terrible temperature and blocked nose feeling rough… I kept reminding myself to apply for things.
First application: SMITHS ROW. I submitted my application with according documents and images to specifications. The works I submitted were The Shirt Off My Back on stand, two framed prints of Bodies I and Bodies II.
Second application: JVA FVU the Jerwood Visual Arts, Film and Video Umbrella Awards. I submitted a proposal within the themes of the timing and concepts around my own practice. It was a spur of the moment inspired idea to apply, to just see how it is done and develop some confidence in my application procedures.
Third application: Artist Ranger, Ipswich Museum via Colchester Museums. This is a paid role and it is engaging the community and arts in the museums and linking up the different galleries/arts organisations with Arts events and projects and other artists. This is the big one, the one my sister helped me with to fill out the online application. Well I never, it kept crashing, this has happened before when I have applied online to Next (ironically my TSOMB is a Next shirt and it is on a Next hanger that I applied to SMITHS ROW Open!). So I had already copied and pasted things onto the notes page I have on my MacBook. It was very nerve-wracking and I now realise things coming to mind that I missed out like the volunteering I did for SPILL Festival for Pacitti Company. Well I shall have to accept that I have done all I can and wish for the best…..
So despite feeling rough I have been productive when I have been able to. And right now I am on a good turn feeling less bunged up and now feeling tired and yet pleased I have braved it and ‘APPLICATED’!!!
