LIVING BEYOND MY INCOME?

"All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income." These lofty words were hunted down by a writer in desperate need of a quotation from a famous person to spice up what would otherwise be another humdrum chapter in the dull journal of a struggling Shetland seascape artist. The words were penned by Samuel Butler in 1912, probably part of a dissertation on a completely different subject from the one I'm tackling now. Most artists, unless they are in the VERY successful earnings bracket, will probably live beyond their means most of the time. Another quoteworthy person (I forget who) once said words to the effect that an amateur artist has another job to support him, while a professional artist has a wife to support him. I have neither, so where does that leave me? Answers on a blank signed cheque, please!

As regards my artwork, progress (to return to Butler's theme!) has been steady, for what it's worth. I promised you a report on the Jackson's Studio Academy easel, which I have been able to "test-drive", following the delivery, a week past Monday, of an intact canvas from the supplier I mentioned in my last post on the subject. I have to tell you that it is an excellent easel, it having withstood all my enthusiastic brush-hammerings without retreating an inch before me. I can see a wonderful relationship developing between it and me.

I recently finished my elaborate commissioned painting of Lerwick's South End, and this work is now in for framing. I should have picked it up on Friday, but I was engaged in work elsewhere that day, so uniting this work with its prospective owner will have to wait until later this week. I am fairly confident that they will be pleased with it.

As well as the larger work (a seascape) on the easel, which will be occupying a fair amount of my time over the next couple of months, I have made good headway with the "stock" work of Lerwick's Hay's Dock, which I hope to have here to show you in a week's time. I have taken delivery of a consignment of postcards (from Vistaprint), featuring my oil paintings, the main purpose of which is to augment my stock for sale at my stall on Saturday 19th June at the Toll Clock Centre here in Lerwick. This coincides with the Hamefarin 2010, which was my original reason for choosing this date. Of course, I forgot that it also coincides with all the midsummer events at the Victoria Pier, so it may not be such a good idea after all - I'll have to see how things work out.

Frantic forward motion was also achieved at my mother's house on Friday, when my sister Mary and I tackled the overgrown front garden (which has been badly neglected these last two years), with a roll of black bags, a borrowed trailer and hand tools. I'm going out there again tomorrow to make further progress on this task, as we only have the use of the trailer until midweek. I hope the weather stays agreeable, as it has these last few days.

Under the "progress" heading, I must also mention my niece Elizabeth Tait (who is my brother Peter Arthur's peerie lass!). She gained her Ph.D in politics, in particularly brilliant fashion, from the University of Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago, and we're all so proud of her. Add to this another niece who is enjoying her current position of leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, and I feel I am being well overtaken on the progress stakes, and very happy to be so! I believe my nephew Kenneth is making good progress on his university course too. They're all achieving what their wastrel uncle failed to do all these years ago!

One thing on which I have no progress to report whatsoever is the website upgrade, which appears to have been firmly stalled in neutral these last two months. I hope to resume efforts on this soon (I am in much need of it), but I am reluctant to give dates, as previous undertakings came to naught.

So, progress, which, in the words of Chesterton, is "simply a comparative", is also merely "the exchange of one nuisance for another", according to Havelock Ellis. "Who is he?" I hear you ask. Apparently, he was an early sexologist! "Art is long, and time is fleeting," said Longfellow. I couldn't agree more, old chap - I'll see you next week!