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SCHLIEFKEVISIONdotcom |
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The online chronicles of a
painter living in Austin, Texas |
THE OPTIONS ARE
LIMITLESS
April 23, 2004 - With things feeling like
my days as an unemployed artist living well below the poverty line
coming to an all too abrupt end (today? tomorrow? next Tuesday?)
I've had to seriously contemplate the options my art school degree,
unwillingness to work, and desire to continue to paint full time leave
me. The bitter and too realistic forecast I completely ignored
when I first ran across
Dan Clowes' Art School Confidential some years ago is finally coming
true. Among my choices:
Office Work
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Pros:
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Steady
paycheck |
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Climate controlled work space |
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Office gossip |
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Cons: |
It's a grey, grey world |
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The dotcom bust continues... |
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Didn't I do this
once already? |
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Misc: |
From Office Space:
J: (laughs) So you’re gonna quit?
P: No, no, not really. I’m just gonna
stop going.
J: When did you decide all that?
P: About a week ago.
J: Really?
P: Oh, yeah.
J: Ok. So, so you’re gonna get another
job?
P: I don’t think I‘d
like another job.
J: (laughs)
So what are you going to do about money and bills?
P: Y’know, I
never really liked paying bills? I don’t think I’ll do that
either.
J: (laughs) So what do you want to do?
P: I want to take you out for dinner
and then I wanna go to my apartment and watch Kung Fu.
Did you ever watch Kung Fu?
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Food Service Industry
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Pros:
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Are there
really any? |
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Cons: |
Grease covered stench |
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Spanish isn't good enough for
me to work the register |
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Didn't I do this
once already? |
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Misc: |
Just watch any old episode of
Beavis and Butthead set in Burger World. Sadly, its not
too far off. |
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Painter
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Pros:
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Work as
much/little as you want |
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Enjoy your work |
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Meet interesting people |
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Cons: |
Money? Oh, that's
what's missing |
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Hunger and fatigue isn't
glamorous |
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Hear how your paintings will
be worth something after you die until the day you die from
people too stupid to invest in your art when you are actually
living |
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setting up
side businesses that depend on other artists to give you
money. |
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Misc: |
From Big Lebowski:
Big Lebowski to the Dude:
"Your "revolution" is over, Mr. Lebowski! Condolences! The
bums lost! My advice is, do what your parents did!
Get a job, sir! The bums will always lose-- do you hear
me, Lebowski? THE BUMS WILL ALWAYS--" |
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Homeless Beggar
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Pros:
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Tax free
income |
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Cons: |
What happens if you lose your
Sharpie and can't make a new sign? |
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Do you have to be a
flagwaving vet who just lost his wife, dog and house? |
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It gets awfully hot in the
summer |
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Misc: |
The saddest fact of these
beggars that are on every highway exit in Austin is that
approximately 88% of the time, they actually have more money in
their hand than I do, including all the change that I have in my
truck. |
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