Re-Purpose -- Another Word for “Solution”

(I did a painting of my grandmother from World War II, working in a factory. Then
I "re-purposed" it for a juried show on the subject. A real make-over!)

Politicians who flip-flop like to say they “evolved” in their thinking and defend their right to change their minds. Actually, almost everyone embraces different philosophies and ideologies as they go through life trying to figure out who they are and what they believe.

I was once a Democrat, then a Republican, and now lean towards Independent or Libertarian in my preferences. The state of the nation and the world often dictates how we feel rather than devotion to one party or the other.

(a broken stained glass window was given new life.)

Businesses often transform themselves when they see sales slipping backwards and their bottom line turning red. They look at the competition and realize that in order to succeed, a do-over is required. These same problems may signal a merger between a stronger, but similar entity.

(Old colored shutters are used to spruce up this room)

Many companies examine their operations and decide a good house-cleaning is necessary. To cut costs, they may eliminate waste or lay-off non-productive or unneeded employees. They may find new ways to function or to re-purpose unsalable goods and dead inventory.

I’m attempting to do the same. I’m trying to operate smarter and to re-use old canvases that have been taking up space. If there’s anything that breaks down a business, it’s having too much inventory on hand. I’m cleaning up and paring down. If something isn’t popular or profitable, I’m ready to paint over it or pitch it out.

(Old Phone Books make an unusual table or sculpture)

As we age, we may want to do a make-over on ourselves. Sometimes we slip into old habits that aren’t productive. We may be trying to appear cutting edge, but we or our logo and products seem outdated.

Sometimes we need to start from the inside out. What is at fault is not our methods or our product it’s us. We’re failing to do the required marketing. Perhaps we’re plagued by negative thinking that holds us down and discourages success. Health problems may also come into play. Whatever the excuse, it is pulling us back from being successful.

I love to read. It is sometimes difficult to tear myself away from the latest novel or non-fiction book. In addition, I like to learn new techniques. Online classes and local ones are important, but they also cost time and eat up profits. In addition, I spend time online researching ideas for my blogs or for a new painting. My days are full, and marketing and social media take up a good portion of time. According to some experts, marketing should take up to at least 75% of your working day. That leaves very little time for creating and writing.

We all have choices that either keep us on track or distract us. Only you can decide what those things are. Unless you get rid of the distractions it is highly unlikely that you will figure out how to keep your business up and running profitably and productively.

Do cramped closets and overstuffed drawers have you by the throat?

I didn’t realize what a pack rat I’d become until I tried to clean out my jewelry boxes and a bulging chest of drawers.

My rationale went like this: “If we move back up North, I might need these sweaters, these gloves, and this flannel nightgown.”

The jewelry was no different: “If I had this fixed, got a new clasp, a new link, I could wear this necklace again. Why, some of these pieces must be heirlooms; I could give them to my kids. The stones may be valuable? At the very least, I should have them appraised.”

And so it went. Instead of throwing things out or giving them away, I just moved them around to a different place.

"Home at Last" 16 x 20 acrylic on panel

In truth, I’ve thrown out a lot of things in the past from necessity. For one thing, I’ve moved a lot. When you move or downsize, some things have to go. I think the loss has made an impact on what I’m now willing (or unwilling) to give away.

 Everything near and dear to me seems to be gone. My children live in different States across the country. I’ve changed my life, my religion, and my hair color. Is this why I cling so tightly to what is left?

Please don’t psychoanalyze me! I do that enough myself. I’m just glad that I haven’t become a classic hoarder (yet!).

I once knew a woman who, like me, had trouble throwing away her favorite magazines. She lived in a small duplex and when you walked in the living room, every table held multiple stacks of magazines, albeit neat stacks. Each pile was face up in date order and could be found instantly. While I admired her ingenuity, I often wondered how high those magazines were allowed to get before they came tumbling down.

"Painting of my Grandmother" mixed media using "found items"

My artistic “scrounge for finds” nature encourages clinging. “What can I turn this into?” I ask as I comb through saved items in the garage. “There must be some mixed media project that would welcome this?” So like a game of shuffle board, I just move junk from place to place until I get the urge to clean and then I start the process all over again.

My mother was a neat freak; immaculate and germ conscious to the point of paranoia. She once threw away a square of butter because a fly had landed on it. I remember thinking that I would scrape away only half an inch to make myself feel better, but never the whole square.

She also loved changes and moved her furniture around at least twice a month. I hated it. When I walked in the door after school, instead of feeling at home, it took me several days to adjust. Because of this, I rarely change my furniture around. I find an arrangement that feels right and then I live with it – forever. Why change a good thing!

"The Pose" 16 x 20 Barred Owl acrylic on panel

My mother’s cupboards and drawers were neat and simple; partly because my parents had so little, and partly because she hated old things. Ironically, I developed a love for antiques and used items. I’ve always felt that old things carry the spirit and the life of those who went before.

This feeling was reinforced by an antique frame I purchased that held the photo of a woman with dark eyes. Every time I walked into the room where the picture was stored, those eyes bore down on me. There seemed to emanate a dark spirit of evil around that photograph. I couldn’t explain it, but I certainly felt it. Eventually I threw that old photo away, knowing that it was worth far more than the antique frame that held it.

See, I can throw things away on occasion.

"Playing Dress Up" 16 x 20 mixed media on canvas