I was reading Red's New Year's Day post on the subject of Resolutions. It reminded me that I'd mentioned New Year resolutions somewhere in the last week or so. I just can't recall where.
Anyway, as usual, I didn't make any. I didn't take a decision not to make any. I just never got around to it. I never do.
Over this last week or so since Christmas I have been out very little. I took a conscious decision to stay in and get some of my 'old' life back: to blog and get back to letter-writing more again.
I also want to go through the hundreds or thousands of possessions (many of which I probably haven't set eyes on for many years) which occupy every nook and cranny of my reasonably-sized three-bedroom bungalow and see what I can dispose of. After all there is going to come a point when everything will go simply because of the reality that I shall not be on this mortal coil for ever.
One of the things I started on was some of the art that I have in cupboards and the loft. I have quite a lot from originals to prints and photographs as well as pottery and other objets d'art.
For example in storage I have some wonderful original oil portraits and landscapes and still lifes from the 1950s painted by a neighbour who was a retired fruit merchant who devoted the rest of his life to painting. One of them was hung in the RA for an exhibition. I have some painted by my mother and by my brother CJ and drawings by my father. All those have sentimental value as well as being 'good'. Then I have prints of pictures I have simply because I enjoy them.
On my walls I have many more works of art which I enjoy every day. I've just counted and there are 38 about 27 of which are originals: the others being prints or copies.
The problem is not so much what to get rid of as how to dispose of those one no longer wants.
Possessions! Too many to count or truly appreciate, but when I start trying to winnow them out I am caught in memories and sentiment
ReplyDeleteJanice, memories and sentiment are the only reason for keeping almost anything that doesn't actually have a use. Art, of course, could be defined as providing a use. I've kept so many things like many hundreds of books which I will never read again or use for reference.
DeleteMy advice is to donate the stored artworks to your favourite charity. But first ask your son and daughter-in-law if they want any of them. You could photograph the items you plan to donate and send them to the charity in question. They might arrange to pick the donations up or next time you drive down to Glasgow or Ayr - you could carry quite a lot in the back of The Grahammobile.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your advice, Neil. I have every intention of seeing if any of the artworks are of interest to any of the family. I hadn't thought of seeing if the works with a value might be of interest to various charities. When I got rid of my many hundreds of vinyl records I gave them them to Oxfam who have specialist shops. Whilst I was unloading the car they discovered a valuable LP in the collection. Hopefully it went to a good home for a reasonable sum.
DeleteAfter consulting with your son as to whether he would like any of them retained for his collection, next offering the remainder free to good homes via the Parish magazine I suggest a bonfire in your garden when the wind is in the right diection for the balance.
ReplyDeleteRachel, obviously the family come first, the Parish Magazine, if there is one, probably has a smaller circulation than the number of pictures!
DeleteCarboot sales in the spring perhaps or local antique dealers?
ReplyDeleteNorthsider, carboot sales are an alien concept here.
DeleteFamily, friends, the painting neighbor's family, charities, possible wedding or birthday presents - many options for the art you want to get rid of. Maybe change out the ones on your walls from time to time if you feel like it. I bet you have some wonderful treasures there, Graham.
ReplyDeleteEllen, there are a few of some interest, but in an exceptionally rural and remote area interest is limited.
DeleteI suppose the items in the loft are those that you don't care to see on a daily basis so would be the first to be offered a good home elsewhere. The rest could probably stay where they are for you to continue enjoying?
ReplyDeleteJayCee some of the ones in the loft are just too large to be housed downstairs. One was hung in the Liverpool John Moores Exhibition in Liverpool (very prestigious in its day) but is not one I would have in my house today.
DeleteI totally agree that the how (and when and whereto) to get rid of something is often a bigger problem than the initial decision that one has no use (or space) for it any more.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Monica, that is my experience.
DeleteI would put word out to your family, first, that you are getting ready to discard them. Ask them if there is anything that they would be interested in. Start there.
ReplyDeleteDebby, the family will have first option, but after that who knows?
DeleteYou should try to take those oil paintings to The Antique Road Show! (I know it's not easy to get tickets.) All of my "stuff" is only valuable to me! I also am trying to get rid of so much. It truly adds up over the years.
ReplyDeleteKay I live the other end of the Country to most Antique Roadshows and I really could not be bothered. They would onlt be interested in one painting anyway and I a lot to be disposed of.
DeleteI thought I saw you mentioning new year's resolutions somewhere, too, and have checked your last comment on my blog - no, it wasn't there. Probably someone's blog I also read, such as YP's or Rachel's.
ReplyDeleteAs for possessions, I have a few things I would never voluntarily part with, nearly all of them worthless to anyone but me. But usually, I find it easy to get rid of what I don't want, and to say no when offered something I don't REALLY want or like. Books are difficult to separate with, even if I am not particularly keen on them - that's the Librarian in me. As for works of art, I honestly prefer empty wall spaces to many pictures, although I enjoy looking at what's on their walls when I am at someone else's place.
Like others have said here, if I were you, I'd let my family have first choice and then offer the rest to charity.
Meike, I do like pictures on my walls. Most of them have a personal significance. A few have an intrinsic value and would sell easily but a lot the stored ones are very old oil paintings which are out of fashion so far as I can tell. However I've learned a lot from all the comments.
DeleteI hear you on the topic of downsizing. We have much of everything. It looks like we'll keep them to the end and that would be a mistake.
ReplyDeleteRed, I'd like to get rid of as much as I can whilst I can.
DeleteMy son recently went to the loft, and brought down several boxes of photos. My wife then spent the next few days going through them all, and ended-up throwing away a HUGE pile! The loft remains stuffed with possessions.
ReplyDeleteCro, I haven't even thought about starting on the photographs. I've always thought that I'd leave that for my less active days.
DeleteYes we seem to get overwhelmed with possessions as we get older. Moving from our house into a retirement village 8 years ago forced us to ditch many belongings. However, we have managed to collect more stuff since we have been here. Bill is loath to part with anything. I enjoy 'Kerbside Clean up Day' when I can put unwanted possessions on the footpath for the council (and scavengers) to remove.
ReplyDeleteI believe they have a good practice in Spain similar to that for larger items. Here if you put out an item for the Council to take you'd probably get prosecuted. However the Council will take large items away if you ask them.
DeleteCan you list them online maybe and sell some of the ones you don't want anymore? My grandfather was an artist and did a mix of water colours and oils,.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, Amy, I can't be bothered with the hassle and living exceptionally remotely as I do you would be hundreds of miles away from the principal markets ie towns.
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