Urban Art Association

What art has done for me., by Deleted on Feb 11, 2012 4:29:26 GMT 1, I've been into art i guess since 1984, thats when I got my school buddy Vince, to draw me a picture of Adam Ant for a fiver. I wish I still had it. I've still got the next one he did which was a present for my mum a portrait of My Sister, brother and I.

I didn't pay much attention then until 1998 when I returned to Bristol from a 3 year stint of living i Oxford. I was blown away, like most of us here by the local artist Banksy. You couldn't move without a new Banksy going up overnight.
When I heard one of my friend was paying roughly £35-£75 for prints, i thought what a nutter.
That sounded like a lot of money for a copy of something(of course I knew nothing).
I always kept my eye out for new street work, but it wasn't until nearly 5 years ago that I thought about buying art for the first time. I had bought Banksy's book 'wall and piece' and thought I'd love to have something nice to look at on my walls.
Still after looking into it I thought theres no way I'll be able to be able to justify spending x amount on art when I had my second chld on the way.
So I came up with a plan of seeing if I could make a few quid trading, buying and selling and make enough money to actually justify owning something for myself.
I guess for a while you could have called me a flipper/trader/whatever you want and you would have been right.
Its just how I got my foot in the door.
For a long time now those habits have changed and I only buy art with one thing in mind(spending time sat enjoying looking at it). Although I still have to sell to be able to afford to buy, it hurts letting go of anything I have in my collection.

For around 4 years I have suffered from Depression,Anxiety and Stress and art is the main way I am able to cope with my problems.
Nothing apart from my family and friends gives me more of a sense of pride and passion. I spend hours with my kids and probably an equal amount of time sat enjoying my art. I don't know what I would do without it. I guess I'd get by. However the paintings I have give me such pleasure I can get lost in them for hours at a time. Its such an escape from reality that it allows me the opportunity to escape from the world , without drinking or having a cheeky smoke.
Although I do sometimes rely on meds from my GP to help me out.
I have made some great friends through art and had some great days/nights sleeping out on the streets queueing for prints.
One person in particular deserves a mention. He has helped me more than any GP or person. Curiousgeorge is simply a one off. I owe you babbs, you've got me through many difficult times.

If you've read this far thanks for listening, your a great bunch of folks.
I'll probably regret writing this in the morning. just woke up as the kids are ill and fancied getting this of my chest.
Love to you all, Paul/Slammer

I've been into art i guess since 1984, thats when I got my school buddy Vince, to draw me a picture of Adam Ant for a fiver. I wish I still had it. I've still got the next one he did which was a present for my mum a portrait of My Sister, brother and I.

I didn't pay much attention then until 1998 when I returned to Bristol from a 3 year stint of living i Oxford. I was blown away, like most of us here by the local artist Banksy. You couldn't move without a new Banksy going up overnight.
When I heard one of my friend was paying roughly £35-£75 for prints, i thought what a nutter.
That sounded like a lot of money for a copy of something(of course I knew nothing).
I always kept my eye out for new street work, but it wasn't until nearly 5 years ago that I thought about buying art for the first time. I had bought Banksy's book 'wall and piece' and thought I'd love to have something nice to look at on my walls.
Still after looking into it I thought theres no way I'll be able to be able to justify spending x amount on art when I had my second chld on the way.
So I came up with a plan of seeing if I could make a few quid trading, buying and selling and make enough money to actually justify owning something for myself.
I guess for a while you could have called me a flipper/trader/whatever you want and you would have been right.
Its just how I got my foot in the door.
For a long time now those habits have changed and I only buy art with one thing in mind(spending time sat enjoying looking at it). Although I still have to sell to be able to afford to buy, it hurts letting go of anything I have in my collection.

For around 4 years I have suffered from Depression,Anxiety and Stress and art is the main way I am able to cope with my problems.
Nothing apart from my family and friends gives me more of a sense of pride and passion. I spend hours with my kids and probably an equal amount of time sat enjoying my art. I don't know what I would do without it. I guess I'd get by. However the paintings I have give me such pleasure I can get lost in them for hours at a time. Its such an escape from reality that it allows me the opportunity to escape from the world , without drinking or having a cheeky smoke.
Although I do sometimes rely on meds from my GP to help me out.
I have made some great friends through art and had some great days/nights sleeping out on the streets queueing for prints.
One person in particular deserves a mention. He has helped me more than any GP or person. Curiousgeorge is simply a one off. I owe you babbs, you've got me through many difficult times.

If you've read this far thanks for listening, your a great bunch of folks.
I'll probably regret writing this in the morning. just woke up as the kids are ill and fancied getting this of my chest.
Love to you all, Paul/Slammer