The Art of Letting Go
24 Jan 2012 2 Comments
Nothing rocks a Monday night like a closet purge…
Knowing what a big cleaning/organizing geek I am, my dear friend Mel invited me over for an impromptu closet purge last night. As we worked, we discussed an important question as she pawed through boxes of unused film paper and the results of cool photo shoots she’s had. That question is: how much do hobbies/professional aspirations (in Mel’s case) take over your closet?
From: thesensualstarfish.tumblr.com
Sorting papers and going through clothes was a very quick process for us, but the work of deciding what artwork or hand-crocheted item to keep and which to let go is time consuming. I know from my own experience that as much as I dislike clutter, I can’t get rid of some sketches and especially the large, painted pieces I’ve done.
When we were finished, Mel’s closet was a thing of beauty. Her photo supplies were organized and had their own shelf. The remainder was left for clothes, shoes, all the other typical closet things. It’s a great thing to have everything in its place and still keep the essentials to building her burgeoning photography career.
How do you handle the keeping or letting go of the results of/tools needed for your artistic pursuits?
Jan 29, 2012 @ 23:49:43
Yay! I’m glad you helped Mel with her closet. It was something she had been meaning to do for a while, I know. That photo of the vintage camera is damn sexy! I wish I had the money and time right now to do photography. I already keep forgetting to take my little Nikon Coolpix out with me in SF! I definitely know what the purge is like, I just did my own not too long ago. Somehow, we managed to purge just enough crap that everything fits perfectly in our cozy apartment. If we had taken even one more cup, the cups and glasses would not have fit on their designated shelf. We got lucky!
Jan 30, 2012 @ 07:21:44
Hey Mo! You’re so right about purging before moving – it’s the best time to do it. You get the clean slate feeling and don’t have to haul and arrange more than you need. Enjoy San Francisco!!!