I justified my existence today. How did I do this? By creating an art work. By doing work on something meaningful, both to me and to other people. I am a "works-oriented" person. Just "being" isn't enough for me. "Doing" and working are what make life worth living. I suppose I am somewhat of a "Protestant work ethic" type, although I am anything but a Protestant. I believe that in order to, as it were, earn my right to exist, I have to keep making and doing good things. The meaningful work for today was a coffee sign board at Starbucks. I currently decorate sign boards for five different Starbuckses. I don't get paid in money, because Starbucks policy doesn't allow paid outside contractors. But at certain Starbucks, I can get all my coffee for free, and some merchandise items as well. Barter works for me.

My designs this September are all based on paisley designs and stylized plants, fruits, and leaves. I use warm autumn colors, especially my favorite orange, which is also the current Starbucks graphics theme color for autumn. The design I did on Tuesday is based on a printed Persian tablecloth from Isfahan, which was given to me (also in barter for services) by a Persian friend.

The image is slanted because I had to stand somewhat sideways from the board so that the flash of my camera wouldn't reflect off the smooth surface. The sign is about two and a half feet squarish, (actually a trapezoid), and it is painted in opaque acrylic markers.

This elaborate design will stay up for about two months, and in November, I will erase it to make way for the winter holiday-theme display board. A work of justification is not necessarily permanent.

Posted at 2:57 am | link