Yesterday I got to grips (at last!) with the task of clearing out old files relating to my art work. Auguste Comte used to advise “mental hygiene”: well, I’m practicing “artistic hygiene”. The disposal of old, irrelevant documents has extended today into the disposal of old images. It happened by accident. I needed a portfolio in which to transport my stained glass window designs to the prospective client tomorrow. It is interesting how my attitudes to the things I’ve painted has changed. At one time I wanted to keep everything I did, now I feel burdened by some aspects of the past, even some things of which I was quite proud way back when. I’m reminded of those lines in a song by Sting:
Sooner or later,
just like the world’s first day,
sooner or later
we’re going to throw the past away.
Maybe we should be doing more of that.