A new tax year begins today, so spent the morning filing my annual accounts. For years I've stored business income, personal income, investment income (like bank interest) as separate columns, and the same for expenditure. As an artist I am my business, so separating these isn't always easy (last year I had zero 'personal' income, my income is what I can make, sell, do). Personal expenditure however can be things like my internet or phone, which, although important, perhaps vital, for what I do, is personal too... it's mine as much as a business expense. I also divide all income and expenditure based on where it comes from: visual art, performance, books, music, games and sound effects, freelance services, other; then I can calculate the relative strength of each of these bow-strings. It can massively vary each year depending on my whims, the stochastic flows of the economy, how much work I put into each area etc.
From this year I'll have slightly different columns to help make everything easier for future filing, as the government seems keen to make everything digital. I'm far from the threshold to be required to do this, even reaching the basic income tax allowance is a pipe dream, but I should do things correctly to be prepared for future success.
After this, the shredding of the documents from 7 years ago, which for me this involves a lot of memories. I rarely reminisce or ever think of the past, we should always be looking forwards, but I do this once on April 6th, to glimpse 7 years ago. In my accounts I file birthday and Christmas cards, memories of trips, holidays, art exhibitions etc., so this day is one of happy memories.
After all of this, I did a little painting, the 'Assassinated Strawberry' painting. I thought about making this into a sculpture which hangs from a gallows-tree, but I've changed my mind. For now, it can simply be a small painting, complete with hole to hang by.
