Comments on: ARE YOUR ART SUPPLIES KEEPING YOU FROM BEING CREATIVE?

By: Keely H.

Keely H. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:24:20 +0000

I know just what you mean. I can fill up a legal notepad or spiral notebook quick as you please, but those fancy journals people give me always seem to collect dust, and it's for exactly the reasons you state. It does make you wonder what it would feel like to mar the perfect pages of a pretty journal. I'll have to try that soon.

Nice job on the redesign on the blog page by the way! Love it!

By: Barbara Martin

Barbara Martin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:33:48 +0000

I totally relate to not wanting to spoil a fabulous journal! But I don't even like to write in a brand new blank cheapo one from the dime store. So usually I use plain old printer paper. I grab a sheet from the tray and start. "It's just printer paper!" Then I have loose sheets of paper all over the place. I do put them in nice pocket folders with patterned covers... the ones that don't end up wadded up in the trash, that is.

Oddly, when I started the Wreck this JOurnal game, the first thing I WANTED to do to that pristine journal book was write in it. Not sure if the writing on the pages primed the pump or it was the wreckering factor at work. LOL

But, for some odd reason this past week I bought several cahier style booklets and actually started using them. Hmmmmm. Next thing ya know I might be at the art supply store getting real pens or something. Yikes.

By: Eliza (aka Urban Panther)

Eliza (aka Urban Panther) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:09:57 +0000

I LOVE art supply stores!! There is one down the road that I have labelled My Store. Mr. Very Right has His Stores, and they generally involve power tools, and screws, and bits of rope. My Store has beads, and papers, and paints, and sculpting tools and .... sigh. Whenever we drive by it, Mr Very Right tells me to avert my eyes, so I won't succumb to its siren call. Seriously, I never walk out of there for under $200.

As for using my purchases, my trick is to immediately take them out of their packages, and dump them in the appropriate drawer in my studio. There they get all mussed up with my older stuff, such that when I dive in to get something it's not immediately obvious that it is a virgin tool or supply. Works well!

By: Rosaland

Rosaland — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:42:28 +0000

This is so true for me to - I love to buy supplies - fabric, beads, mediums, paints, thread, etc. And I am constantly organizing it so I can find what strikes me in the moments of creative flow. I joined a fiber arts quilt group about a year and a half ago which freed me up some in terms of using what I have. I am getting better and better at 'using what I have' for my current obsessions. And often I'm thankful that I bought that ______ last week, last month or last year. I'm using some paints tonight that I bought almost a year ago & decided - hey, if I mess up, I can start over, or make a creative adjustment. I also collect 'techniques' and have been referring to myself lately as a technique junkie. Sometimes I just have to tell myself to 'pick one' and go for it. And I always learn something in the process. Thanks for the insightful post and the encouragement.

By: Kavindra

Kavindra — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:48:40 +0000

Oh, how did you get into my head like this!?! So so true, and here's to using all those great art supplies to make a huge gorgeous mess. PS once I was telling a really good artist that I was afraid to "waste art supplies" and she just looked at me and said "but there is no such possibility. It's never a waste when you try to create, even if it comes out "wrong" you have learned something!" Wise wise wise.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:40:22 +0000

It was great to read this. I've been blogging about exactly the same thing and, as one of Jamie's 'wreckers' have been learning that actually using all these amazing materials is actually much more fun than just looking at them! I, like you, have hundreds of pounds worth of supplies and hey guess what I am actually using that beautiful piece of paper I was saving for something - what exactly was never defined! The wrecking journey also means not minding if something doesn't turn out perfect - so we can experiment, splash, slosh, fold, squidge and anything else that takes our fancy. As I write, my journal is a bit damp with a liberal sprinkling of salt on it! Wrecking is great fun!

By: JoVE

JoVE — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:55:11 +0000

I agree with Christine about the bound-ness of journals.

But I can see that the hoarding of supplies is a pretty common trait. I LOVE the idea of buying kids materials in order to free up creativity.

I think knitters and spinners and other fibre people do this kind of thing, too. You don't want to spin that gorgeously dyed wonderful fibre until you are a better spinner. You need the perfect pattern for that perfect yarn. And meanwhile all the yarn and fibre are piling up and not getting made into anything.

By: Christine Martell

Christine Martell — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:33 +0000

There you go spilling all my secrets again! The precious supply thing is really sneaky. I only apply it to certain things. Paints, even really expensive one- no problem. Paper on the other hand is tough. I'm OK with medium expensive, but tend to horde the really expensive. Same with beads and fabric. I do agree with you though, the journals are the worst. There is something about worthiness that gets triggered deeply. Something about them being bound--- so it feels like you have to keep everything in them. None of the throwing the things out that are so embarrassing and awful. Because I produce a LOT of awful. Which is OK if other people don't see it. It's crazy since many people have seen my awful. I've lived in artist communities and worked in joint studios. BLAH. Glad I'm not alone in my neurosis. No, I'm switching that. Glad I am not alone in being a normal creative.