Free art supplies...
2. K.I.S.S. principle, originally uploaded by Cathy (Kate) Johnson.
Those of you who get my free art tips from my website (http://cathyjohnson.info, if you'd like to sign up!) just got #82 this past week. I used to try to offer a new tip every other week, but with the new book and our rehab projects both taking lots of time, life's been too crazy to be all that dependable!
Anyway, if you read that one, you may have noticed the next tip will be on MORE free art supplies, or making do with unusual objects. I'm working on the section of the book that discusses waxed paper, paper towels, string and other oddities, so this is much on my mind just now! (You can click on the image above to find out what that's all about...)
And here's the bubblewrap bee I did yesterday for the book:
It was fun!
The economy may be hurting, but no reason why WE must feel constrained and fearful, as creative beings. OK, so you can't order the $300 Kolinsky sable brush this week. Neither can I! But we CAN still make art that's unique and much, much less costly.
I have no idea when I'll be able to get the new tip out, though hoping for the next few weeks...meanwhile, you might like to read #78, earlier pieces on make-do art supplies here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip78.pdf , or "The Humble Sponge," here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip69.pdf or "Found Art Supplies," here: http://www.cathyjohnson.info/tips/tip67.pdf
Funny, I've written several longer articles on this subject for both The Artist's Magazine and Watercolor Magic over the years...it's an issue of ongoing interest to me, it would appear--and I hope to you, too, because it helps us break out of the box and look at the world around us anew. I find keeping a fresh, positive outlook keeps me happy, and to paraphrase St. Paul says, I know how to be happy, whether rich or poor.
It's by staying creative, in all aspects of my life, and by appreciating what I have at hand.
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I'm curious, and I could use your advice, by the way. I have numerous articles on art how-to, going back close to 20 years. They're longer than my tips, but may or may not have the original illustrations. I'm wondering if you would be interested in having one of them available, occasionally, edited as necessary? All have been published elsewhere, but magazines have a very short shelf life!
What say you?