So true. I have tried to not purchase any new supplies unless I run out. It’s so hard! There are so many cool colors, papers, and brushes. Thankfully so many tools cross over media. I think part of it is a connection we make. We love an artist and want to use what they do, even if it’s only one small bit. We feel closer to them in a creative way. Or we are all mad and want to have all the toys!! 😍🤣
A good subject tools! As humans we certainly seem to continually design and make available so many wonderful tools. There is, what seems to be, an unending desire to improve, or expand, our use of implements. This whether for creative design or to make a task easier, quicker. I found your reflection on your own use, and acquire of tools and implements intriguing. And can relate to getting lost in admiring. I enjoy looking at and touching, art supplies, textile implements, kitchen and garden tools. Rarely do I buy.
Perhaps my upbringing influences my meager supply of, well anything really. My Dad was an accountant, and always happy with less. And I feel my “jack of all trades master of none” keeps me from interest in new tools to improve or expand my skills. So I greatly admire your discipline and dedication to your creative self. The strive, wonder and curiosity of new possibilities.
I have a whisk in my kitchen, that I love, and a few good knives. I manage with very little and use my hands a lot. Ditto in the garden. These are my skill areas I have been at for a long time. I am a good cook, and suppose new tools might help me achieve new results. And still I have no desire to acquire. Strange. I trust my hands. I am content with a few pens, notebooks, drawing paper and of course a good Philips screwdriver!
This is my Dad’s shovel. I am quite sure he bought it in 1956 and it has assisted in creating many a garden, breaking up soil, digging holes for new trees and was seriously the only shovel we used. I still use it, broken tip and all!
Oh, darn! I cannot get this tool (computer) to add the photo. 😏🕊️
I am so sorry I missed this comment, Judy. It’s delightful! I admire the qualities you possess so much. I’m trying to get there, but often it feels a bit like trying to turn a magpie into a…well I don’t know what. 😅 We is who we is, right? Thank you, as always, for thoughtful and beautifully written comment. xo
Still exploring and a long journey ahead, so I do appreciate getting to see you use different tools. Since I’m taking notes rewatching the workshops you’ve taught, I really see how cool it is to use mixed media. It seems once the elements of chance have been playing on paper you can enhance or revisit places that you think need a bit of contrast or remodeling. But I’m sure it can be done with 10 tools maximum. And yes, freedom in constraint. Too much IS overwhelming. Curating is necessary. But it takes time to learn. I mean it takes a lot of practice 🙏🏻🫶🏻
I think exploring it an important part of learning. I mean, as a watercolourist I might have never been exposed to sumi without exploring and it has become one of the most important materials on my table. SO I agree with you :) As a teacher I need many things I would never use on my own practice, but still it feels like too much! I still want to work with less. I think I'm getting there! xoxo
Oh gosh...feeling very called out here LOL. Having said that, too many tools overwhelms me to the point of paralysis. I've had many a thought about getting rid of *everything* other than what I can fit into a small pencil case and one palette of watercolour/gouache. It's a fond fantasy....and one of these days I might just follow through. Or maybe quit art-making altogether and stick to writing because it requires less stuff. (yeah, like *that* would ever happen...but I do have the thought!)
And then I remember my magpie brain and how I also like to paint with acrylic on large canvases and yes, I could mix all my own colours, and often do, but that takes so much time....*sigh* . And sometimes all I want to do is slow-stitch with scraps of fabric and oh, I haven't knitted for a while....
These days, I have the confined of a non-existent budget so that helps. :) xo
Oh Melanie. I have all of these thoughts (urges!) too. Magpies are my favourite birds... so there is that. I really really get it. Thank you so much for your comment. We are very similar on many ways! xo
Wow, you hit the nail on the head!!! It's fun trying new things, but I can bet that most of us go right back to tried and true. Being a minimalist, I try to keep things simple. Here's the thing, so many people who invent or come up with these new "things" "stuff" are just trying to make a buck and make the buyer go "awwwww"! Still, we all have our favourites and probably always will.
I don't know, I think many things are truly inventive and amazing. I'm not a minimalist in any way, but I still would like to keep my art table somewhat simple. I mean the kakimori nob was a true innovation for pen and ink! And who knows, maybe they will discover a new colour one of these days :)
K - the 'tool lady' speaks with such love/adoration for the tools of her creative trade, from that special, better-than-#2 pencil she prefers, to her cast iron skillets, which i really related to, though i did not acquire mine from Vidler's but from my mom. although a bit longer than many of ur other essays, it was still a joy to read. give my best to rick. (i'm sure ur thrilled tp have him back from NYC).
Actually, two of my skillets were my grandmothers! But I needed a few more when I was a young mom cooking three meals a day. And see, I thought this was on the shorter side. I should pay better attention, but generally I just write until I feel done. 😂 Thanks so much for reading, and taking the time to comment, Chuck!
So true. I have tried to not purchase any new supplies unless I run out. It’s so hard! There are so many cool colors, papers, and brushes. Thankfully so many tools cross over media. I think part of it is a connection we make. We love an artist and want to use what they do, even if it’s only one small bit. We feel closer to them in a creative way. Or we are all mad and want to have all the toys!! 😍🤣
Maybe a bit of both 😂 And you have been really good! I know this. Actually, I have, too, so far this year! Thanks, Sue :)
A good subject tools! As humans we certainly seem to continually design and make available so many wonderful tools. There is, what seems to be, an unending desire to improve, or expand, our use of implements. This whether for creative design or to make a task easier, quicker. I found your reflection on your own use, and acquire of tools and implements intriguing. And can relate to getting lost in admiring. I enjoy looking at and touching, art supplies, textile implements, kitchen and garden tools. Rarely do I buy.
Perhaps my upbringing influences my meager supply of, well anything really. My Dad was an accountant, and always happy with less. And I feel my “jack of all trades master of none” keeps me from interest in new tools to improve or expand my skills. So I greatly admire your discipline and dedication to your creative self. The strive, wonder and curiosity of new possibilities.
I have a whisk in my kitchen, that I love, and a few good knives. I manage with very little and use my hands a lot. Ditto in the garden. These are my skill areas I have been at for a long time. I am a good cook, and suppose new tools might help me achieve new results. And still I have no desire to acquire. Strange. I trust my hands. I am content with a few pens, notebooks, drawing paper and of course a good Philips screwdriver!
This is my Dad’s shovel. I am quite sure he bought it in 1956 and it has assisted in creating many a garden, breaking up soil, digging holes for new trees and was seriously the only shovel we used. I still use it, broken tip and all!
Oh, darn! I cannot get this tool (computer) to add the photo. 😏🕊️
I am so sorry I missed this comment, Judy. It’s delightful! I admire the qualities you possess so much. I’m trying to get there, but often it feels a bit like trying to turn a magpie into a…well I don’t know what. 😅 We is who we is, right? Thank you, as always, for thoughtful and beautifully written comment. xo
Still exploring and a long journey ahead, so I do appreciate getting to see you use different tools. Since I’m taking notes rewatching the workshops you’ve taught, I really see how cool it is to use mixed media. It seems once the elements of chance have been playing on paper you can enhance or revisit places that you think need a bit of contrast or remodeling. But I’m sure it can be done with 10 tools maximum. And yes, freedom in constraint. Too much IS overwhelming. Curating is necessary. But it takes time to learn. I mean it takes a lot of practice 🙏🏻🫶🏻
I think exploring it an important part of learning. I mean, as a watercolourist I might have never been exposed to sumi without exploring and it has become one of the most important materials on my table. SO I agree with you :) As a teacher I need many things I would never use on my own practice, but still it feels like too much! I still want to work with less. I think I'm getting there! xoxo
Oh gosh...feeling very called out here LOL. Having said that, too many tools overwhelms me to the point of paralysis. I've had many a thought about getting rid of *everything* other than what I can fit into a small pencil case and one palette of watercolour/gouache. It's a fond fantasy....and one of these days I might just follow through. Or maybe quit art-making altogether and stick to writing because it requires less stuff. (yeah, like *that* would ever happen...but I do have the thought!)
And then I remember my magpie brain and how I also like to paint with acrylic on large canvases and yes, I could mix all my own colours, and often do, but that takes so much time....*sigh* . And sometimes all I want to do is slow-stitch with scraps of fabric and oh, I haven't knitted for a while....
These days, I have the confined of a non-existent budget so that helps. :) xo
Oh Melanie. I have all of these thoughts (urges!) too. Magpies are my favourite birds... so there is that. I really really get it. Thank you so much for your comment. We are very similar on many ways! xo
Wow, you hit the nail on the head!!! It's fun trying new things, but I can bet that most of us go right back to tried and true. Being a minimalist, I try to keep things simple. Here's the thing, so many people who invent or come up with these new "things" "stuff" are just trying to make a buck and make the buyer go "awwwww"! Still, we all have our favourites and probably always will.
I don't know, I think many things are truly inventive and amazing. I'm not a minimalist in any way, but I still would like to keep my art table somewhat simple. I mean the kakimori nob was a true innovation for pen and ink! And who knows, maybe they will discover a new colour one of these days :)
K - the 'tool lady' speaks with such love/adoration for the tools of her creative trade, from that special, better-than-#2 pencil she prefers, to her cast iron skillets, which i really related to, though i did not acquire mine from Vidler's but from my mom. although a bit longer than many of ur other essays, it was still a joy to read. give my best to rick. (i'm sure ur thrilled tp have him back from NYC).
Actually, two of my skillets were my grandmothers! But I needed a few more when I was a young mom cooking three meals a day. And see, I thought this was on the shorter side. I should pay better attention, but generally I just write until I feel done. 😂 Thanks so much for reading, and taking the time to comment, Chuck!