Where Do You Draw The Line?
Fri, November 30, 2012 at 07:53AM 
I'm Tammy and I have an art material.... issue. I love art materials. I love paper. And paint. And pens. And markers. And journals. And washi tape. But I cannot use all of the materials that I think would be cool to have.
I deal with art material overload by choosing materials that I know I will use often or can be used in a bunch of different ways. I focus on core art materials {paint, paper, brushes, pencils, mediums}. Kinda like using source data instead of wikipedia. For example, I'm open to buying another half pan of watercolor paint because (a) it expands the color choices for my existing set, and (b) watercolors are open-ended in potential uses. But I wouldn't buy a stencil of a building because (a) it's of limited use. But I say focus because I'm not immune to impulse purchases.
The discussion question for today is...
How do you develop a sane art materials purchase strategy? With all of stuff available for the artist, where do you draw the line {pun intended} between what you buy and what you resist? And what is your weakness, something that you see as a splurge, but you don't regret. For me that might be washi tape. For others, that might be fabric or pens.
Reader Comments (22)
Over time I think my work has dictated the materials. I find I can resist a lot of things because my work has become more focused. The experimentation with materials is only when I think a pen or some collage scrap will add to the image.
This is a really great thing to post and think about. thanks :)
Allow yourself to buy whatever you want BUT only buy one and in a colour you know you will use. If you love it, you'll know you love it and use it. Save up and when you 'run out' of the one you love, buy the set that you love most of the colours in, even if that means you only get the pack of 6.
I love inks. They're so versatile. Mix with medium to make 'paint', water to make watercolours, alcohol to make sprays, refil your markers with then, use a dip pen or brush... so many possibilities :)
I love pens! I thought I had all I needed until I met someone with some of the coolest pens I've seen. Now I'm thinking I need more pens. :) That's ok though, I know I will use them all. I have to be careful with any new and clever tools. I tend to want everything but I have to seriously decide if I'll actually use it regularly. If not then I don't buy it.
When I feel the urge to splurge I try and focus on things I know I'll use, like paper or small cheap things, like dip pen nibs. I'd love to have an airbrush, but I'm not sure how often I'd use it and it's just too expensive to buy on an impulse. Also I have markers I don't use much, because they're not archival, but I bought a bunch second hand at auction for a fraction of the price. If I feel the urge to buy markers I just remember I have a bunch at home I don't use much.
I have a weakness for paper and inks, but books are the worst. I have tons of art books, I know they'll pay off in the end tho, as I learned most of my craft via books.
Great question Tammy! Usually, it is my budget drawing the line - most times I stick to the basics (paper, glue, paint) and I am not that easily drawn to new materials if I think I will not use them multiple times or if I have the feeling they can not be made 'mine' (kwim?) That said: I cannot resist pens and markers... ALL KIND! I can stay away from stores a long time, but if I have to go there for glue or paper, I ALWAYS come back with at least one pen/marker...
Great question. Difficult question. I find a have an obsession with paper. The way it looks and feels calls to me. It makes me sigh and then I don't want to use it because I'll never have it again. I'm working on that. I buy less paper these days. I did splurge during the Thanksgiving sales but that it for me for a long while.
I have a lot of ink. I'm not buying any more ink. I have enough to last me for years!! I recently went through my markers. I gave several to a friend who is new to stamping. It was nice to know they would go to a good home. I would love to have Copic markers but they are not in my price range right now and I don't need anymore markers.
I recently sorted through a few boxes of misc. art stuff. I made a box of things to sell at a yard sale or give away. Three friends stopped by and my box is 3/4 empty now. They were happy to have my old stuff as their new stuff.
I think a great idea would be to have an art supply swap meet. Bring your things and swap them for someone else's cast offs. If you knew a lot of people in the same area this would work well.
Oh dear....this is such a great question. I struggle with restricting my art supply buying of books or products!! If there was a 12 step group to join for 'art-a-holics' , I would have to join!;-D I just love color of all kinds and in all sorts of mediums; watercolor, acrylics, pastels etc. Also papers, pens, markers, inks, and the beat goes on....I love it all! Some of the suggestions above are good ones...about buying one of something...but, I live in the UK and stuff is so expensive here that I save my art shopping for when I return to the US for Xmas or other holidays. Guess where I will be at Xmas? You guessed it....this year I am taking my Dick Blick 'wish list' with me....anyone know any other places to buy great stuff and good prices? I know about Jerrys Artarama and Michaels...any other suggestions? Happy Art-ing everyone!!
I guess that depends on what part of the country, Duana. JoAnn Arts and Crafts has a good selection in some cities. Plaza Arts is also great if you are going to be near one. Gary Burlin & Co. has a ton of stuff but I don't know if he sells retail. I purchased from him when I owned my stamp store.
Thanks Boo, I will have to look up on Goggle to see if the places you mentioned are in the cities where we will be. I haven't heard of Plaza Arts or Gary Burlin & Co....I will definitely check them out. We will be in New York, Austin, Texas and Missippi....a rather eclectic group of places due to relatives being scattered out and around! Again, thanks for the information!
Right now, I find it is my classes that are leading me astray. Each instructor has their favorite products that they go to. I end up buying new materials to complete the lessons. Also, as I haven't really found my personal niche and style artistically, I am doing a lot of experimentation. I am hoping this will change when I find my groove. :-) I do try to limit my spending by only buying a small sample of a new medium. I can expand later if I really enjoy using it.
My name is Katie and I have a problem... washi tapes are the new obsession but my art room is bursting! I don't even buy it all. Everyone I know saves things for me and gives me art supplies for gifts. I like everything but I have started doing more artsy stuff with clients in an attempt to use what I have and pass on the art bug. :) wonder what the holidays will bring?
i definitely have a weakness for pens. i use them in my art, but mostly in my writing journals. in the past, i was guilty of buying and/or trying whatever was new to me. now i try to think more, before i buy. not that i was always, do, but i try. when people want to know what to buy for me, as gifts, i tell them, online art classes or art books. everyone has a different line or fancy. don't they? ;)
This is a great question. In fact, it has made me sit back and think. Currently I have various carts/wishlists on various websites waiting for me to make a choice. Funds don't allow me to just go out and buy everything. As much as I'd like to. At the moment, some of my carts have things that I would LIKE to have, but after reading your blog post, there are some things that may only be good for one or two projects. So, thanks to your post, this makes my decision a lot easier now. However, I fail at resisting notebooks/journals and pens. :)
I think this discussion has already influenced me. I was a Big Lots today and I refrained from buying more Sharpies. I can't seem to get enough of them. They had what looked like a very fine tip ones in 3 colors plus two fine tip in a package. I picked it up and looked at it three times. Each time telling myself, I had plenty of sharpies. I could have new ones when the ones I had were dried up.
I did pick up a pad of water color paper for $3 and three flat canvases in a pack for $3. I've started stamping on water color paper because it holds up so much better when I water color my images or if I use distressed inks on the background.
I'd like to try another paper collage on the canvas
Well, if i call my husband from the store, he just tells me to buy it, which is not helpful. Admittedly that's usually because i'm getting ridiculously angsty over a $2 item :) I mostly work in acrylics on very basic paper (because i get worried about "wasting" good paper and don't use it) so there's a few colors i want but nothing i really need. I let myself get a new color every few months, so it's spaced out. I have watercolors and some chalks and things for when i want to branch out, of course. I'd like to play with inks some day but nothing has pushed me over the edge yet. Glitter glue tends to be my impulse buy. I know from experience that i don't like working with others' designs, which (usually) lets me resist scrapbook papers, washi tapes, etc
If i want someghing big, i set some goals to "earn" it. When i wanted a Silhouette, i decided i had to teach myself Inkscape first, so i could cut my own designs instead of their shapes. That a) allows me to get the most out of the machine, b) gave a waiting yime in case i changed my mind, and c) let us save up rewards points so we could get it for free. At this time my husband and i are both learning 3D modeling so we can justify a printrbot jr.
I have plenty of will-power and very little won't-power so I have to be very strict with myself - no more supplies until something gets used up . . . or almost used up.
Great question... I'm a worrier, and a student with fairly limited funds. Almost always, I don't buy something I think I want. I look at it, think about it, go home and see if I still want it, what I'll use it for, whether I have something too similar already. I see if,after a few days I still want it, and then I go back. I did that recently with a kraft paper sketchbook and pastel pens that I really wanted to try - I went back to the shop no less than three times! Every time I came home, I felt like I really would use it and enjoy it, so I bought it.
Usually if I think I want something, it means another 'sort out' of my current materials .I organise and tidy everything and see if the thing I want has a place!
Like I said though, I am a worrier and a saver, so sometimes after saying no to myself so many times (and justifying it with the the help my boyfriend and my Mum's opinions) I treat myself and give myself a budget to go and splurge.
I think my going-and-coming-back to the shop comes from my Mum, who's very wise with her money - her motto is "If you still want it, wait and then go back later. If it's still there, it was meant to be." As well as waiting for the sales, of course. :)
Charlotte, You brought up a great memory for me. My mom also taught me to be wise with my money. She would watch an item until it went on sale. I do the same. I hadn't thought about why I do that in a long while. It's because I learned it from her.
I can't remember the last time I bought an art supply that wasn't on sale. During our Thanksgiving Holiday I found a lot of great bargains. I missed my mom a lot that day. She would have loved that I got all those great deals.
Great discussion! I used to buy anything and everything. I thought I needed it all, but now I have been doing this a little while I know I don't. Some things I have I will never love or use and now they just take up room. Like spray inks. I would much rather use paint. I used to do a lot of classes and used to feel compelled to buy whatever the instructor said, now I don't. I am on a mission to not buy any more supplies and use up what I have.
My splurges that I don't regret are my inks, and my sennelier oil pastels. And I have never regretted buying good paint.
I'm currently doing a round of decluttering. I'm approaching it like cleaning out a clothes closet. If you haven't worn it (made art with it) in 2 years it's time to pass it on. I had a lot of supplies from school and taking classes of all kinds. Now I find it gets a bit overflowing with things I save or am given. I just cleared out a bunch of cardboard packaging. I use it in journals and mail art but had saved up a bit much. It's not as if we will never have another empty cereal box! I try to remind myself of that in the art/office/sewing supply store. Going in only with a needed purchase in mind helps too. I try not to browse much. I'm only human after all.