How to Create with what You Already Have
I moved over the weekend, confession time, I’m not the best at packing. My packing tends to be more like what you imagine an artist packing would look like, it’s creative, but I’m not sure that creativity is what most people are going for when it comes to packing.
Here’s what I mean.
I don’t like wasting things, or buying what seem to me like unnecessary supplies, like bubble wrap to keep the dishes from breaking. Instead, I combine dishes, with things like towels, scarves, and jackets. It’s perfect, everything gets packed and stays safe.
It’s perfect of course, until you need something and realize that not only are none of the boxes labeled, even if they were the label would need to be something like.
Bowls, wrapped in scarves
2 shoes (probably not a pair)
3 books
1 mug
A few pens
Tennis ball
All of my things have been moved to the new(old) house, but they haven’t all been unpacked, which has proven to be another opportunity for creative thinking.
Not sure where to put the towels? Store them in the dryer that we don’t use.
Can’t find the can opener? Search for all possible sharp objects, determine that you might cut your finger off trying to get into the tomato sauce and admit defeat.
Not sure where the cat can live so that she has a break from the dogs? Put in her the bathroom, and put up bathroom signs that are a man, women, and cat.
You might be wondering why I’m telling you this. There is a point, I promise.
You might feel like you’re having trouble getting access to the art supplies that you want, which can make you feel like you can’t create.
While it is fun to purchase art supplies (I’ll share a few of my favorites). It can also be exciting to find new ways to use what you have around you.
Cardboard is a great surface for drawing and painting. It can also be fun to cut and create with. Think about things like cereal boxes, as well as boxes that packages come in. Many packages also have fun packing materials inside, like brown craft paper that you can draw on, or tissue paper that you can use to create collages.
In college I did a weaving project with used coffee filter (yes, I said used). After the coffee was made, I’d dump the coffee grounds into the trashcan and lay out the filters to dry. They often have wonderful patterns on them from the brewing process, you can then continue to draw or paint on top of, or cut into pieces and use for something else.
Paper bags are a0ther great things that you may have around you. See if the grocery store has paper bags instead of plastic. Can you save paper bags from take-out orders?
Explore nature:
Pick up fallen leaves and use them as a surface to draw and paint on. Of course, they won’t last forever, but you can document your process and work by photographing them.
Grab some rocks and draw on them, or see how you can arrange them to create new shapes, patterns, and lines.
If creating with items found in nature interests you, be sure to check out artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
Use what you already have in new ways.
Do you have old books that you no longer read? Consider that your new sketchbook. Draw, paint, collage, cut, fold, bend the pages inside.
Do you have previous journals or calendars that you can work on top of what’s already there?
Don’t let access to supplies stop you from creating, exploring, and developing your visual vision and language. Instead, think of as a creative problem to solve and learn from.
As promised, here are a few of my favorite supplies to always have.
- Mixed media paper
- watercolor paints
- fine point black sharpie
- tracing paper
- scissors
- scotch tape
- glue stick
- colored paper
- thread
- sewing needle