Friday, June 18, 2010

My Favorite Art Implements

Brenda sent me and some of her other art homies a nifty little booklet called the Implements of Art Creation. A couple of her favorites? Tear by Hand Scotch Tape and a Pigma Micron Pen. Of course as soon as anything approaching a list appears in my mail or inbox, I have to sit down and make one up too …although I’ll admit that most of the time, the list stays inside my head (mind you, adding to it there is a great way to fall asleep, if you’re having trouble drifting off).
My list turned out to be a lengthy one: Golden Crackle Paste, and Titan Buff fluid acrylic; Liquitex Matte Medium and Black Lava; Pitt artist pens; a black Versafine dye ink pad; baby wipes; Zip Glue; E6000 glue; a miniature screwdriver kit; an X-acto knife, and cutting mat; a set square; Prismacolor pencils; and my two supply totes (not precisely implements but handy all the same).
The first time I ever taught a workshop at a stamp store, one of my “students” brought along her massive just-in-case supply tote that included every pencil, ink pad, paint, paper, marker, pen, pencil, punch etc. known to woman (or man). It was like being invited into an art circus. Because this contraption seemed to take up about 10 square feet of space, I vowed then that I would never ever have a tote.
But words are meant to be eaten, aren’t they? Eventually I fell in love with a mini journaling tote and a larger one that keeps most of my supplies handy. Not that I’ve been using them much these last few months. But truly—sometimes I think the satisfaction of keeping everything organized is almost on a par with making something.
Now where was I? Oh yes, what I realized when I started my list is that there’s one implement I absolutely couldn’t live without, and that’s Photoshop. Over the last eight years, Photoshop has gradually unlocked a whole world of creativity I always suspected existed and now I know actually does. Sure there’s a big learning curve, but that’s fine with me. Art mirrors life after all, and what is life but one long learning curve? Just when you think you’ve got something figured out, you realize you haven’t. C’est la vie.

12 comments:

beenebag said...

YAY! I'm glad it finally made it to you:) I'm trying to put together issue #2 of the implements series. I think I'll have to add Stabilo All 8046 Aquarellable pencil -- a deep black marking pencil that can be blended with water!!! It's like working in charcoal but non of the graphite mess on your hands...and clothes...and face:)

Cro Magnon said...

Oh dear, makes my no-name brushes and paint-covered tubes of colours sound rather workman-like!

Greetings from France, Cro.

Supria Karmakar said...

I know what you mean about that tote bag thing..mine is ever growing : )))
I am a sucker for anything to do with art and implements...
Thanks for the inclusion on your sidebar..very sweet of you..I would so hope we get to meet up some day..as I love your work
supria

Irene said...

so good to see you posting.
O.K. I've got you all beat, since I travel by public transit, I have several different kinds, and weather considerations to take into account, there's trains, and buses and cabs and just plain walking.And just when I think I've found the store it all tote, I take on another interest and thus need another tote. I have small totes for one project type, then I have weekenders, and week long sessions. One for painting, one for embroidery, one for stamping, one for scrapping, one for beading etc. Oh and then there's upholstery and wood refinishing. And then there's watercolours. I won't even go to the photo shop bit, because I really need do that on my desktop so I don't need to haul my laptop around. But oH well. Love it all.

A bird in the hand said...

The idea of making a list exhausts me, because my list would include all the contents of my work area. (And now I need to go and lie down -- haha!)

nancy said...

i have spilled out into 3 rooms, 3 closets and my garage, that would make a really large tote bag full!!!!!!!if i was locked in here i wouldn't run out of supplies for at least a few years but if the power shut down i'd be lost!!!!
love my photoshop and connecting to all my friends, muses and inspirations!
thanks for posting this

Leslie Jane Moran said...

You know how I love LISTS! But being obsessive it will take me a while to devise :) Love this post, seems to have hit a cord with all our bloggy friends. My verification word is "crambal" cram all...yes! That's it!

Debrina said...

Hi Susan! Wow thanks for your lovely, encouraging comment about time away from the Internet and having a break. I'm a list-a-holic too - love ticking them off. I loved your last sentence there: art mirrors life and life is one big learning curve.... Permission to stick it on my blog?

Unknown said...

I have to write everything down cause I will forget in a minute! Now come on over and see my studio in person! You are only a few blocks away!

Hugs!
Sandy

me again said...

I love lists!!! Especially this type. I will think on this and come up with my own, but I was gobsmacked to see your Golden "Titan Buff" there ... because that would be on my list too! :-)

My word verification is morsubtr ... yes! More more more!

Caterina Giglio said...

Photoshop? well good.... I have some backgrounds on my blog, take em! xx's

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Great blog. There is a resonance here.
-J