I have a confession to make. It’s something which I have only recently come to realise is an “issue” for me, but one which I think other artists might well relate to…
The enticing allure of a new art shop (gasp!), the anticipation of buying a heavy body acrylic paint (eek!), the certainty that water-soluble graphite pencils will revolutionise my art practice and in fact Transform My Life is too hard to resist.
I have a serious addiction to buying art supplies!
It wasn’t until a recent conversation with another artist that it dawned on me that we shared the same condition. We were salivating discussing the discovery of silicone contour blades, our heart rates rising over acrylic paint retarder mediums as we built ourselves into a frenzy of lustful wishing exchanging details of a new dealer…I mean a new FRAMER.
Like an alcoholic unable to control herself when offered a glass of fizz at the Christmas party, it’s hard to live with this addiction as it’s such an integral part of every day life. My social media algorithm has me well and truly sussed when it comes to advertisements: one glimpse of a new concertina sketchbook and I’ve double clicked my Apple Pay faster than you can say “Art Supply Addicts Anonymous”.
So as we near the end of 2024 and I look around at my beautifully over-stocked studio, I realise this may be something I have to deal with. Maybe I need an intervention, or perhaps my New Year’s resolution should be to Make Do With What I’ve Already Got and accept the fact that great art can in fact be made with very little.
In the meantime however, I’ve just discovered a new company that sells 24ct gold leaf! After all, it is Christmas…
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