If I were to live to be 200 years old, I could NEVER use all of the art supplies at my disposal. My studio and home are overflowing with magazines, decorative papers, paints, stickers, ribbons, buttons, pigments, stamps - you name it!
It's difficult to get rid of materials that you know you'll use "someday". Each item has been carefully selected and preserved over time waiting for that "special" project. Sometimes the project manifests, and sometimes it doesn't. What does manifest is an abundance of materials that might better be put to use in another creative's hands.
I'm in a great position to share items with my Creative Art Journaling students, and I'm looking forward to sharing my goodies with them. I found these great, adhesive backed, 3D mylar papers the other day. I only needed a small amount of each paper to complete my journal page. I could have saved the remainder for another "special" project, but what's more special than sharing a great find with someone else who will appreciate it as much as you do? I cut the remaining paper into rectangles and I can hardly wait to see my students' smiling faces as they marvel at each color.
Who doesn't love a magazine? They're a great source of inspiration and art journaling fodder, but really, STACKS of magazines are just a few stacks too many. Every week I take a stack to the senior center after removing any images that meet my immediate needs.
I've only just begun going through the papers I've collected over the past 10 to 15 years, but I know there will be lots of sharing on that front as well.
Sharing your excessive is a win/win situation. The pleasure received in surprising someone with a gift is a priceless and monumental feeling. It's a small thing to put a smile on someone's face, and as an extra bonus you'll gain a sense of renewal when you find yourself surrounded by less clutter.
Remember, you can let your art shine all over the world, but you can also let your generosity but a smile on someone's heart when you share your bounty! Until next time, "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"
Thank you Angelia for this good advise. I need to do this too. Didn't know I had so much stuff until we moved. I think artist are big hoarders because like you say we may need it someday. No good to have it if you can't find it.
ReplyDeleteSo some of that good stuff has to go.
Linda
Hi Angelia; Great post and soooo true! We all tend to gather, gather, gather.
ReplyDeleteI like putting little gifts of my treasures in the mail for other people to treasure - it puts a smile on my face.
Hugs and blessings
Kelly