When I was growing up, I thought artists were required by law to have a big, fancy easel, a palette the size of a large pizza, and a wide array of expensive paint and brushes. It was one of the reasons I didn’t have much to do with art. If I couldn’t do it “right,” I didn’t want to do it at all. These days, I think the idea that an artist has to be formally taught and well-equipped with the proper equipment sometimes gets in our way. Yes, there are sometimes when the right brush or medium or tool makes painting a heck of a lot easier. And I know first hand that learning depth and perspective on your own with nobody to assist you but the internet is tedious. But, most of the time it’s just dandy to start wherever you are and work with whatever you’ve got.
To me, everything is potentially an art supply. I save wrapping paper for visual interest in backgrounds, I am obsessed with bubble wrap as a texture tool, and most of the time I paint with plastic putty spatulas rather than brushes. I’ve painted on plywood boards and curtains and painted over tons of dated canvases and prints with fresh, new creations. I am about to start a commission for a client who wants a canvas made out of old newspapers glued together tightly. One of my signature moves is taking globs of paint that collect around the tops of paint tubes and attaching them to a nearly finished painting because I like the three-dimensional pop of color. I think utilizing what one already has makes for interesting art, and facilitates an organic experience while creating. One caveat though–this has the potential to make you into a hoarder. I say this while staring at a bag of fan blades, hundreds of ceramic tiles, and a box full of candle holders that I happily took off peoples’ hands for future projects.
9 year old Mila Schild’s back to school driveway chalk art is full of well wishes for the school year ahead, and, according to her grandmother, Gayle Christ, echoes her big sister Kendra’s from a few years ago. Jennifer (Christ) Schild, mother of Kendra, brother Christian, and Mila, is quite artistic in her own right. Photo Submitted by Jennifer Schild.
Now, you certainly don’t have to become a packrat to practice making art with what you have. You need nothing more than items you may own already or can buy for a couple of bucks. People make photo realistic drawings with pencils and anything from doodles to intricate zentangles with pens. No oil pastels? Crayons will work. Want vibrant color that works on lots of surfaces? Look no further than chalk.
When I was in school, chalk was plentiful, and it lined the blackboards of our classrooms and the backsides of our teachers. To fancy art people, chalk is called a “soft pastel,” but to a kid (or kid at heart) in the summertime, it’s called an invitation to make the sidewalks and driveways of the world your giant palette without cause for worry about cleanup. The next rain will wash it all away. A lot of times, we think of chalk as just for kids, but if you do an internet search for chalk art competitions, you’ll see incredibly detailed creations drawn on concrete, similar in theory, though perhaps more involved in process, to what we’ve all done as a method of outdoor play.
And that’s really all art is, right? It’s a way to play that is available for all ages, all skill levels, all financial statuses, and all areas of interest. It inspires and heals and allows us a break from our daily lives. Whether you spend tons of money on fancy supplies or spend no money and use what you already have, the power of creativity is just as strong and just as valuable.
Sara Middleton is a correspondent and columnist for Mid-America Publishing and resident artist/owner of Studio Sol Gallery & Creative Space in Eagle Grove, Iowa. Email her at sara.studiosol@gmail.com or find her at http://studiosolllc.com
