How to waste art supplies — Lichtenbergianism

Today’s post is for visual artists, but do read it anyway.

The scenario: You’re itching to explore some technique or style you have STOLEN FROM THE BEST, but you’re afraid and ashamed of “wasting” your art supplies. What should you do?

I’m glad you’ve asked this question, fantasy reader.

Step One

ABANDON the idea that you’re going to make anything worth keeping. This is not a new concept: ABORTIVE ATTEMPTS are our starting point, right? You’re just going to generate lots and lots of crap which you are going to throw in the trash.

Step Two

DEVOLVE your materials. Use old newspapers. Buy the cheap-ass newsprint “drawing tablets” at the dollar store. Use the cardboard from all those Amazon boxes. Go back to the dollar store and buy those crappy watercolor or poster paint or marker sets. Look at stuff you’re throwing in the trash. Remember, you’re going to throw it all back in the trash anyway.

Step Two Point One

CONFESS that you already have more art supplies than you know what to do with or can reasonably use in your lifetime and prepare to use them too. (You may skip this step if it does not apply to you.)

Step Three

SET your intentions. Write them down on some piece of scrap material you have right in front of you and prop it up where you can see it. If you’re STEALING from some specific work/image, have that in front of you too.

Step Four

SET A TIMER. Use the Pomodoro method: work for 20 minutes without interruption (or 10 or 30, your choice), break for 5, do it again.

Step Five

REALIZE that I lied, because in that pile of crap are some pretty good results. Keep them. Throw the rest away.

Step Six

Feel smug at your accomplishment. Brag about it. Tell everyone where you read about it.

I will report back next week on my results. I’d love to see some of yours here.

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