Earlier this week while trying not to be too hard on myself about not photographing anything, I dug out my soft pastels. I bought them several years ago for an art class I took. They are kinda hard and super chalky because they are one of the cheaper brands. Now that I’ve dug them out again and remember how much I enjoyed working with them, I want a better quality set.
I will always tell you to use what you have and get what is in your budget if you have to buy art supplies. Sometimes it feels really shitty following that advice. I really want those handmade smooth creamy soft pastels.
If I wasn’t on a budget, I’d impulse buy so many different kinds of art and craft supplies. I love trying out new things. I’m a sucker for a fancy art supply. Who needs food when you can have tubes of watercolor paints, soft pastels, rolls of film or hand dyed hand spun yarn?
When using cheaper or budget friendly art supplies it’s important to understand how that supply works so you can make the best use of it.
The soft pastels I have will not make the same art as the creamier ones. Trying make them, will only end in frustration and disappointment. Make me feel like I’m a bad artist.
You wouldn’t try digging in your garden with a paper plate or one of those big excavators.
Whatever supplies you have, get to know what they can and can’t do. If your watercolor paper can’t hold much water, but you use a ton of water, you will always be unhappy with that paper. You have to adjust how you do things to get the best out of the supplies you have. You could use less water or put a layer of gesso on the paper.
It’s disheartening not getting to do the exact thing you want because you don’t have access to those specific supplies. It can make you feel like a bad artist, like your skills are awful and not improving. But learning to work with what you have to the best ability of that supply, is a skill. A skill that will help you be able to get the best out of those more expensive supplies when you do get your hands on them.
Grow that skill. It will translate into other areas of your life too.
P.S. I know I used watercolor paper as an example, but I’m a firm believer in always getting the best paper you can afford. Skimp on the watercolor paints if you have to.