Art Supply Rant

Lately on the QA list are a bunch of queries on 'how do I use this or that', or 'I have some (fill in the blank here) and need to know what I can do with it' or 'Tell me what to buy for this or that effect'. It's as if there is a wrong way to use art supplies! Well, there isn't. You can read the packaging or go to the website of the particular product for instructions, or even check to see what they suggest. Most of the time the art store has handouts for new products so grab them when you see them. If you follow their broad directions (ie is it washable, or does it need heat setting, or does it mix with some other product) you won't go wrong. IF you are really in a quandary, then simply EXPERIMENT on some scrap fabric. What's the loss? Everyone lately seems to be paralyzed about making mistakes- so heed this quote from Myles Davis:

DO NOT FEAR MISTAKES, THERE ARE NONE!

Art Supplies, Craft Supplies, Acrylic Paint, and more at MisterArt

and at Pearl Paint

also at Dick Blick

and Utrech

or here:Watson Guptill

and Jerry's Artarama

or Liquitex Paints

or Golden Paints

If you are more interested in fabrics and specialty products to work on them, here are some suggestions in no particular order- don't forget to first try the manufacturer's website for your particular printer- for instance, the Epson website has a whole section on craft ideas using their printers and specialty papers.

Meinke Toy

Dharma Trading

Jacquard

Don't neglect any of these for all sorts of things that can be adapted to use in fabric arts:

Staples, Office Depot, Home Depot, AC Moore, Michaels, 5&Dimes, Dollar Stores, Toy Stores, local hardware stores, Close-out centers, Resale shops, Goodwill, recycling centers, town dump, and your neighbors closet!

And finally, I have nothing against books on particular techniques BUT they are the worst offenders on doing things 'the right way' which of course is the author's ONLY way! So I will suggest you do NOT buy technique books, instead make a book of your own with all your own techniques in it. Every time you start with a new product or idea, test it out on fabric and save it to your book and make sure to document it on the "page" you make. Don't believe a product that only has one application- I certainly wouldn't buy that, instead look for things that can be adapted many ways and that don't need extensive finishing techniques- I am thinking of silk steaming after being dye painted for instance. You CAN accomplish the same effects with simpler products and ways of applying them. Especially for a beginner.

Art is about fun and self expression. It is about losing oneself in a fog of involvement. It is about experimenting and NOT following the directions. If I can use my Dremel to drill holes in ping pong balls AND file my nails AND polish hardware on my cigar box purses, then it's a good tool. If I can use my acrylic tubed paints thinned out with extender for fabric, thinned with water for watercolors, AND thickened up with wax and heavy gel for impasto, then they are good products. I do not need twelve different types of paints (though I do have extensive extender 'wardrobes'!) if I invest in good quality acrylics.

OK, get back to work.