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...I have something to share: a whisper, a song, a memory to dance across time. |
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With this blog, I hope to write about a variety of creative things: • Creativity • Artist process • Poetry • and who knows what other bits of inspiration may strike... Stay tuned and see. |
This post continues the previous at "Want to be an artist?"  Consider your message, the emotions you wish to express, and discover the possibilities offered by your limited resources. For example, if you have only a flat paintbrush, move the paint around with the brush held flat. Tap the brush on its edge and see the shapes emerge from the paint. Fill it with watery paint and fling splatters. Experiment with the materials at your disposal to discover the variety of marks you can create. For this practice, an art journal, or even plain printer paper, works well. Save them and make notes so you can remember how you made the marks. Once you’ve started experimenting, you see many things that you can use as an art supply: - paper: printer paper, book pages, flyers, paper bags - paint: watercolor, acrylic paint sets from dollar store, pastels - painting tools: brushes from the hardware store, toothbrushes, sponges, kitchen towels, credit cards to scrape paint - drawing supplies: charcoal, colored pencils, graphite pencils, pens, markers - surfaces: cereal boxes, cardboard boxes, scraps of wood, cheap canvases - palettes: tops of large yogurt containers, disposable plates, foil, Styrofoam food trays - collage: magazine pages, book pages, packaging material (tissue paper, brown packing paper), fabric - mark making: bubble wrap, bottle caps, stamps, stencils, sticks When you find the tools and surfaces that you enjoy, gradually invest in higher-quality materials. If you’re on a tight budget, think before you spend. Remember that using low-cost materials keeps you from worrying about wasting supplies as you start your creative adventures. When you are able, add to your art supplies. Although you pay large amounts (watch for sales and discounts at the stores where you shop), most materials quite a while, so you won't need to replace them anytime soon. Create beauty with whatever you can find. Before long, you’ll see that art is less about the tools and more about your curiosity and courage. Every mark you make teaches you something new. Keep going and let your imagination lead the way. If you think about it, this post could apply to writing too. Write with what you have: any piece of paper and your favorite fountain pen, your computer, or the back of a napkin and a ballpoint pen. Write a little as often as you can. Even a few words can spark ideas for future work. Write little 100-word stories, short poem verses, journal entries, or simple ideas that come to mind when you least expect them. Keep all your writing and review it occasionally to find "the gems," those little sparks that only you can recognize on any given day. Whatever your creative journey, find the joy in it! -Jo  |
| Want to create art, but don't know where to start? Start where you are. Use what you have. Stay within your budget, and create what brings you joy. Online or in a store, the sticker shock of art supplies is enough to make any artist gasp. In some countries, they’re nearly double what artists elsewhere pay. Don’t let the high prices deter you from your goal. You don’t need fancy tools to start your art journey. Your curiosity and willingness to begin are the best tools to unlock new possibilities. I remember when I started out; I bought a few tubes of student-grade acrylic paint, a couple of budget-friendly canvases, and some brushes that any genuine artist would have scoffed at. But they got me started. By the way, I still buy only inexpensive brushes for the work I do. When they wear out, I purchase more. If I were a true watercolorist, I’d see the value of investing in high-quality brushes and using the proper paper—that’s when you achieve optimal results. But wait until you’ve experimented for a while before you dive into quality supplies. Use what you can find around your house and experiment. Maybe your kids have a cheap watercolor set, colored pencils, or even crayons. Did you previously purchase some acrylic paints that you haven’t put to use yet? At a dollar or thrift store, you could find reasonably priced supplies. Get some cheap artwork at a thrift store, cover it with gesso, and let it become the foundation for a brand-new artwork. Boost your creativity by brainstorming the possibilities of what you can craft with just a few simple materials. Most importantly, just start and enjoy your creative time. |
| Whether you’re a novice or seasoned creator, or simply exploring newfound creative ideas, this space welcomes all who love to explore their unique creative expressions. I hope to share stories from my journey as a self-taught writer and artist and reflect on the creative process. I offer ideas to help you nurture your own practice. Sometimes that means exploring the messy, uncertain parts of art and writing, including the doubt, the creative blocks, the learning curves, and the joys! You’re welcome to linger here, take what resonates, and leave the rest. This is a space for curiosity, encouragement, sharing ideas, and showing up as you are. I want you to find the pure joy of bringing something into existence that has never been.  Something Like a Memory 6 x 9 Acrylic ©JoPaynterCreates |
| I am fascinated by how ideas take shape—the silent anticipation before the brush touches the canvas or the pen glides across the page (or fingers dance on the keyboard). I am fascinated by the spark of inspiration that transforms a simple doodle into something significant and the bravery to continue creating when the path ahead is uncertain. My creative life has never been a straight path. I’ve experimented with various forms of art: paper quilling, paper beading, botanical paintings, sketching, mixed media, and mobiles that sway gracefully in the wind. With each medium, I learn the importance of patience, the value of curiosity, and the wisdom in letting go of perfection. -Jo |
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