Sylvia‘s Art Journey

 More or less taking part in Sketchbook Revival this month, I came across some "recovering perfectionists" among the teachers again. My impression is that their alleged former perfectionism has turned to the exact opposite. As if they try to draw and paint as bad as possible now. For the artists in Sketchbook Revival a sketchbook is obviously nothing more than a place to "play" and make a mess. "Use your non-dominant hand."  No, I won't. I dare to use the hand I have trained to draw and paint. And I don't want to make a mess in my sketchbooks. I want to make nice drawings and paintings. I don't strive for photorealism or any kind of perfection, but I aspire to achieve as good a result as I can without stressing myself.  Most of those sessions seem to be made for people who just want to have fun without really wanting to learn something.  This anti-perfectionism is just the flip-side of perfectionism. Just do as well as you can and let perfectio...

 Some people say - only half jokingly, I'm sure - buying art supplies and using them are two different hobbies. They end up collecting supplies they rarely use. A lot of them were bought impulsively. Someone else used them to great effect in a YouTube video or they showed up new and shiny in the art shop of choice. And you react like a kid in a candy store.  Well, money is limited and it's a pity if art supplies are not used. So we should only buy what serves the real hobby - being creative. First of all, don't put those seductive items directly into the cart. Before you look twice that email confirming your order arrives. Put them on your wishlist and let them settle there for a while. Come back when that first urge is gone. Then let reason take over. Do you really need this? Can you afford it? Why do you even want it? Does it provide added value? Will it improve your creative work? Does it fit your process? Will you actually use it?  If not only your heart, but also you...