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Guilty! I stocked up on all the tools and spent oodles of time learning how to use them. Now it's time to stop and just create. Well put.

This is the first time I've ever heard a creative say this! You're absolutely right; thank you!

Always an important topic. I attended a workshop for this and the facilitator said the goal was to say something simple but engaging enough that the recipient says, “tell me more.” Conversation, not monologue.

10000% right !!

Very true.

YES Mathew.... So true...at any time and all the time! A waste of time and money looking for external magic.

Sounds like a good new years resolution in today's economy.

Your videos are very insightful. Thanks for sharing so much.

This is something I’ve been thinking about lately. I’m not a very wordy person, I love art as I express myself visually. I started thinking that I just need to keep improving my art and hopefully it gets to a point where the work speaks for itself and I don’t need to say much. I’d love for people to see their own story in my work anyway, reather than spoon feeding them a back story. It should leave roomn for their story.

II think often buying stuff is becasue that is something that feels attainable fro people. We see an amazing artist and we convince ourselves. If only I had that brush, that paint etc etc. But really it’s all down to elbow grease. Sure materials and training can help, but we only truly improve when we practice consistently. I find that with lots of things in life as I get older. Most things are down to consistency and resilience.

100%

Great Advice….New Artist here 🙌🏽🙌🏽 side note: from the chi/nyc and had to leave both areas to chase after those wellness tools from the traditions you mentioned😂Great advice as I begin setting up my studio

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I am not allowed to buy A. Gallo watercolours because of the reasons you talk about.

I know you are right. But I just looooove trying new supplies!

The thing none of these online "Artists" never highlight is the fact that all these art supplies or materials will make you better - if you have ideas and a drive to create you can make fantastic work with the humblest of tools.

As a creative, we need to be looking to the past as to how art was/is created. It used to be that scientists had to be able to draw to do there work. Artists used to have to make their own inks, clays, canvas, tools, etc to be able to do art. Today everything we need is probably in the trash... Think of all the school kids that ditch all the gear cuz it's the end of the year :(

Great video. The watercolour community is bad for pushing the idea that you need very expensive papers and paints for what really amounts to sketching. It's common in USK groups for members to sketch on imported paper that costs a shocking amount here in Asia. I think it inhibits creativity because you don't want to 'waste' these supplies on a work that might not turn out well.

When people ask me what I want for Christmas or my birthday I ask them if they buy any time to use the materials they bought me last year.

The problem with buying art supplies this way is then feeling you have to use them. Being creative is under attack by so many elements, comparing, inner critic and on and on. It doesn’t need the added pressure of justifying your unnecessary purchases.

You have a lot of sage advice in this video. I really needed to hear a lot of this. I've watched several of these videos today and have really enjoyed your thoughts and opinions. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.

"You might need a bigger dream." LOL. I've been praying about my ideas, as a #1 concern, as I'm about to resume full force with 'hands on' art (after a lot of life stuff to deal with after art college). So this just confirmed for me that I need to go with the 'big idea' that I've already came upon, that I honestly feel I could make work based on for the rest of my life. I've felt concerns of this way or that it might be criticized (e.g. have a 'graphic art' element). But I just feel this vision I have is 'it;' as the way I want to work & a visual style I like & that I feel supports my best flow (like a river; good one) of ideas. I'd love if I could do 'one painting per day' with this 'big idea' stirring with me. At the least, one small composition per day (or design), for a future larger painting. It sounds a bit daunting; but would be great if I could pull it off. I enjoy listening. Thanks.

Unfortunately all the art institutions, as a part of capitalist society, impose material fetishism over talent or knowledge, correlating professionalism with the bills that artist has to pay in order to prove that he is a good artist, that he is a professional. It’s like unspoken tax on artistry to be a part of industry, to be gaslit by the industry that your talent is nothing if you won’t give them money. I see how professional artist is obligated to be a part of toxic material culture, otherwise he’s not respected.(actually he’s not anyway) It’s another “fake it till you make it”when instruments and attributes (including non material instruments - connections) are more respected and recognised than education, knowledge and talent.

❤❤❤💯💯💯❤❤❤

If you want to be a professional artist they say the best way is not to sell your art but to teach.

Most of the time buying new stuff is a hope that it will put a damper on the anxiety of feeling lost in the creative process. I have 200 paint brushes and I do one painting per year.

Thanks for giving me a chance to see art in a NY art gallery. Awesome.

0:36 hint #1. They delete comments not supporting the product they are talking about. Example,. talking about another brand in comparison or service being discussed.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom & experience. A 2nd video on this would be great, using demo & examples & specifically showing the process of developing ideas. Also, showing specific examples of artist point of view, being less general. Blessings. Peace everyone. Love wins.

Thanks for sharing your experience & advice

Thanks for the info. This is what is mind blowing for Art Basel Miami: Admission fee: Single-day tickets: $85 for entry between noon and 4 PM, or $120 for First Access entry starting at 11 AM; on top of travel expenses, & lodging. Right out of art college, I'll continue to watch walk throughs online. I wish it was more accessible.

I totally agree 👍 I am so glad your video popped up for me. I am feeling the same way!

WOW!!!!!! You really nailed it! Tools always looks like such fun and even classes sound so good!!!!! Then it’s in your feed!!!! Never ending- unless we make a conscious effort to be on our guard and practice some self control. What a great message you gave! Thanks!!!!

Judeo- Christian? I thought you said you dont wanna be sold to...Im just Christian, nothing Jewish about me at all.

Be a maker not a taker.

Great advice for any kind of artist. The best tools are ones that don't get in the way.

Excellent video! Remember- “during a gold rush- sell classes on getting rich with gold” - These days, having classes, creating paid PowerPoint presentations, building a community, (skool) are just modern sales funnels for sellers- these frauds appeal to the fears and frustrations of artists and wannabe artists. There are libraries and the internet full of free information- by experts- who don’t want to sell you anything.

Nice...Mathew...very nice....wonderful idea...

I have just stumbled across your channel and found the topic very identifiable. I definitely have been guilty of being more worried about the tools than doing the work. Fortunately, my bank account and other demands on it have firmly clamped the brakes on any more chasing stuff. It feels good to just settle in and work.

I’m a mixed media artist and I have been searching my spirit and soul to assess alll the trinkets and supplies I own. Thank you for the gift of focus and self awareness. I’m gathering all the things I know I won’t use. Then rid myself of them. I will instead surround myself with all the wonderful, exciting and inspiring stuff I’m left with. I know this is the right path to innovate and evolving creativity. I only got a $60 tv for my room on Black Friday. So proud of myself 🎉😊🎉

I also agree with this. I know people need to make a living and therefore take brand deals, but for some their whole channel became a test for every single art supply, especially the cheap stuff.. it gets so old.

I have been feeling the same way too in the art supply realm. The big giveaway for me is seeing all these big art TH-camrs singing the praises of one cheesy new brand or another - and then never using these supposedly wonderful products that they “love” when the video isn’t sponsored by money or free supplies. My new rule is to avoid overly sponsored products that the “reviewers” get for free: if the influencers don’t spend money on them, why should I?

As another creative person with a ton of integrity once sang: the obsession's in the chasing, and not the apprehending, the pursuit you see and never the arrest. (Tom Waits). That to me encapsulates this constant yearning for the next shiny thing, that offers little else than the illusion of "your art will be better!". No, you need to master exposure and depth of field and composition and colour. Honestly, I think film was harder and far more rewarding than digital photography will ever be. I know back in the day no one was upgrading their film SLR every two years. A good camera was a good camera and remained so for decades.

On the painting side, I steer clear of any TH-camr who wants to tell me about their big art haul -- with affiliate links included, of course.

Whenever I do buy a new piece of equipment for my work, the first thing I think is bargain and the second practical utility. I bargain hunt and I keep ploughing through the listings until I find the deal that looks good to me because I'm not going to spend more money than I absolutely have to. Then there's the usefulness of the item. Do I really need a camera with two dozen features more than half of which I'm not really likely to use? Of course not. I look for resolution and ease of use. A camera with decent pixel resolution and a basic set of controls is all I need. The last time I went shopping for a camera I snagged a fairly good 10 mpx Canon DSLR on a closeout sale and for that saving was able to swing an extra battery pack and a 75/300 zoom lens and all for the same price I'd have paid for the latest model DSLR. That rig has served me just fine and I lean heavily on my image editing software to perfect my pictures. When my iMac died on me, my next computer was a Lenovo tower PC with lots of memory which, again, I got for a bargain price. I converted it to Linux Mint and all my graphics apps are freeware (no I will NOT pay danegeld to Adobe), and when the original hardware in that thing dies on me I'll be able to rebuild it with kit parts -- which is one of the main reasons why I picked it in the first place -- because that will be a lot cheaper than a brand new store-bought PC. I get basic stuff for the best bargain price I can swing and push it for all its worth, and I have saved hundreds of dollars over the years that way. Being of meagre resources to begin with, I've had to get really creative in obtaining the stuff I've needed to keep myself in business.

Yes!! Let the creativity lead you intuitively rather than you steering creativity with tight reins. I had a friend who spent a fortune on beautiful guitars but, they never made him play better 😂

I came to a similar conclusion. In fact this year is the first Black Friday since becoming a freelancer over a decade ago that I haven't bought anything - despite thinking 'I could use this or that'. Instead, I'll get it when I need it.

Its funny ive always been conservative in my spending. I dont know if its because im in my 60"s and can afford to buy what i want..however if it doesnt really benefit what im doing i dont see the point, I still ove to sketch with a pencil and paper rather than an ipad. I can take my camera and wander in the woods around the area where i live and be content with never pressing the shutter. I do have other photographers i follow but most i get really bored when the use the word Gamechanger in a sentence. I also find i actually photograph more intentionally and take less frames..maybe just trying to take a more intentionally shot. Good Video.

Dude, that's true of most of society. People are conditioned to be consumers, and in it for gear; Camera/videography, music equipment, sporting/outdoor gear, etc... Even the actual "creative" output is diluted by artless technicians; Music conservancy kids who can pick apart theory, but will never write a compelling or beautiful piece of music because it's simply not in them. Videography bros who can identify a focal length, or SFX methodoly, but whose filmic tastes end at the MCU. They understand the "how" but not the "why" of art, which is fundamentally a construction of *meaning* with the unique aspect of a given form.

Wise words...Thank you