A Trip to Hell
and back again, a(n) hobbits artists tale.
Painting is a joy! It really is. But it’s also stressful when you don’t know what to look for.
You walk into a store like Blick or Michael’s or maybe a local store and it’s a fucking hellscape if you don’t know what you’re doing.
So let’s chat about it.
Picture it, you’ve come back from a trip that felt inspiring, you went overseas or to a town you’d never been to an hour away, you ordered a coffee and you took a walk down the beach or through a trail in the mountains; maybe you’ve been to this place time and again and you’ve collected matchboxes and receipts, photos and scraps. You have a vivid collection of memories in your head and you feel content. Your therapist encouraged you to try to make a junk journal of your precious haul so that you can have a physical reminder of that joy when life feels hard or gratitude is scarce. Getting on your shoes and checking that you have your phone, keys, wallet (whew) you head out the door to the closest place to buy said journal and maybe some watercolors or paint in general. You’re so excited that you’re making the time and the space for this new experience and challenge. Parking you feel invigorated. Putting your keys in your pocket and double checking you have your phone (you wrote a list down just in case) you’re jittery but the kind of jitters before a really good dessert not before a flight. You get to the front of the store, the doors open and….you freak out.
P.S. This is so common. Don’t worry. You’re not alone.
First of all, they don’t make big box stores inviting. I don’t wander into Target or Michael’s and feel a wave of calm rush over me when there’s 1,000’s of fluorescents overhead and a white laminate floor reflecting all those lights, and ew? Is that sticky? Wait, do I have to pee first? No. I don’t want to go in there—there’s going to be someone else and they’re going to hear MY pee, and then what if there’s no paper towels but just that insanely loud hand drying thing that you have to like move your hands up or something…Okay good. It passed. But yes, my shoe is definitely sticky. I hate kids. But what if in 10 years I change my mind and then I’m too late? Okay, what? That’s a whole other thing! We’re just here for a journal and paint! Shit. I forgot to put my laundry in the dryer. Wait, is Alex home for dinner tonight? Do I need to go to the grocery store?! JOURNAL. AND PAINT. Get it together…
See what I mean.
For anyone who has even the slightest tendency towards sensory overload or anxiety (who doesn’t)…this is not a fun trip. Suddenly the excitement you had to start this new chapter, to become that artsy person you have always wanted to be, ever since you saw that cool girl with the tattoos sitting outside that coffee shop that one time who just looked so unbothered and chill but also had perfect hair, drawing in a sketchbook while she drank tea and like ‘didn’t even care’ who saw her. You’ve wondered if that could be you too. And now you’re here! To be that cool. But goddamnit what is on my shoe!?
So you leave. You bought some more paper towels because that’s in your head now, and you leave. And you put that excitement away, and you say you’ll collect all the goodies in one place first and then you can add them to the journal. Nothing wrong with a little preparation and some time. You don’t need the journal today. You’re just having a weird moment. You’ll definitely get the journal.
Except you don’t.
See, my problem now is that I’m FAR too comfortable going into art supply stores that my credit cards squirm every time they smell terpenoid and gesso. I want to get you to that place! So you can create without fear! Huzzah! So you can go into a Michael’s or a Target (I know we’re boycotting them, but sometimes that’s what you have!) and not feel the need to buy cleaning supplies and deodorant or something for easter next year because is 75% off and a new frame for something…you must have something that needs a frame—they’re BOGO; but actually go in and buy the damn journal and paint.
Aside: Ideally you’re finding a local or small business, right? Because that cool girl at the coffee shop didn’t buy her favorite journal off Amazon, she found it in a store that caters to witches that has literal bags of herbs and flowers to ward and protect. And yes, we understand that the journal in question was probably mass produced, but the taxes she paid on the journal went back to the city she lives in and the city even started a program to help keep small businesses in business; i.e. the coffee shop and the artsy witch store. Also, maybe she has another journal in her bag that she figured out how to make (thanks to the other small business that sells paper and waxed linen), because she didn’t want to support a mass produced journal, but she’s cutesy and mindful and is using this one up because she’s not wasteful. But we also know that wherever you are in the world, we want you to create, so however you get those products, if that’s your option, that’s a win. This aside was brought to you by someone who currently works in retail at a mom-and-pop, and would very much like to encourage you to learn book binding and self-reliance in the face of a capitalist hellscape that pays for her grocery bills.
Alright, so below is some basic stuff to get you painting (watercolor, oil & acrylic). Other people might argue ‘this isn’t it’ and they found better luck with XYZ. There it is, the thing that makes us human; free will. Take whatever you want and leave the rest! I know some things, but I don’t know ALL the things. Find what works for you and go forth! Make!
Enjoy the uncertainty and the stress and the pains and the joys and the fuck yes moments and the ‘THIS IS CRAP’ moments and then be that cool girl at the coffee shop and like, don’t even care or whatever. Cheers!
There’s more to say on the subject of all three, but to get you started, as far as color, here you go! If you’re in a bind financially, or you’re not sure you’ll like it after all, just get three: Red, Yellow & Blue and start mixing.
A few things to consider: I am not the biggest fan of yellow in general. The yellows listed for oil painting are very muted, if you want something brighter, I would try Hansa (although it can be quite transparent). When mixing watercolor however, I often lean into my Quinacridone Yellow. This yellow is very vibrant and when mixed with blue will yield lovely shades of green. Additionally, I would make the argument to swap the Prussian Blue under oil, for a phthalocyanine blue when using watercolors. The reason I have fewer swaps or thought on acrylic is that it is a very forgiving medium. You put blue where it shouldn’t be? Let it dry. Paint over it with your other color. There is nuance to everything, but it is very friendly.
Brushes: DO NOT buy into needing everything natural bristle. This was the case when synthetics sucked. They don’t suck anymore. I have used synthetic brushes for every watercolor painting ever. Do I have a natural hair brush? Yes. Was it a gift? Yes. Is it better? Maybe. But if you want to make something, if you want to paint, you can paint with cheap-o bargain brand anything and it is still painting. The most important thing is to start. We can chat upgrades later.
