treat yo self

Last year I spent a lot of time dreaming about making art through my drawings AND in new mediums. Come New Year’s Eve, as I reflected on my year in the studio, I was sad to admit I didn’t take up any of those dreams; nor did I draw as much as I wanted to. So I started the year off with a commitment to myself: I will follow those dreams and desires, BIG or small.

To follow through with my new plan, I went to the art supply store today to gather the supplies for one of my creative dreams: block printing. I am starting small with a delightful venture into Pink Eraser Printing!

Hellooooo little eraser. You are so nostalgic and adorable ◡̈

I spent hours at the art supply store looking at every single thing my heart desired. Generally, I am in and out, a tactic to keep me from over spending on art supplies, but today was about buying my dreams.

I got all my supplies AND a really cool (silly expensive) tool bag to keep them in 😍

-Side note about spending $30 on a small nylon, yellow (highlighter-neon) bag:

I’m reading a book called “Your Brain on Art” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. This book is the neuroscience behind the effects art and aesthetic have on us from brain to body to emotions. I’m only a 1/4 of the way through and my mind is blown.

The way I lit up when I saw this ridiculously overpriced priced bag, I knew I had to buy it. The neuroscience backs me up!

See, if I find delight in seeing my art bag and all my special supplies inside, I will be more chemically compelled to reach for it: making it easier to make something; and ultimately bringing me the feel good hormones we all need.

And since the release of these hormones aren’t coming from Meta- keeping me glued, addicted, and untethered from reality; I’ll be gaining skill, touching real objects that bring me joy, and my brain will fall into the healing meditative space that a phone can’t provide. Plus I’ll have cool shit to appreciate when I’m done! (The Black Screen of Soul Crushing Depression cannot provide me with treasures from my mind’s journey!)

Aaaanyway, I promptly went to my favorite coffee shop, they make the best cream Italian Soda: watermelon, cherry, and vanilla with a splash of half and half is premo, and made my first Pink Eraser Prints.

I’ve learned so much already (and with so much ahead of me!), I am really grateful for the care I provided myself by following a creative dream.

I’m setting out to make 100 prints before getting my professional artist brain wrapped up in the mix. For now, I’m playing, learning, and allowing those emotions and feelings to wash over me.

For my fellow perpetual teenagers: my sharpener AND the pink erasers cost $.69 😏