As I am in the middle of writing my next novella, sometimes I day dream which is an articulation of extraneous ideas that I will not use as to be able to concentrate better.
I day dream as I clean my studio. There’s a vague idea that I have had of an artist who has all the equipment he needs to do his thing and in variety. In his mind’s eye, this makes him “rich” as he let’s slip at a bar (This leads to trouble).
When I first started doing visual work, I used the pages of the newspaper (for the youngsters: this was like a twitter news feed but accurate and truthful, made from thin slices of a tree, which showed up on your doorstep every morning) I used black and red markers as to be able to see my drawings.
I then graduated to blocks of cheap paper filling every page on both sides.
Slowly, I worked my way towards legitimizing the need of good equipment. Initially, i was thrifty out of necessity, i.e using pencil extenders as to squeeze every drop out of a pencil.
Fast forward, I can now afford whatever I want for equipment, i can buy things merely to experiment with etc. I still use pencil extenders and observe other economical practices, not because I have to or even because I am cheap. It is a sign of deep affection for serving the process.
When working on a painting, the amount of paint which I use at most only takes up two ten slotted porcelain palettes. Not much but I often find myself when a painting is completed with a little bit paint remaining.
I started the practice of doing a smaller painting with remaining paints in my trusty Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches. Nothing is wasted and it often presents some manner of stimulating challenge for me. It’s my version of what great chefs like Paul Bocuse did in their every part of the animal philosophy.
The Mark Watercolor & Rembrandt 9×12 cold pressed fin paper
Gerd Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches
Paper Life Painting 
I love these drawings, their loose and easy style that reflects so much skill behind. As a novice hobbyist, I still have a fear for drawing people and faces.
How you described newspaper resonated with me – I am of that generation. I used to look forward to the newspapers each day as a young teenager as it was a window to the world, especially countries overseas. I felt I learned so much. I wonder what happened since. Perhaps it was my job of having to monitor the media more frequently, but I try to avoid reading the news when I can these days. The many, many words and constant notifications overwhelm the senses.
I still use pencil extenders. Thrift is an old habit – but it also reflects our respect for the tools that helped us progress and become what we want to become.
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Thank you for lovely comment
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I had to research “novella.” Apparently, I possess an old way of thinking, I presume that a story is either short or it isn’t. But it appears other people with some randomly-given expertise somewhere decide that there is a not-long and not-short perfection somewhere.
Break a book (or extremely short book) leg😃
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There’s actually a word count involved, novella closer to novel than short story, think of it as a slender novel. 😁
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