Roving Reporter: Blick

I think one of the main reasons why I studied art in college, and have always been "the artist" of the family has to do with my love of art supplies and art supply stores. I went into the new Blick Art Supply store on Market Street the other day (in the former home of Pearl) and found myself in a Zen-like state as I pondered the many spectrums of colors in an array of materials. I love a well-organized set of colors in every possible variety - who doesn't?

There's just something about a fresh, untouched spectrum that hints at all of the creative possibilities. It's as though the inherent potential in a simple oil stick or chunk of charcoal is just waiting there to be tapped. And forget about all of the blank, crisp stacks of canvas and paper. All of that lovely white space! So pure, so clean, so ready to get messy.

Everything waits in an orderly fashion, like little soldiers waiting to be unleashed by the power of thought, action, and idea. This is the place where the mystery of the creative process is confronted by the many possible paths fruition available. (Okay, so that was a little heavy, but it's quite true.) This is the place where notions start to take shape and get some color. This is where fingers are still clean and the imagination has yet to kick into high gear. Everything is still just an idea in this place, and this is merely the depot providing the means. The physicality of creation is about to meet the abstract thought...

This is where the quinacridones, cadmiums, and napthols go head to head against the pyrroles, manganeses, and phthalos. Not to mention the neutral grays 2 through 8. Where bottles of mystery substances such as Liquin and Turpenoid change the game entirely.

 

I suppose I'm really just in love with the idea of creation, and art supply stores are just fuel on the fire. All of the potential is just stacked up and ready to be taken back to the studio - ready for work, ready to help you on your way. They know they're just the means...the rest is up to you. Isn't it nice to just dwell in possibility?

Comments

[Helene]

I love them too!!!! I could spend hours in an art supply store. Glad to see I'm learn alone.

Helene