Is It Really a Waste of Paint?
Who Is It a Waste For?
When someone says, “This artist uses too much paint. It is a waste”. Who is this a waste for exactly?
The artist who chooses to paint freely and joyfully using the amount of paint they like. Who’s to tell an artist how much paint they can or should use? That’s like telling a chef they wasted their ingredients by making too much food. Aren’t people going to eat the food and enjoy it? Do people like what the chef made? Does the artist like what they made? Do others like what the artist made?
Again, who is this a waste for? You’re not buying my paint. I’ve bought the paint. I’ve invested in the paint and I use all of the paint. The only waste of paint, is the paint left in the jar. A waste of paint is paint that is never used and sits in the jar waiting to be used. The paint was created to be used and made into something beautiful.
Creativity Was Never Meant to Be Measured
Tell me, how much paint is supposed to be used when creating? Who’s to measure that? Half as much? A quarter? Are we supposed to limit our creative process by only allowing ourselves to use just small amounts of materials? That is a very limiting mentality that is a hindrance in creating.
Let’s go further and parallel this comment to a house builder. Could they have chosen to use less wood, or less siding, or less tile to build the house? Sure they could have. Could a surgeon have used only one tool to complete the job? Maybe. But if they availbale materials are there, why wouldn’t he use them?
Could Michelangelo have used less marble to carve out his famous “David” sculpture and made a smaller sculpture? He certainly could have, but he decided how big he wanted it to be and it’s very impressive. So much so, that someone thought it belonged in a museum for the world to enjoy and marvel at for years and years after his death.
The Comment Isn't Really About Paint
The type of person who makes this comment might also go around judging someone’s outfit. They might say, “They should not wear as many layers, or that much jewelry.” They have something to say about someone living in a big house. “Why do they have to live in such a big house?” They have something to say about people driving nice cars. Or basically how much someone else has. This comment not about a waste of paint, it is a poverty, and scarcity mentality.
The “waste of paint” comment” is ignorant and makes no sense.
It’s that mentality of not feeling allowed to take up space that is unhealthy and limiting. I don’t want to live life feeling limited. Especially in the world of creating. To limit your process to seem small to others or yourself doesn’t do anything for anyone.
