| This year more than ever, budget is an issue. Our | | | | soldiers. They are warriors that didn't work out or |
| 401ks are draining. Many of us have suffered job | | | | didn't get finished." If you have Dead Soldiers in |
| losses. Now, more than ever, we need our | | | | your closet, get them out and dust them off. |
| creativity to salve what ails society. Ironically, no | | | | Rethink the composition. In the alternative, cut it |
| longer can we run to our favorite art store to | | | | up and assemble a new composition from the |
| pick up the latest in supplies and materials. Don't | | | | color blocks. |
| fret; there are many options for obtaining | | | | 4. Internet Coupons. I used this tip last week. I |
| creative supplies without busting the budget: | | | | needed/wanted an acrylic medium that never, |
| 1. Think Green. Recycling, up-cycling, and | | | | ever, ever goes on sale. I remembered I had |
| repurposing abounds at your local thrift stores. All | | | | seen an ad in the Sunday paper from one of |
| of those canvases of terrible art in the back can | | | | those big box art supply stores that offered 40% |
| be gessoed and re-painted. The jewelry counter | | | | off one non-sale item. Of course, I didn't save the |
| provides sculptural mixed media inclusions. Other | | | | paper and I wanted to pick the medium up on |
| green options include architectural salvage yards, | | | | my way home from work. So, I looked up the |
| the office paper recycling bin, garage sales, and | | | | store on the internet and presto, I found the |
| the free and barter sections of Craigslist and | | | | coupon I had remembered. I printed it and 15 |
| Don't overlook your own garbage can. | | | | minutes later I bought a $20 jar of medium for |
| 2. Gifts. Have a list of ideas ready when asked | | | | $12. I wanted to buy some gesso while I was |
| about what you'd like for birthdays or holidays. | | | | there but then decided to wait until the next |
| Maybe you wouldn't buy that $27.00 paint tube of | | | | coupon. Sure enough, the same ad ran again this |
| Cadmium Red for yourself, but it would make a | | | | Sunday. I didn't bother to save the newspaper. |
| great gift for someone else to give to you. | | | | After all, I can print the coupon when I'm ready |
| 3. Dead Soldiers. A flavorful artist I met told me | | | | to go. |
| he likes to re-work Dead Soldiers from time to | | | | The world is a medley of materials and supplies |
| time. When I inquired about the meaning of a | | | | waiting for you to rethink, repurpose, and re-use |
| Dead Soldier, the artist pointed to stacks of | | | | in your creative projects. |
| paintings in the corner, "Those," he said, "are dead | | | | |