Art Rabbithole

“True creativity starts when you use what you have: your mind, your hands, and your resourcefulness. Even a simple party plate can become a canvas.”

I find it fascinating to imagine stepping into someone else’s life and thinking about how I would handle their situation. I do this a lot with artists I admire, thinking about the choices they made and why. It’s become a little game for me.

Paul Gauguin, one of my biggest artistic inspirations, did just that. He left a secure life in Europe and set sail for the unknown Pacific Islands. There were no art shops or fancy supplies waiting for him. He probably brought only what he could carry: rolls of canvas, tubes of paint, and small jars of medium. Artists know some colours run out faster than others. I like to picture Gauguin under the tropical sun, running out of Yellow Ochre and reaching for Cadmium Yellow instead. Or maybe he ran out of Viridian and mixed ultramarine with earthy colours to make do. If he ran out of canvas, maybe he painted on jute, burlap, or any rough cloth he could find.

It’s an interesting thought, isn’t it?

Sometimes I try to adopt that same mindset—using whatever is available, working with limitations rather than waiting for perfect conditions. That’s exactly how I started painting on single-use party plates made from recycled paper materials. Even something as humble as that can become a surface for creativity.

Creativity should never stop because of a shortage of supplies, difficult circumstances, or doubts about ability. Anyone can be an artist if they choose to experiment and learn. Art can’t be taught in the strict sense—but it can definitely be learned. And unlike Gauguin, we have an abundance of materials at our disposal today.

So keep creating. Have a great day.