Be an Artist - Not a Consumer :: December 2024 :: Matthew Langley Artvlog

[@SuzetteMorrow]

I totally agree 👍 I am so glad your video popped up for me. I am feeling the same way!

[@sirguy6678]

Excellent video! Remember- “during a gold rush- sell classes on getting rich with gold” - These days, having classes, creating paid PowerPoint presentations, building a community, (skool) are just modern sales funnels for sellers- these frauds appeal to the fears and frustrations of artists and wannabe artists. There are libraries and the internet full of free information- by experts- who don’t want to sell you anything.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Totally agree

[@lindsiarcaini9846]

WOW!!!!!! You really nailed it! Tools always looks like such fun and even classes sound so good!!!!! Then it’s in your feed!!!! Never ending- unless we make a conscious effort to be on our guard and practice some self control. What a great message you gave! Thanks!!!!

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

It can be hard to resist sometimes …

[@carmencitahill4707]

I’m a mixed media artist and I have been searching my spirit and soul to assess alll the trinkets and supplies I own. Thank you for the gift of focus and self awareness. I’m gathering all the things I know I won’t use. Then rid myself of them. I will instead surround myself with all the wonderful, exciting and inspiring stuff I’m left with. I know this is the right path to innovate and evolving creativity. I only got a $60 tv for my room on Black Friday. So proud of myself 🎉😊🎉

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Best of luck with this - it can be really freeing to get rid of stuff (and not having to look at it).

[@song-explorer]

Great advice for any kind of artist. The best tools are ones that don't get in the way.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

I totally agree.

[@stevekoch4]

Nice...Mathew...very nice....wonderful idea...

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Thanks so much!

[@ronin8926]

I came to a similar conclusion. In fact this year is the first Black Friday since becoming a freelancer over a decade ago that I haven't bought anything - despite thinking 'I could use this or that'. Instead, I'll get it when I need it.

[@bluewren65]

As another creative person with a ton of integrity once sang: the obsession's in the chasing, and not the apprehending, the pursuit you see and never the arrest. (Tom Waits). That to me encapsulates this constant yearning for the next shiny thing, that offers little else than the illusion of "your art will be better!". No, you need to master exposure and depth of field and composition and colour. Honestly, I think film was harder and far more rewarding than digital photography will ever be. I know back in the day no one was upgrading their film SLR every two years. A good camera was a good camera and remained so for decades.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Tom Waits is a genius, - and what you say is totally true - no one ever thought it was a good idea to upgrade a camera every two years.

[@gwenster]

I have been feeling the same way too in the art supply realm. The big giveaway for me is seeing all these big art KZbinrs singing the praises of one cheesy new brand or another - and then never using these supposedly wonderful products that they “love” when the video isn’t sponsored by money or free supplies. My new rule is to avoid overly sponsored products that the “reviewers” get for free: if the influencers don’t spend money on them, why should I?

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

totally agree

[@holmbergaudio]

Most of the time buying new stuff is a hope that it will put a damper on the anxiety of feeling lost in the creative process. I have 200 paint brushes and I do one painting per year.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

I've definitely been there.

[@shakyhandsworkshop]

I have just stumbled across your channel and found the topic very identifiable. I definitely have been guilty of being more worried about the tools than doing the work. Fortunately, my bank account and other demands on it have firmly clamped the brakes on any more chasing stuff. It feels good to just settle in and work.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Thanks for the note - my wallet has the same issue...

[@filmismorefun]

Totally agree about the overspending on needless gear/ art supplies. I just released a video on this exact thing. I'm glad the algorithm delivered your video to my feed. Part of the spending appeal (I think) is the hunt for the perfect tool, and the possibilities that shiny "new thing" might bring. I've started a self-imposed challenge to use what I have before purchasing more stuff. I felt like I wasn't really appreciating what I already had.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

I think you and I are in very similar mindsets right now. I’m currently traveling but will check out your videos next week - thanks for commenting

[@crotchet1586]

Everything changed when Edward Bernays came along and started the linking of products to personal values...his most famous was to link smoking to feminism. Woman at the time didn't smoke because of societal attitudes. He simply marketed cigarettes as 'torches of freedom' and voila more and more women started to smoke. Advertising is pernicious.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

@@crotchet1586 that's interesting - I never knew that

[@travisnobleart]

A basic hb pencil is still the most dangerous weapon in my art supply.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

100%

[@mjrtensepian1727]

Dude, that's true of most of society. People are conditioned to be consumers, and in it for gear; Camera/videography, music equipment, sporting/outdoor gear, etc... Even the actual "creative" output is diluted by artless technicians; Music conservancy kids who can pick apart theory, but will never write a compelling or beautiful piece of music because it's simply not in them. Videography bros who can identify a focal length, or SFX methodoly, but whose filmic tastes end at the MCU. They understand the "how" but not the "why" of art, which is fundamentally a construction of *meaning* with the unique aspect of a given form.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

I like the way you put that

[@LordZontar]

Whenever I do buy a new piece of equipment for my work, the first thing I think is bargain and the second practical utility. I bargain hunt and I keep ploughing through the listings until I find the deal that looks good to me because I'm not going to spend more money than I absolutely have to. Then there's the usefulness of the item. Do I really need a camera with two dozen features more than half of which I'm not really likely to use? Of course not. I look for resolution and ease of use. A camera with decent pixel resolution and a basic set of controls is all I need. The last time I went shopping for a camera I snagged a fairly good 10 mpx Canon DSLR on a closeout sale and for that saving was able to swing an extra battery pack and a 75/300 zoom lens and all for the same price I'd have paid for the latest model DSLR. That rig has served me just fine and I lean heavily on my image editing software to perfect my pictures. When my iMac died on me, my next computer was a Lenovo tower PC with lots of memory which, again, I got for a bargain price. I converted it to Linux Mint and all my graphics apps are freeware (no I will NOT pay danegeld to Adobe), and when the original hardware in that thing dies on me I'll be able to rebuild it with kit parts -- which is one of the main reasons why I picked it in the first place -- because that will be a lot cheaper than a brand new store-bought PC. I get basic stuff for the best bargain price I can swing and push it for all its worth, and I have saved hundreds of dollars over the years that way. Being of meagre resources to begin with, I've had to get really creative in obtaining the stuff I've needed to keep myself in business.

[@mindsetmatters370]

Wise words...Thank you

[@stellaqaustralia]

Yes!! Let the creativity lead you intuitively rather than you steering creativity with tight reins. I had a friend who spent a fortune on beautiful guitars but, they never made him play better 😂

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Totally agree - sometimes the "gear" gets in the way of the art

[@kymcrowart7876]

I also agree with this. I know people need to make a living and therefore take brand deals, but for some their whole channel became a test for every single art supply, especially the cheap stuff.. it gets so old.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

totally agree

[@terrilikens4975]

On the painting side, I steer clear of any KZbinr who wants to tell me about their big art haul -- with affiliate links included, of course.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Don't even get me started on that...

[@Artist_Kevin]

0:36 hint #1. They delete comments not supporting the product they are talking about. Example,. talking about another brand in comparison or service being discussed.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

so true.

[@davidjones8070]

Its funny ive always been conservative in my spending. I dont know if its because im in my 60"s and can afford to buy what i want..however if it doesnt really benefit what im doing i dont see the point, I still ove to sketch with a pencil and paper rather than an ipad. I can take my camera and wander in the woods around the area where i live and be content with never pressing the shutter. I do have other photographers i follow but most i get really bored when the use the word Gamechanger in a sentence. I also find i actually photograph more intentionally and take less frames..maybe just trying to take a more intentionally shot. Good Video.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Thanks so much

[@JohnScaneArt]

Well said

[@muskadobbit]

Be a maker not a taker.

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

100%

[@michaelhaasjes8066]

There is a lot of clever gear for artists out there but it tends to be expensive. Ask yourself the question, will I use this everyday?

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

Agreed

[@theforgedone]

Creating and not spending is good advice. Strongly agree with this! But why hate on artists who sell things to other artists? Would you rather all art supplies, tools, etc., be made and marketed purely by uncaring business suits that know nothing about art?

[@matthewlangleyartblog]

I think what I’m really referring to are artists whose whole video is one long sales pitch - not necessarily an artist who also recommends something. Maybe it’s a difference of intent

[@theforgedone]

@@matthewlangleyartblog Thanks for clarifying :)

[@secondstone4968]

But what about our economy?😅