Resistance is futile

One negative aspect of pursuing most creative outlets, with the possible exception of writing, is the expense. There's benefit and pleasure in buying artist quality paint. Then there's time commitment and the cost of tuition, valuable for feedback and guidance but also fun. Having a painting mounted and framed is the most costly aspect and of course if you do sell via a gallery they typically take 50%. But the biggest danger is the temptation to buy stuff, fed by a huge industry dedicated to persuading you to have another machine, gadget or gizmo.

I am tempted regularly by e-mails from a couple of art websites, so that I now possess some lovely paintbrushes which I rarely use. I have this inhibition about using my best ones... And still feel slightly under pressure when using best quality paper. I have to keep telling myself, it's only paint, it's only paper!