“I was reading a book titled The History of Glue – I couldn’t put it down.” ~ Tim Vine, Comedian
Artists: Take a break from being serious about your work. I think it helps creative block unravel itself when we get out of our own way. Put the thinking part of art in our back pocket and pretend that we are in kindergarten again, splashing glue on strips of paper and scribbling with crayons. I am already thinking about rendering this subject in watercolour or coloured pencil.
In an effort to do something creative every day, I sometimes find ways to experiment with unusual materials.
After finishing my morning bedside sketch, using coloured pencils, I noticed the pile of multi-coloured pencil shavings from sharpening them and wondered how I might use them in another art exercise.
So, taking a new sheet in my small bedside sketchbook, I dribbled glue on to the flat surface, creating a network of lines encased in an outline of sorts. I then took the pencil shavings and sprinkled them on top of the still tacky glue. I propped the sketchbook up on a basket beside the bed to dry.
Later, I realized that the glue was more runny than I thought, and had dripped off the page. When I put my shoes on, I realized that the glue had dripped into the inside of my Clark’s clogs and was now also all over my socks!
To me this piece could represent a flock of birds or butterflies alighting in a stand of saplings, or maybe wilted flower buds browning on wintry stems. Kind of like a Rorschach test. What do you see?
So, today’s message is don’t mistake your brush cleaning jar for your cup of tea; and watch out for dripping glue into your shoes, LOL. What strange or funny things have happened to you when you are working on a piece?
Art created 2/22/2026.
All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.