This Ain't Blue Poles!

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This ain't Blue Poles. Nor is it worth a million. But it is a lot of fun. Lots of free expression. Exercise of creativity and imagination. Gives the ''right brain'' a good workout.

I should do fingerpainting, to ''release my inner child'' as they say. Still, fingerpainting can be messy and takes time and energy to set up and clean up. Using the computer paintbox doesn't entail a cleanup. Art lessons at school were always spoiled by a mad (and messy, wet ) stampede to clean up and put the brushes and water jars away before the period ended. The frenetic haste took the zen of art away. Sticky desks afterwards, too, were unpleasant.

Another unsloppy way to do art is to simply go to your newsagent and buy various different coloured contact papers. Then cut them into pieces of whatever shapes you would like, and then peel them and create beautiful collages on sheets of coloured paper. Lots of fun.

I'm not averse to wet and sloppy art, but it's just not convenient for me--at the moment. I don't think I could stand being an oilpainter though, with constant fumes of turpentine. I think I would prefer to work with acrylics or watercolours. I also hate breathing in chalk from pastels, and the fixative fumes can be thoroughly unpleasant. Still, some people are more allergic than others....

Since I'm complaining, I may as well tell you that, although I enjoy working with crayons, I hate the way they melt and smudge everywhere. I like the way, though, that crayons don't run out--not like felt pens do after a mere few minutes of use!!!! And if you live in a hot, dry climate, as I do, there's nothing more frustrating than opening a ''new'' packet of felts--only to discover that they are bone dry. Grrrrrr! Better to check 'em out before you leave the store!!!