Finding the Calm in Cutting Paper
As an equal opportunity creative I’ve experimented with any and every medium I’ve gotten ahold of the supplies for. Almost all of them include some kind(s) of repetitive task(s). These processes can be tedious or therapeutic or both.
The most recent medium that has had me in a STRONG chokehold for the past two and a half years is gelli printing. Gelli printing is a form of printmaking that’s both more accessible and less expensive. All you need is a gelli plate (or cling wrap), paper, paint, and a brayer (or paint brush).
These start-up supplies can last you a long time and leave you with a lot of really dope painted paper creations.
The joy in gelli printing, for me, comes from the ability to make somethin outta nothin. My most interesting results have come from the very basic start-up supplies as well as recycled and found supplies I’ve scavenged while on adventures.
I can use the comb I found while walking my dog or the paw patrol flip-flop I came across while riding my adult tricycle. The lids from my medicine bottles easily become stamps. Random bits of yarn from my never-forgotten but rarely-remembered crochet projects can make a print extra visually interesting!
By far, my favorite recycled supply to use while gelli printing is… Paper.
That may not sound super exciting but I absolutely LOVE collecting and preparing all kinds of different papers for gelli printing. My small town still has a lot of dealings with good ol’ paper. Sorry to them trees, sincerely, but I promise I’m doing them justice and not letting them go to waste. I turn everything from my pharmacy bags to junk mail to receipts into printmaking papery. Even more than finding workable papers, I enjoy preparing them.
Preparing my printing papers mainly consists of cutting and ripping the different papers into more workable sizes.
I’ll typically wait until I’ve got a decent-sized pile of found papers.
That’s when I’ll turn on an audiobook or Bravo show, sit down at my desk with some of my favorite cutting tools, and get to work.
Ideally, the stack is at a good enough height to where it takes me a good couple of hours to get through them all. I love every second and every slice of the process. By the end, my arthritis does flair up somethin serious but I rarely complain because the mental peace is worth it. These kinds of tasks leave me feeling refreshed every time.
During my last in person visit to my pharmacy (I usually opt for having my meds delivered), I was able to take home a nice-sized stack of their weekly newspaper and monthly magazine.
The next day I went to TOWN ripping them up with the help of my trusty T-square ruler.
Finding joy in some of the repetitive preparation tasks you find yourself having to complete can bring more joy to your creative process and wellness to your mind and body. This is not me saying you need to find happiness in every repetitive task you come across. Some things are just a chore you have to do. But really think about the things you HAVE to do often and how doing them makes you feel.
Do you enjoy the feel of the bristles when you clean your paintbrushes? Do you get lost in the process of conditioning your clay to make it workable? Do you love swatching your digital brushes before diving into a new Procreate masterpiece? This can also extend past traditionally creative things. Maybe for you it’s washing dishes, or putting away groceries the way you want them to be organized, or refurbishing your shoes back to mint condition. What is comforting to you may be considered a necessary evil for the next person, but who cares? This is about you and it’s about finding a rhythm you can rock with.
Find whatever those tasks are for you and find ways to incorporate them into your life more intentionally.
The big things we’re required to do and take care of can often cause us stress. Sometimes it’s the little things that keep us sane. Lean into those little things because they’ll usually be what you have the most control over and what has the potential to bring you the most unexpected joy.