My ART No-Buy Rules and 2023 Goals! 

I love watching people do a no buy art supplies, especially when they show you each month that they didn’t buy and what they used up. I’m on a no buy art supplies this year too, going well so far.😊

My only art goal this year is to simply have fun with my watercolor. At 68, I have to get stress out of my life. It's time to relax & play. 💖 Yes, unfortunately the sizing on watercolor paper does go bad. I still have some several years old. However if I can't use it for watercolor anymore, its still great for oil or wax based color pencil, watercolor pencils or gouache. So your old paper will not be wasted. But if you need fresh watercolor paper, you just NEED it! Lol.

I thought I commented here already but I’m not sure I pressed send! Anyway, I’m proud of you going on a no-buy! It’s so hard with a RU-vid channel because you want to get new supplies and share it on the channel, but then of course we already have so many supplies to use😂 here’s to 2023 on RU-vid!🎉

Hi Miranda, You have some great goals. I am doing an Amazon no buy until my Amazon credit card is paid off. That does not mean I can buy art supplies elsewhere. I have a lot of art supplies so I really don't need any more. As for your other goals, they are good. I need to eat less, but it is difficult for me.

I need to keep up with Skillshare better, too, and yes not automatically renew it this year. I’m on a light-buy with all things, including art stuff.

Some watercolor supplies do go bad. My frisket dried all up, entire bottle. Also cheap watercolors get brown and loose their color super quickly after many years. I have some reeves tubes that are around 18 years and if I use them the paint turns out dull and brown after a few days. It looses it's color very quickly. Acrylics also have around 15-20 years shelf line well some brands. Yay for no buy! So exciting.

I'm also trying a No-Buy, at least for the 1st Qtr of the year and I'll see if I can continue after that. Small steps first haha. I'm actually editing my art goals video right now where I talk about my no-buy that I'm posting on Sat. I totally understand when you say running your YT channel is like a full-time job. I also work full-time so it's a lot haha but even when I burn out or take breaks I always came back to it because I love it 🙃

I enjoy watching RU-vid videos but I completely understand if there is a break in the schedule due to a vacation or trip. Especially if you are going to be getting much needed rest. It’s about time we fought against the algorithm as a whole and stop letting it punish our favorite artists for taking a break 😢

After watching your videos, I got the Miya palette myself! My favorite thing about it is the matte white that doesn't cause my paint to bead. I got it inspired by your use it up videos, and now I have something to use freely in my sketchbooks.

Yes, a good idea. I have a similar problem. I have loads of stuff that i haven't touched. I am going to do that too. No buy until finished! Maybe a paint brush. I use them a lot. But nothing else until finished!!!! Prey for me.

I have some art goals I want to implement to help me improve this year ~ painting daily and doing a sketch and value study first. I want to plan and sketch to help with the end watercolor result. I will never do a no spend. If something came out new or if I realized I really wanted something I don’t want to be restricted from getting it. With that being said though, I am not someone who just frivolously buys whatever they want. I am very selective about my purchases and I only buy high quality supplies. I feel that if I’m going to put the work and time into painting, I want to use the best supplies to get the best results that last a very long time. My supplies are professional and my paper is 100% cotton (except my practice paper.) I’m going to intentionally try to paint much more often (daily if I feel well enough). Painting gives me so much joy! It really is therapy for me. 😊 Thank you for this video Miranda!

I think these goals are 100% attainable Miranda... and you have us cheering you while you create more Art using what you have. So far I have not purchased any paint this month and I'm hoping to keep it that way. I do plan on buying paper but other than that, I honestly have a good amount of paint that I've never used and I noticed I've created a bit more with what I have in just 2 weeks. You can do it!

Hahahaha I would LOVE to get ahead on videos!! I'm not sure how that's going to happen unless I take days off just for that. I just bought a few domestika courses, and I'm excited about those! I should do a video on my 2023 goals, just so I have something official to look back on at the end of the year. Also MIRANDA WATSON how dare you release an art supply advent calendar in a year when I'm doing a no buy!! 🧐

I hadn’t really thought of listing exceptions for my no-buy…but tape and masking fluid are a good idea! Since I’m allowing myself to use gift cards (local art store) that I received for Christmas/birthday, my year is probably more of a “low buy”. I did use gift card funds already this year when I saw that Etchr sketchbooks were on sale and I wanted a size I don’t have for a gouache class I signed up for. Definitely will NOT be buying any watercolour paint, even if I do have gift cards. I have so much paint to use! Possibly will need to buy gouache, but again, will use gift cards. Lovely goals for the year… good luck with your big projects and your personal goals!

I did a no buy a few years ago and found that I needed nothing except card stock for a year and a half! Good luck to you Miranda

The inventory of all yout art supplies is a very good way to discourage you to buy new things. I like the idea of painting in a big canvas. See you later. Have a great week.

I think No Buys definitely need a few caveats, in that if there are things that are required for specific projects then of course we need to get those! But I am with you in avoiding buying things that aren't necessary. Michael Harding watercolours are the exception to that for me as well (and your kitty colouring book!), lol. Best of luck with your plans and upcoming projects. My schedule is a mess right now and I couldn't get ahead with two videos a week either, One a week doesn't seem to be progressing much right now....I've been so slack this month! 😂

I really liked your shirt! Just wanted to let you know I like your goals for the year.

I’m on a no buy art supplies year, but already failed 😳 So, given my lack of self control, I have unsubscribed from all the various art shops I use here in the UK. Wish me luck? I’m going to need it!

Great goals! I am not that organized....but I am still going for a low/no spend - art stuff and beyond. I will hope to make an exception for your goodies when they are released :)

I'm getting to that point but buying supplies is so addictive 😀😬

Thank you for saying you are doing a No Buy for art supplies in 2023. I too have way too many art supplies and like a dog with a squirrel, I get distracted with new art supplies that are offered. Hope that I can be strong and stick to this. I'm just starting this today because I bought oil pastels and will be working with these. But THAT"S IT!

Wow, great goals!! Hard goals!! I hope you were able to meet them :)

I so enjoy your videos, and I think these are really good goals to have! (I'm copying the skillshare one... need to use it more!) This year I'd like to learn watercolor better, and how to better draw or paint from a reference. And I'd like to put something up for sale in one form or another, even if it's just a sticker or two...

I like your goals list. Seems reasonable and achievable. I just finished up my 2023 goal list last night. I kept it short and simple (I like the Ryder Carroll mentality on goals, they are the lighthouses to guide you on your path, not always the end destination) So mine are 1. make bad art (step outside comfort zones and try new things) 2. Create everyday (make time and space in my life for art) 3. more figure studies (reinforce the basics) 4. no buy (and track inventory). I'll be honest, your miya palette challenge is what prompted my 'no for real this time' no buy year. I realized how long it was taking you to use that palette, that I would never get through the stuff I was buying. And that's just a waste. So I actively stopped buying similar items last year, I have an almost complete water color palette, darn near every color I could want, so I stopped buying new watercolors. (though I did get an oxide black for my birthday, I'm going to have so much fun making granulating mixes) I've made myself use the sketchbooks I have on the shelf instead of buying new (I've found using a sketchbook I don't like to be so freeing, I feel no fear about making 'ugly art' when I'm already just trying use it up). I'm about 3/4 through my inventory for no buy, oh my goodness I have so much stuff. You don't really see it I guess until it's all out in front of you on pages of lists.

Thank you for sharing your goals with us. I'm not in a no buy year, but I'm trying to use all my art supplies, and this is pushing me to buy much less 😅 so maybe I'm in a no/low buy and I don't even know😂

my parents were insane and got me arches to learn watercolor on (i never realized how expensive the paper was until WAY after) and I still have a ton of full size sheets from 20 years ago that are still fine. IDK if the sizing is doing anything weird but it's not affecting any of my art so I don't care lol.

Hi Miranda ! This was a great video to watch , especially with your personal touch. I would like to tell you mine. This year i want work on commissions . Already working on an A2 size commission art with sennelier gouache . The couple wanted it in a vintage Bollywood (India) movie poster type . It's so fun to do that. 2. I want to "show up" on my sketchbook everyday . Even if it's a 10 min doodle . I've sepearted a drawing sketchbook for that. I get a long lunch break during work. So using that slot of time while sipping coffee ☺️ and munching 3. Last year i had a great creative journey with art. So this year i want to explore and push myself more. I recently did a few monochromatic animal watercolour portraits on A3 sized paper. 4. I want to try brush pens , markers, microns and other dry mediums for good sketching. As I only play with wet mediums. 5. I wanna finish atleast one art supply this year. Let it be a sketchbook or the watercolour papers . I've a lot of it so I'm not sure though. 6. I wish to create something with my friend . It's been so long. 7. I want draw things which I've never drawn before. Today I sketched a girl sky diving. It was so randomly selected by my friend. 8. Though I have some art supplies to buy this year , still i loved your idea about no buy . So I'm gonna buy only those with which I can create final pieces . 9. Lastly , i want to make some paintings to gift my family and friends ..

Love your goals. My goal is to just do more art. As a beginner I sometimes get insecure about my art, but thevonly way to improve is to do more, right? 😁 I'm afraid I don't have the willpower for a no buy!

I'm glad to see many artist goals include being healthy. Good luck with your goals 🌺 I'm doing a no buy only until April, that's when my twins will turn one year old and I deserve to buy something for myself because it has been a Crazy year 😅 But I'm hoping to go through my cotman watercolor set and using my watercolor paper before they go bad

Oh my goodness Jack is getting soo big! I think your goals are definitely attainable and it's good to set goals. Have a great day

I think your goals are great, and I think they’re attainable too. I’m doing an art supply no buy this year too, I allowed myself one last purchase for my birthday last week and that’s it. My only exclusions are if I get a gift from someone or a gift card, otherwise, I won’t buy any other supplies. I can’t wait to see your progress on your various supplies. Especially the little Himi Miya palette!

oh this was so fun to watch! no buying new watercolours was one of my rules last year as well. we all definitely don't need more watercolours haha ;P i love that you included eating/exercise goals. i'm aiming for daily exercise as well but i'd be happy with just 4-5 times a week. looking forward to following along your journey~ :D

oh i should make some rules lol, this is a good idea🙂

I like your approach to your goals, Miranda, and I'm looking forward to see how the kitty colouring book and the advent calendar work out! I think you may find that there are other little sundries you'll run out of, as well as tape and masking fluid, though. W&N masking fluid: store the bottle upside down to keep it from gumming up, and when you open the bottle, decant some into a small (about 20ml) screw top bottle for 'everyday use, and again, store that, and the bigger bottle upside down. It's oxygen starvation which prevents the gum from setting, and this way, the contents will last for years. Oh, and using it, do you use a pointed silicone tip tool (among other names, aka colour shaper)? Also a technical drawing pen (those that have the oddly shaped, two-pronged 'nibs') work like a dream for smaller areas (except the smallest sizes, but if you're buying a mixed pack, those small sizes work for paint!). I really praise you for your decision on eating! I'll admit that I've been losing weight slowly (not deliberately) since last May. Part of that almost certainly has been because I've been able to walk once a week! Can't do more yet, but working on it (a 2023 health goal)! For the last three months, as I've been making good progress health-wise, I've been aiming at a specific target, while still eating pretty much the same. As of now (17.01.23) it's to lose about 2kgs more (about 4.5lbs), and then I will *need* to make sure that I eat enough! That's going to be difficult, as I've been eating sensibly anyway, and will need to do a calorie count, I think, to work out what I have been eating and add a little to it... So I guess we'll be encouraging each other in the eating / exercise department? Art goals? I can't do better than to repeat what I wrote on Maggie's goals thread: "I think the big one remains - to get outside and get paint on paper. It's the only way I'm going to regain my confidence, because I'm not really motivated by indoor work, unless I'm prepping or teaching a lesson (which I love, btw... ). And I love being out of doors, drawing and painting what is there to be drawn and painted (that's sort-of everything!). So, thanks for making me put that thought 'out there'! 😊 " I might be doing quite a big creative project for church in the near future, and if so, I'm going to set a specific, realistic timeline for it, as I still intend to make my day-out-to paint target! Oh, and yes, I'm still on a 'replacement only low-buy'. Budget restraints are a big part of that, and some (not all!) of the things that I get "I want" thoughts for, when I stop to think, I realise that I might play with them a few times, but would I really use them at this point? And usually the answer's no! 🙃😄

These are great goals!! I really want to trim down on spending money buying art supplies (which is one of my goals). This month I had gift cards I wanted to use while there were sales. 😅 Anyhow, thank you for sharing! I feel inspired!!

These are great goals! Good luck! I think having fewer supplies makes me more creative, but I'm not quite ready to do a year long no buy

It is hard not to buy buy buy. I'm thinking of actually giving away or selling some of my supplies. I'm getting to where it's staring to bother me to have too many things that I don't use, taking up precious room.

No buy here also. Good luck to you and how you want to do things! I appreciate your videos. Jack’s coloring is getting darker. Funny how he goes to the kitty then looks up to you, like see what I’m doing, this is good, right?😊 My Aussie does that too. 🙂

For me the no- buy thing ended yesterday... Thanks to Schminckes new Urban super granulating set and YInTiCo red😂.

I had the Jane Blundell Roman Szmal watercolor palette on my wish list, but last December I acquired Jackman’s (not Jackson’s) watercolors and now I have no desire to make any watercolor purchases in 2023 unless I do not own the pigment. I have more than enough to last a while plus I do not want the same pigment from different brands, which can happen when buying curated sets from different brands. I can buy a pigment if I don’t have it already (but it must be usable not just for collecting purposes), watercolor paper, sketchbooks, masking/washi tape, masking fluid etc when I’ve run out. I’m not a saint since now I have the Derwent Lightfast coloring pencils at the top of my wishlist 😅. Good luck on your no buy and plans for 2023! 🎉

Other people’s negative opinions on your goals frankly don’t matter. You’re not making them for others but just for yourself. I think at least a couple of people I use to watch have left RU-vid because of other people’s negative opinions that they seem to want to express in rather unnecessary nasty ways. Personally I don’t care what people do, buy or no buy, or whatever else they choose to do. It’s their money, time and their life. I watch or I don’t but I’m not leaving a nasty opinion just to make them feel bad. Any time someone does that I think it means they are the ones with the issues, huge issues, and not the person they are doing it to.

Welcome to the no buy. Im on a no buy for 2023 chiefly due to the hurricane that destroyed my home. I did my own art advent calendar for 2022 and another 2023. for my video i have a book full of ideas, research and outline for all the video i do. Maybe these hint can help

Good! Please help me be likewise strong!

Hi Miranda. Good luck with your goals. It's not going to be easy! You're brave!!Your dog is an Australian Blue Heeler? I'm just wondering why his tail is docked? Not something we do to them down here... x Nell.

Wow! Your goals sound wildly ambitious for someone who's also just lost someone important and also flipping a house. I'm giving you permission right now not to feel bad if you don't accomplish them all. Now do tell - what moved you to buy those huge canvases? I also want to go big!!