My Rules for Walking Into an Art Store (Anywhere in the World)

People assume artists must be practical when entering an art store.

Surely we have systems.

A budget.
A shopping list.
A timeline.
A sensible plan.
A promise not to buy another shade of turquoise.

I hate to disappoint you… but I have none of those things.

I Have No Rules

Whether I’m stepping into an art store in Japan, wandering through one in Vietnam,
or browsing shelves in Melbourne or Sydney… I become instantly curious.

Every time.

There’s something magical about art stores.

They hold possibility.
They hold future projects.
They hold colour combinations you hadn’t thought of.
They hold inspiration you didn’t know you needed.

It’s Never Just Shopping

For creative people, an art store can feel like a playground.

You don’t just see brushes.
You imagine what they could create.

You don’t just see paint.
You see sunsets, florals, birds, oceans, bold backgrounds, and happy accidents.

You don’t just buy supplies.
You buy momentum.

Maybe Creativity Needs Less Rules

So many women think they need to be organised, talented, or fully ready before starting art.

But creativity rarely begins with perfection.

It begins with curiosity.

Sometimes it begins with wandering through an art store and picking up one little thing that says…
let’s play.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t need rules to begin.
You don’t need permission.
You don’t need to be “an artist.”

Sometimes you simply need to follow the spark.

And if that spark happens in an art store… trust it.