Spill the nk Finding cheaper alternatives to trendy stationery in a product-packed world
S
crolling through endless posts of journaling spreads with “It is unnecessary to buy so many things and have them sitting flawless lighting and perfect handwriting, finding creators around.” that aren’t using mainstream stationery is almost impossiHowever, much of the fun behind journaling as an art form is ble. With the repeated display of select pens, markers and washi in finding new supplies to use to enhance creative spread ideas. tapes from pricey stationery brands—including Zebra, Tombow Yau suggests artists find a balance between buying products to and Sarasa—wanting to buy those same supplies is often an in- align with trends and using products that actually enhance their evitable feeling. However, despite the exclusive promotion of creativity. specific products appearing to be harmless, the effects of statio“It is important to buy with a purpose,” Yau said. “If you nery consumerism last long after are going to buy something, you the ink has dried. should make sure you have a Paly junior Hannah Yau need for it, otherwise it can get was inspired to start journalout of control.” ing because of its presence on Another way to limit imher social media feeds. “I have pulse purchases is finding dif“It is important to buy seen people on YouTube and ferent ways to use supplies you with a purpose. If you Instagram with journaling acalready own, such as blending counts, and one [influencer] is inks from water-based markers are going to buy someAmanda Rach Lee,” Yau said. to create a new color or recy“I saw her videos and I thought cling scraps of paper. thing, you should make I might try bullet journaling, Like Yau, Christy Du, a Paly so I ended up joining the bulsophomore and artist, watched sure you have a need for let journaling club [at Paly] in YouTubers to get an idea of sophomore year.” In February what equipment to use when it, otherwise it can get of 2020, Yau combined her she first started making her art. love for Korean-pop music with The videos compared the qualout of control.” her newfound hobby of bullet ity of cheaper materials com-Hannah Yau journaling and started a K-pop pared to their more expensive journaling Instagram account. counterparts. After a few years The impact of social media of testing out products herself, has influenced Yau’s journaling Du found she prefers Muji pens experience beyond motivating her start but also the stationery over other brands because of their quality. products she utilizes. “As I have seen people journal on Insta“If you buy one Muji pen, then you can use it for five years, gram, I noticed that I will see stickers or some kind of stationery but if you buy a cheaper pen, it doesn’t last as long,” Du said. that other people will use and I think ‘maybe I should go buy High quality products can certainly enable artists to create that so I can use it,’” Yau said. beautiful art pieces, but ultimately creating art comes from the Being constantly bombarded with new products often makes artist’s passion and the technique they channel into their work artists feel obligated to conform their art to standards that are and not the price tag of a product. constructed in our consumerist society rather than allowing Letting your art control what supplies you use and not vice their art to remain unique to their own style. To mitigate this versa is how journalers and artists can keep their work unique tendency, Yau suggests journalers remind themselves of the cre- amongst an online community that is steadily growing. “It is ative ways they can use the supplies they already own. “There tough [when there is] pressure to buy all the stationery products seems to be so many things [influencers] do not use, which is that you see,” Yau said. “But you can still create, and you can one reason why I do not have much [stationery],” Yau said. still journal with limited supplies—with whatever you have.”
12
