Scrap Paper- Keep or Toss?
I heard a podcast where one of the hosts had a solution for the scrap problem. She would throw them all into a plastic kid’s wading pool and, when she wanted paper, she’d dive in. Was that wishful thinking (because who has space for a pool in their studio?) or reality?
Paper organization for most artists is a struggle with no solution. We all have our systems and sort by color, type, or size. We store these papers in plastic bags, flat files, archival boxes, rolled into baskets, file folders, and plastic containers. We mostly remember to sort our new papers into these categories, but a stack/box/bag usually needs to be sorted. Today, I will ignore that “good paper” and focus only on the scraps.
Imagine this common scenario. A piece has been completed and you’ve decided (for once) to tidy up before looking for another cup of coffee. This way, your studio will be clean and ready when you start something new.
On your table is a pile of papers that once were the “good papers.” You took them out as possibilities and either pushed them aside or partially used some of the pieces.
Which of the following do you do:
Carefully take out all the unused pieces and file them back where they started
Carefully take out all the unused pieces and stack them in a pile to someday file them back where they started
Give up and leave the entire mess for tomorrow
Take out your scrap bin and swipe everything inside, put the cover on, and shove it back onto a shelf with the three (or seven) other scrap bins
Take out the small bits that you don’t like and put them into the trash
Get caught up looking at all the little pieces that are too nice to throw out and put them together in a special box with other little pieces
Feel inspired, ignore the coffee, and start working only with the scraps
All of the above plus other unique sorting techniques having to do with color/shape/size/quality of paper that leaves you with stacks of ziplock bags (but at least they are sorted)
Put them all in a mailing envelope and ship them to another artist friend as a gift (let them deal with the mess)
There’s no right answer.
No solution.
The wading pool option honestly sounds better and better.
Last week, I faced down my studio table, determined to deal with the mess. I sorted out the good stuff and mostly got them back where they belonged. There were one or two that were the only examples of a certain color of paper and I didn’t feel like taking out every single file folder, so I just shoved them into a close enough/good enough category. The small scraps that weren’t at all pretty went into the trash, leaving me with a manageable pile.
I didn’t shove them into one of the three plastic containers that hold my scraps. I instead set myself a challenge to use them all right then and there. I ended up with three nice collages. I cheated once or twice and snagged a bonus paper from a scrap bin, but otherwise, I stuck to my goal.
