From bandages to brushes
The Soviet Medic Art Bag
Do you ever talk yourself in and out of an expensive purchase, it’s like emotional ping-pong isn’t it? and so exhausting. I’d been eyeing up the “writers kit” bags on Etsy but the price is more than I would usually spend on a bag. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve almost clicked on the order button only to close the tab down in order to find another solution - and the other day I thought I found it.
I’ve been looking for something that’s smaller than my usual dutiful rucksack that carries my diary, laptop, chargers, sketchbook and art materials but it’s very heavy. I need something that I can grab on the go for just the job of sketching whilst I’m out and about. Aaaand …. I’m about to accelerate my observational sketching with an exciting opportunity which I’ll tell you more about in another newsletter but meanwhile I’ve been practising. The photo below was at The Rosado Lounge, I was first in that morning and started to sketch the painting on the wall that reminds me of my Grandma, when an unsuspecting chap sat at that table. I suddenly worried he’d think I was strange for looking in his direction so often, so I said “excuse me I’m just drawing that picture do you mind if I make you part of the scene?”, thankfully he didn’t mind and it actually made for a more interesting observational sketch.
Anyway back to the bag - it arrived all the way from Bulgaria today, and it’s turns out it’s a vintage USSR Soviet Russian Military ARMY Medic FIRST AID Bag, in its previous life it would have crepe bandages, plasters, gauze, iodine and other Soviet-era health goodies! Now, it’s a sad little relic with brittle fastenings, half a strap, stains, and dirty—a real fixer-upper. I always love repurposing and refurbishing and I especially love the idea that a first aid kit is now full of art materials - which we know always make you feel better!
Timpsons helped me create new fastenings from an old belt and after a good clean and a green shoe polish it’s looking so much smarter. It’s a touch smaller than the ideal size and that means there’s gonna be a limitation on the size of sketchbook and amount of art materials I take out - but that restriction might turn out to be a good thing. Restrictions help narrow down the infinite possibilities in art creation.
Thanks for being here
❤️
Sam x