As An Artist I Was Prepared For Covid-19

Artists are the most creative, flexible people I know. Never have I worked so hard in a career. We are constantly learning, changing, practising and perfecting our work.

When the Covid-19 crisis first appeared, I reflected on the idea that the tools I use in my practise were what everyone was searching for as protection against the virus. First it was latex gloves; which I have a box of two hundred that I sometimes remember to wear when using my fingers to paint. Then masks became a hot commodity, which I use for working with pigments and toxic fumes. I have a N95 respirator, but would be afraid to wear it in public. I offered it to my son, a doctor in NY who is on the front line, but he turned me down lest he frighten patients. Shop towels became sold out in home improvement stores as they were recommended as a good material for homemade masks. Of course, those are in my studio already to wipe up paint.

Alcohol and hand cleaner were in great demand, and fortunately I had a bit of both. I use them to dissolve acrylic and make cool effects. The latest art supply in demand is Dur a Lar, or sheets of acetate to make face screens. These I use to make stencils or invisible layers over acrylic.

A Montreal designer approached me to put some of my paintings on clothes, and it's been fun to wear my art. Recently they have switched over to only making masks to protect people during this difficult time.

Now I will be prepared with my new masks made from my art.

If you are searching for gloves, masks, shop towels, or hand sanitizer, and find them hard to come by, ask an artist if they can share with you.

More info: victoriascudamore.com