I found a way to deal with the ever increasing amount of drawings that clutter my studio. I made a pile of drawings I don't want to keep and, one at a time, I tore the sheets in half using a straight edge. Then I turned the used side down and stacked them to make a neat, compact pile of sketching paper.
By tearing the old drawings in half, I've committed to disposing of them, and when I encounter them again, I know they are scraps. It's a great way to move forward, recognizing that their value is in what I've learned. And it's nice to work out ideas on a piece of paper that is no longer pristine. It's a little less daunting; it feels like it's already been broken in with creativity.
On Tuesday nights, I've been grabbing a handful of these scrap papers to take with me to a local figure drawing session. Now, when I've used the blank side for a study or sketch, I can decide whether to keep it or finally throw the paper away. If I do keep it, it's fun to think that someday, someone might ponder what's left of the old drawing on the verso. It's reminiscent of a time when drawing paper was more valuable.
