Good Enough for Good Materials?

I was raised to be very careful with money. I don’t want to waste anything. But as a consequence, I can be too chintzy with my materials.  Some artists create wonderful works of lavish abundance.  I love their work because it is something I am not able to do.  I have bought special expensive materials, such as hand dyed French silk ribbon. But, I have felt no project of mine was ever good enough to use it on. I have temperately tied it around a hat.  But, I didn’t cut it to just the right length or attach it permanently, because I might want it for a better project later. In fact, I have a whole stash of supplies I am saving to use “when I’m good enough”.
 
  So, why aren’t I good enough to use expensive materials?  I think it goes back to my parents message that "only a very few people in the world are gifted enough to be professional artists". According to my parents, only a select few artistic geniuses were good enough to major in art in college. And to my parents, I wasn't one. And so the message that plays in the back of my mind is, “Because your parents didn't think you were good enough to major in art, you aren’t talented enough to spend real money on your art."

Maybe that is one reason I love telemark rosemaling. It is so lavish and lush in its curves.  The lavish free flowing scrolls are decorated with teardrops and tendrils in excess.

Now, I know that my parents message is not correct.  There are many professional successful artists with the same amount of talent as I. And now I realize no matter how talented I was, my parents never would have approved of my majoring in art.