Endless curiosity, observation, and a great amount of joy in the thing.
~ George Grosz
In our society, especially when it comes to hobbies like creating, we often highlight success and overlook the importance of failure. Yet, failure is crucial to our growth. Just like Thomas Edison, who found countless ways that didn’t work before inventing the light bulb, every failed creation brings us closer to a better one.
- This week’s artist is – Jan Wright – a local watercolor artist from Mancos. She currently has an exhibit up at Fencline Cidery in downtown Mancos. You can see her watercolors of ‘Mancos Valley Magic‘ until September 12. The art reception is this Friday from 4-6. For even more, check out her website!
- Joaquín Torres-García would have been 150 on Sunday!
- Durango Open Studio Tour artist registration is open! Deadline is August 8, 2024. Click here to learn more & register.
- Studio & Gallery announced an opportunity for regional and national artists. They are seeking submissions for a Juried Exhibition with the theme “ON THE DAILY: Coffee & Tea”, asking artists to explore the interpretations on this theme and submit up to four pieces for consideration. This exhibit is open to all artists working in any traditional or contemporary media. Here’s the prospectus. Deadline to apply: August 23.
- Four Corners Writing will select ten (10) works of short fiction, ten (10) works of nonfiction, and twenty (20) poems for publication in the anthology, both in trade paperback and e-book. The anthology editors for 2024 are Chuck Greaves (Fiction), Mark Stevens (Nonfiction), and Lisa C. Taylor (Poetry.) Please read the following guidelines carefully before submitting your work for consideration: They are currently accepting submissions, with a submission deadline of September 1, 2024, after which no further submissions will be considered. Early submission is both encouraged and appreciated. All submissions must be in Word (.doc or .docx) format, double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font. Please include a brief (two or three sentence) bio in italics at the end of your submission. Submit your work as an email attachment to: fourcornerswriters@gmail.com, and please indicate either “Fiction,” “Nonfiction,” or “Poetry” in the subject line.
- Here are 10 tips for better brushstrokes.
- Maripedia is an online database of hundreds of print patterns that Marimekko has used in their products since the 1940s. You can browse by decade, designer, or style…or you can search by image. That’s right, just upload an image of the pattern on your pillowcase or dress and it’ll tell you who designed it and when.
- The winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition for 2024. “Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions, as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear witness.”
- Local artist Suzie Grimm donated a bas relief to the Music in the Mountains auction. It has a tuxedo, blue jean, hiking boot clad maestro directing an orchestra of birds, wolves, marmots, an elk, a rattlesnake, a snowshoe hare and a pica. You can see it here on the auction site and learn more about how she made it here.
- This is a simple guide to different oil painting mediums.
- Here’s a free video lesson on how to paint believable pastel birds.
- Recently rewatched “What’s Opera, Doc?“, a 6 minute piece. As a parent, I continue to be surprised at the references that I understand, and wonder what they’re going to pick up. After all, I seem to have learned the opera from Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
- The Paris Musées website has released a trove of over 100,000 high-resolution images online. Since they’re in the public domain, you can download the large files and look at the details.
- How much does a rainbow weigh? Not much, it’s pretty light.
Fun Fact: Pablo Picasso could draw before he could walk. His first word was “pencil,” and he was a proficient artist by the age of 7.- Concert Hall @ The Park presents Beatlegras – Thursday at 5:30 in Buckley Park. Picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs are encouraged and Fired Up Pizzeria and Grassburger will offer a selection of food and beverages throughout the evening.
- Durango’s 89th Fiesta Days is happening! More info on their facebook page.
- Durango Botanic Gardens preview on Bulb Sale starts today. Their 13th annual Bulb Sale will once again be conducted online. 55 types of bulbs will be available to order. To preview go to their website. You will find pictures and descriptions of all the available bulbs to help you plan your garden. The online store will be open August 1 – 14.
- Join the ELHI Community Center during the Ignacio Fiesta Days weekend for a kick-off to the summer Olympics celebration featuring family friendly activities including a bounce house, and Olympic style games, cotton candy and ice cream, and a craft fair/farmers market. Vendor spaces are available for $20, admission to the event is free. Saturday from 10-3 at the ELHI Community Center in Ignacio.
- The Slow Bluegrass Jam is still happening on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 at the General Palmer. If you know a beginner/intermediate acoustic music player looking to play more – this weekly jam is welcoming to all players, with a focus on slower tempo improvisation solos and chord changes. If they can play the I, IV and V cords in G, D and A then they know enough to play at this jam!
- Like board games? Head to Lola’s Place Sunday from 2-5:30 when Guild House Games brings loads of board games for your pleasure! Compete in your favorite game or try a new one.
- It’s the time of year when there are lots of live music events, open mics, live jam sessions, etc, scattered about the area throughout the week. There are too many to list here, so if you’re looking for such things, head over to WhatsHappeningDurango.com.
- There are classes/workshops/projects available at the 4 Corners Gem and Mineral Club, the Bayfield Library, Create Art and Tea, the Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts, Durango Sustainable Goods, Let’s Letter Together, the MakerLab, Picasso & Vino, the Scrapbook Nook, Seed Studio, and the Durango Arts Center. There are a lot more things happening that I don’t include – so if you’re ever looking for something to do, start at WhatsHappeningDurango.com.
- At the trade show, the different lines of palette knives caught our eyes. The metal ones caught us first and make a nice change in our stash. The black knives see to be more flexible in our tests so far. Upon initial feel, the black knives also seem to have a smoother handle… Either way, we can gush about all of these, or you can swing by the store and see for yourself.
The journey to improvement is paved with numerous attempts. Embrace your dissatisfaction with your work; it’s a sign that you’re growing. Remember, creating is a lifelong adventure. We learn every day, and each challenge pushes us to the next level. Don’t apologize for your creations. Embrace your failures as learning moments and keep working on what needs improvement. You’ve got this! No matter where you are along your creative journey, the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew