Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
~ Robert Collier
Many of us have big dreams. We want to be artists, authors, or musicians. But dreaming is only the first step. To be a painter, you need to paint every day. To be a writer, you need to write every day. James Clear, who writes about good habits, says that to reach our goals, we need to focus on our daily actions. If you want to be a writer, become the kind of person who writes 1,000 words every day. This way, you build your identity around what you do regularly.
- This week’s artist is – Carl Brenders – whose work I ran across previously when reading about different rendering techniques. For even more, check out his website!
- Jean Dubuffet would have been 123 today!
- 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.
- Are you a late bloomer?
- Here are 6 things you can do to protect your artwork and your workspace. The article specifically mentions calligraphy, but the advice applies to many of our creative pursuits.
- Advice for an artist just starting out:”I would tell beginning artists to find subject matter that interests them and create the work they would like to see created.” Sarah Creasman
- A short video clip as a reminder that creation > criticism. Anton Ego finale from Ratatouille.
- It’s been a couple of years, but we framed a TV to be a digital photo frame. This would be phenomenal to do for Movie Posters Perfected. “A live, cloud-based library of over 3,500 curated movie posters you can steam to your digital display.”
- The James Webb Space Telescope recently captured the Horsehead Nebula in “unprecedented detail.“
- We’ve been imaging exoplanets for such a long time that scientists have made time lapse movies of their motion around their stars. This one covers a time period of 17 years (2003-2020). Beta Pictoris is 63.4 light-years away.
- Fun little browser game: What Beats Rock?
- Where do bad rainbows go? To prism. It’s a light sentence, but it gives them time to reflect.
Fun Fact: The first art school to admit female students was the Academia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Florence, Italy, during the 16th century.- Tonight, from 5-8 is the Animas City Night Bazaar in Animas Alley. Art! Community-building! Performances! Live Music! Games! Contests! Fun for all ages!
- The Durango Botanic Gardens annual bulb sale starts today. Head to their website to participate.
- Concert Hall @ The Park presents Jessee Lee – 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.
- This Friday will be the first such day of August – which means the galleries, businesses, and spaces in between host artists of all kinds. Find live music, original performances, featured artists showcases, and artisan pop-up markets downtown and across town. Learn more about First Fridays here.
- The Edgemont Artisan Market is happening this Sunday at the Meadow Market (688 Edgemont Meadows Road). Featuring local vendors showcasing their unique handmade goods and Revival Goods carrying fair trade global handmade products.
- 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.
- We went to the trade show specifically looking for a few things. One of those was an option for individual pastel pencils. These CarbOthello’s caught our eye. We love the sets and the option for individuals was just too exciting to pass up. So… 50 different colors are now available at your fingertips. Come by and see them for yourself!
Jay Clouse, another writer, shared that he wants to be known as an author, but he realized he wasn’t writing enough to make that happen. This shows that to become what we dream of, we need to work at it consistently. The next time you think about who you want to be, ask yourself if you are doing the actions needed. Are you painting, writing, or playing music every day? By doing the verb, you become the noun. The world needs your art, and it starts with what you do each day!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew