It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about how you play the game.
~ Grantland Rice
Since we’re in the middle of Snowdown – Life is a lot like a board game. Some days you’re cruising ahead, rolling sixes, and collecting rewards. Other days, you’re stuck, waiting for your next move. But here’s the thing: every step—big or small—matters. Living a creative life means staying in the game, embracing both the challenges and the wins. Every risk, idea, and lesson builds toward something meaningful.
- This week’s artist is – Christian Hook – whose work a friend recently shared with me (They ran across him via Amazon’s Portrait Artist of the Year show). See even more on his website and instagram!
- Doris Lee would have been 120 on Saturday!
- Here’s a comparison of different inks.
- Since 1997, using only Middle Ages tools & technology, a group has been building a medieval castle in a French forest. Here’s a 2 minute video about the project – and a 30 minute one.
- Also in the idea of legacies of the past: Archaeologists Are Finding Dugout Canoes in the American Midwest as Old as the Great Pyramids of Egypt. “Once in a while, though, they’ll find a specimen that shares a timeline with Beowulf, the Phoenician alphabet or even early math.”
- Here’s an absolutely brilliant interactive explainer on everything about the Moon: how it moves, how it formed, what causes tides, solar eclipses, etc.
- If that’s not enough moon stuff, you can explore an incredibly detailed topographical map of the moon here.
- Here’s another collection of pictures – Noah Kalina celebrates 25 years of taking a photo of himself every single day.
- This video looks at the evolution of Bugs Bunny over 80 years.
- The U.S. National Archives Citizen Archivist program is recruiting volunteers to help transcribe thousands of documents in its collection. Records in need of review are categorized into “missions,” like paperwork relating to women in the First World War or submarine patrol reports during the Second World War. It’s easy to get started: just register and select a document to begin transcribing. There’s no application, and you can contribute as much or as little as you’d like. National Parks Service interpretation planner Joanne Blacoe says, “We wanted something that was going to last beyond an anniversary, not just in our own archives but in a place that everybody could access.”
- From the Renaissance to street painting to pastel portraits.
- Trying to make something new in the world of art.
- An unintellectual theory of tastiness in art.
- Why is small art so big right now?
- Video demonstrating color with balloons and a laser.
- Just for fun, today is “National Puzzle Day” – with so much digital entertainment available, today’s a great chance to go back to basics: do a jigsaw, solve a crossword, or work on that dusty Rubik’s Cube! (Plus, of course, it fits with this year’s Snowdown theme.)
- Speaking of puzzles – this is an astonishingly large Rubik’s Cube.
Fun Fact: The famous Venus de Milo sculpture, now in the Louvre, was discovered by a farmer on the Greek island of Milos in 1820 while he was digging for stones.- We’re right in the middle of Snowdown. It runs from through Sunday, February 2. The theme this year is: Snowdown 2025 The Board Game Edition: It’s Your Move.
- 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.
- Need a little spark for your next project? This pack of colorful felt sheets is perfect for everything from DIY game pieces to creative crafts that bring your ideas to life—soft, versatile, and ready for whatever move you make!
So, what’s your next move? Maybe it’s starting that project you’ve been dreaming about or trying something bold and new. Like any great game, creativity thrives on surprises—those twists that make you think differently and grow. Roll the dice, take the leap, and keep playing, because the world needs your art on the board!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – Ready to create every chance you get? After testing hundreds of supplies, we’ve narrowed down what needs to be in our Curiosity Kit. (Sign up here for the chance to preorder.) It’s compact but capable. Need tutorials? We’ll have them for everything in the kit. Only got 10 minutes? You can still make art. We can help!