Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.
~ Mark Black
“Dead week” is that strange no-man’s land between Christmas and New Year’s Eve—a lull in the calendar where the usual rush of life takes a breather. For many, it’s a time to unwind. Expectations soften, obligations fade, and there’s a collective permission to let things slide. It’s the perfect chance to rest, recover, and recharge after the whirlwind of the holidays.
- This week’s artist is – Nancy Byes – a Durango artist. See even more on her website!
- Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée would have been 300 on Monday!
- Yo-Yo Ma played the prelude to Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major at the reopening of the Notre Dame in Paris.
- The whereabouts of one of Vincent van Gogh’s most important works, a 1890 painting called “Portrait of Dr. Gachet”, is unknown and the painting has not been seen publicly since the 1990s. This investigation into the potential location of the painting is an engrossing read as well as a good opportunity to appreciate van Gogh’s piece. (Here’s a documentary about it.)
- Here are a couple of videos of vintage Star Wars posters being mended and refreshed.
- Those posters led to this restoration of an antique photograph – it was fun to watch since we sometimes work with these convex, oval photos (though not in a restoration capacity).
- This is a 20 minute video about carving the letter “I” in stone. You can tell how deep he’s carving by the volume of the hammering.
- The rectangular cows of Art UK.
- Here’s a timelapse going from pinecone to pine tree – 653 days in 110 seconds.
- The Holytopic Occlupanid Research Group.
- T’is the season for the Muppets Carol of the Bells.
- Could you survive a nanosecond on the Sun?
- Just for fun, today is “National Pumpkin Pie Day“
Fun Fact: Caravaggio often used live models for his religious paintings, sometimes pulling people off the street to pose for his biblical scenes.- Christmas tree drop-off and recycling runs through Jan 31. Drop off at Santa Rita Park. Residents may drop off natural trees free of ornaments, tinsel, bases, and metal screws and nails at the drop-off site near the large playground area in Santa Rita Park. There will be signage posted to help direct residents to the right area. The trees will be recycled into mulch available to the public at Greenmount Cemetery early next spring.
- 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’ve been adding to our clearance section. It’s just as you come in the door, behind the spray can rack. There’s a smorgasbord of options to peruse – swing by to see what goodies you can find!
But there’s another way to think about this time. While it’s great to eat, drink, and be merry, sometimes the urge to dive back into creative work starts calling—and that’s worth listening to. Beth Pickens, an art coach, puts it beautifully: if you’re an artist and you don’t practice your art, you suffer. Self-care doesn’t always mean slowing down; sometimes, it means honoring the things that give life purpose and joy.
This season, consider carving out a little space for a “holiday practice”—a low-pressure way to stay connected to what you love. Maybe that’s sketching for fun, journaling a few thoughts, or tinkering with a long-ignored project. It doesn’t have to be perfect or polished, just yours. This isn’t about adding another item to the to-do list—it’s about nurturing the creative spark that keeps you going.. After all, the world needs your art!
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!
P.P.S. – We’re closed today but will be back to our regular hours tomorrow. Next week, we’ll be open till mid-afternoon on Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) and then closed on Wednesday (New Year’s Day).