The art of resting is a part of the art of working.
~ John Steinbeck
This quote was shared with me and I thought it was worth passing along:
My dad likes to call the stretches of time where you’re not creating ‘dreaming periods’ and says that they’re meant to allow you to absorb all of the beauty, life, and inspiration from the things around you so that when you’re able to create again, you will have fanned your spark back into a flame. Sometimes it’s hard to see those moments as anything but stagnation, but he always says that they’re natural and healthy and needed – things that should be embraced rather than feared.
- This week’s artist is – Niall Staines – an Artist and “pixel pusher” from Ireland. He created these slightly surreal scenes by pulling a 1-px slice to the edge of his images. See even more on his website and instagram!
- Emmanuel Frémiet would have had his 200th birthday on Friday!
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries: Japanese illustrated books digital collections.
- The art of deliberate imperfection.
- Here are one artist’s thoughts on the versatility and workability of acrylics.
- An overview of differences between watercolor and gouache.
- Photos of the oldest forest in the world (385-million years – in Cairo, New York).
- You’ll soon be able to watch your local PBS station & PBS Kids through Amazon Prime. There will also be a dedicated Reading Rainbow channel. All free – no Prime membership needed.
- Why did the art supplies start a band? They knew how to draw a crowd!
Fun Fact: Salvador Dalí’s famous mustache was inspired by Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, and Dalí claimed it helped him “seize fate by the whiskers.”- TBK Bank partnered up with Housing Solutions for the Southwest and adopted 15 families in need to make their holidays a bit brighter. Stop by any TBK Bank branch location in Durango or Bayfield November 29th through December 13th to adopt an angel(s). No gift is too small and any donation is greatly appreciated!
- Head to the Durango Public Library tonight from 6-7:30 for the free Word Honey Poetry Workshop. All are welcome!
- Also tonight, from 6:30-8:30, is Kroegers Ace Hardware’s second annual Ladies Night. Receive 20% off almost everything in the store. Enjoy an evening packed with deals, drinks, catered food, demos, goodies, tons of giveaways, and much more! The first 100 guests will receive a free goodie bag full of cool stuff and one lucky goodie bag will have a golden ticket for a $250 Ace Gift Card to use at their family-owned store! All attendees can enter to win one of several giveaway prizes, including goods and gift cards from other local businesses. No purchase Necessary! They will also be raising funds for Women’s Resource Center throughout the day and evening!
- This is also going to be the first Friday of the month, so it’s time to celebrate art at local businesses, from 4-7! Learn more about events happening this month at local-first.org/first-friday
- If you think First Friday’s can be a lot, it’s also Noel Night (um, day… it’s from 10am-10pm).
- Along similar veins, apparently it’s also craft bazaar day on Saturday – St Columba School Gym from 8-3, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church starting at 8:30, La Plata Senior Center from 9-4, Fairgrounds exhibit hall from 9-5, ArtRoom Collective at The Smiley from 10-4, a Holiday Market Pop-Up at Ska from 12-4.
- The Durango Arts Center’s Gift Gallery is also open during Noel Night in addition to their regular 12-6 hours Tues-Sat. They’ll have a hot chocolate bar for both adults and kids to help warm you up. It’s that time of year when lights twinkle, magic and cheer are in the air, and snow begins to fall. When everyone starts thinking about those they love, they begin their gift-shopping extravaganza! During this time, make sure you stop into DAC to shop in our new Gift Gallery!
- The 21st Annual Festival of Trees & Wreaths is a free and family friendly holiday season. It’s happening from Friday – Sunday from 12-5 at the Train Museum. All proceeds benefit Community Connections and Our Own Lives, two local nonprofits providing essential services to our friends and neighbors with disabilities.
- There’s a Yarn Meetup at the Durango Library Saturday from 1-3. Calling knitters and crocheters of all ages and levels! Come work on your current project in an informal group setting! Interested in learning? There will be informal learning opportunities at the event as well- we’ll have needles/hooks and extra yarn on hand. Yarn work is a great way to get us through the chill of winter, both in the process and the product!
- 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 recently restocked our sheet papers – we’ve heard of them being used from all kinds of art projects to lamp-shade making to wrapping gifts. The possibilities are nearly endless – what will you do with yours?
Since we’ve entered the crazy period known as The Holidays… it’s important to sort of manufacture breaks. Take advantage of down time (and even sneak away to find it when you can.) It’s always easy to find ourselves too busy, especially in this time of year.
I had a chip in my windshield that I wanted to get fixed before the Thanksgiving storms. While sitting and waiting I snuck in some time to chip away at reading a book that’s been in my bag. I’ve been carrying it around, just in case I found time to read a bit.
Even if you’re not actively working on a creative project, you’re in a ‘dreaming period’. Your well is refilling. Your muse is catching up with you. Your soul is catching up to your body.
Your creativity is still there, still a part of you. When it’s time – you’ll express it in some way. Whether actively or ‘dreamily’, 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!