The easiest way to do art is to dispense with success and failure altogether and just get on with it.
~ Stephen Nachmanovitch
I ran across a few different quotes that I thought were worth sharing. So here are a few of them:
- “I don’t think it matters how, it’s justifying and making the time to do it at all. Doing it is where it’s at I think.” ~ Mason Currey
- “I didn’t take animation seriously because it came easily to me. It took me a long time to realize, maybe it comes easily to me and it’s fun because I’m good at it. Maybe that’s what a talent is called, but you feel like you have to beat yourself up and do things the hard way or it doesn’t count.” ~ Don Hertzfeldt
- “It’s a safe space. You can make a mess and you can leave it and come back to it. I think it’s important to make a mess because sometimes that’s how creative things happen. At my son’s school, if he was doing something creative and had to transition to another project, they would put a work-save card on it and say just don’t touch it. And that’s essentially what a studio is. The whole space is a work-save card.” ~ Lucy Liu on her art studio
- A poem worth reading – For the young who want to by Marge Piercy
- Painting is complete as a distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body more entirely absorbs the mind. ~ Winston Churchill
- Pierre Puvis de Chavannes would have been 200 on Saturday!
- Video interview of how to paint a still life in an hour.
- Here’s a great article about viewing original art (shared by a friend).
- This demo shows how one watercolor artist extensively uses masking.
- This short video shows some cool art that comes to life when the light comes on.
- And this drawing one is just mesmerizing to watch!
- Meet the Italian ‘fruit detective’ who investigates centuries-old paintings for clues about produce that has disappeared from the kitchen table.
- How Gothic architecture became spooky.
- From this post In case you need to hear this: “If you don’t like cooking with people, you can set up a 1000 piece puzzle in another room and tell them they’re not allowed in the kitchen until the puzzle is done.”
- What’s an artist’s favorite game? Paint-ball.
Fun Fact: The practice of art therapy was established in the mid-20th century as a method for improving mental health and well-being through the process of making art.- Durango Fire’s blood drive is today from 9-1. Eat a good meal, drink plenty of water and bring an ID for your appointment! Walkins always welcome. (Station 1 – Training Room – 142 Sheppard Drive)
- Animas Chocolate Co’s gingerbread house competition entries are on display through December 31st.
- The Writers & Scribblers Writing Group is a group for writers of all kinds to learn, practice, and share the art and craft of writing. They’re meeting today from 6-8 at the Durango Library.
- Tomorrow, head to the Durango Library from 4-5:30 for Crafternoons: Holiday Cards! Crafting isn’t just fun, it’s fundamental for mental health, relaxation, and happiness! Go and explore their awesome craft supplies. This month you can freshen up your stationary selection, make popup or greeting cards, and more! This is a bilingual event!
- Every December Studio & Gallery hosts the Bizarre Bazaar, which is a cross between a holiday bazaar and a Turkish bazaar and THE place to buy holiday gifts directly from the artists that made them. This year is their 10th annual Bizarre Bazaar and they’ve invited 17 local artist to fill the gallery with their creations. Friday (the 13th) from 5-9 at Studio &, plus Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 11-4.
- The Durango Farmers’ Market – Holiday Market is Saturday from 9-2 at the Fairgrounds.
- The Black Diamond Lodge‘s 3rd annual Gingerbread Lodge is Saturday from 9-1. Their space will be decked to the nines, Christmas music will play, the fire will be lit, and hot cocoa will be free-flowing! Best part? This is an entirely FREE community event where you can take a peak at the gingerbread entries, meet May’s miniature ponies, enjoy free cocoa and cookies, and celebrate the holidays with activities for the kids. This year, our kid zone is tripling with face painting, a dance party, and tons of crafts and games sponsored by Overland Church. Plus! Free professional family photos by Ponderosa Portraits and live music by Rob Webster.
- TBK Banks 3rd Annual Cookies & Cocao with Santa is Saturday from 10-1 at TBK Bank’s 9th street location. Join in for a festive day filled with holiday cheer! This FREE event is perfect for the entire family…featuring hot cocoa, delicious cookies, fun holiday crafts, caroling & pictures with Santa!
- The Subterrain’s Odds-n-Ends Christmas Bazaar is Saturday from 2-6. Unique and last minute gifts – The Subterrain and Durango Winery basement will be open and full of local artists, crafters, jewelers, body workers, hair tinsel and more, and will have wine!
- 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 got lots of canvas and other substrates available (especially handy if you’re looking to make any holiday paintings.) Including un-primed canvas folds and primed canvas rolls. The rolls are easy to overlook, tucked beside the larger canvases and hidden behind the plant. Now that you know where to look, you can come see them in person!
And here are some more quotes:
- The myth is that there isn’t enough time. There is plenty of time. There isn’t enough focus with the time you have. You win by directing your attention toward better things. ~ James Clear
- Rick Rubin shares the secret to creating hit records (or making anything great): If you need 10 of something, make 30. Then pick the best.
- The problem is no longer getting people to express themselves but providing little gaps of solitude and silence in which they might eventually find something to say. … What a relief to have nothing to say, the right to say nothing, because only then is there a chance of framing … the thing that might be worth saying. ~ Gilles Deleuze
- Finish something. Anything. Stop researching, planning, and preparing to do the work and just do the work. It doesn’t matter how good or how bad it is. You don’t need to set the world on fire with your first try. You just need to prove to yourself that you have what it takes to produce something. There are no artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, or scientists who became great by half-finishing their work. Stop debating what you should make and just make something. ~ James Clear
- Painting is complete as a distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body more entirely absorbs the mind. ~ Winston Churchill
Hopefully at least one of these resonate with you – and remind you that 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!