To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.
~ Osho
I was recently chatting with a neighbor. He caught me while I was whittling and asked what I was making. When I shared, he was surprised it was more than a large toothpick (he only knows that I paint). I’m always surprised when people are surprised. I consider myself a creative, not a “painter”. Which is probably part of why I don’t want to be a professional artist – I just can’t decide on one thing!
- This week’s artist is – Peter Hay – whose work I saw at Studio &… some time in the past. For even more, check out his website!
- Kanō Eitoku would have been 481 on Friday!
- Studio & is looking for art for an upcoming show. Here’s more info.
- Here’s how 6 artists work their way out of a creative rut.
- On building a “personal brand” in order to be an artist of any stripe.
- A 1,000 year long exposure photo.
- The serious business of 19th century fairy paintings.
- Tyromancy: fortune-telling with cheese. (It’s Un-Brie-Lievable)
- A history of beds throughout the centuries.
- These iconic structures were supposed to be temporary.
- Here’s a bit about the sticky history of baklava.
Fun Fact: Art used to be an Olympic event. Between 1912 and 1948, the Games awarded medals for architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.- Bayfield’s Pine River Library hosts two monthly matinees! First Friday Matinees are aimed at adults and Family Friday Matinees (third Friday of the month) will be kids’ movies.
- Planning Ahead – Melinda Malone will be providing guidance in April’s Quilting Class at Bayfield’s Pine River Library. The class is free but students are required to provide their own supplies and have use of their own sewing machine. It runs all Wednesdays in April from 1:30-3:30.
- The Art Guild of Create is now open to supporting emerging businesses. They are renting art studios similar to the Art Collective at the Smiley Building. The Art Guild of Create hopes you will stop by to see the spaces and share a cup of tea to hear their story. Find more info at their website at: www.CreateArtandTea.com
- Head to Lola’s Place every Sunday afternoon (from 2-5:30) when Guild House Games brings loads of board games for your pleasure! Compete in your favorite game or try a new one! Meet new friends and enjoy a taco and beverage! It’s so easy…just show up and they’ll do the rest!
- 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, 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.
- Certainly not new, and not even new to us – but we have rapidographs on hand. We love our microns and other drafting pens – but if you go through them too fast, you’re looking for the original, the rapidograph. They’re refillable and can get as detailed as you’d like. We don’t have the full range available, but can order them in if you’re looking for something in particular.
My neighbor has painted, but he also is an author. So he’s creative across a variety of mediums – even if he doesn’t consider that to be the case. So many people I speak with discount the work that they create, or all but one of their creative pursuits. Only the “serious” ones count. What poppycock! Creativity is creativity. Stretch those creative muscles, don’t discount your work. No matter what form (or how many different ones) the world needs your art.
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – Would you be interested in an art coach? I was chatting with a local artist recently, sharing ideas, and they said I should be an art/business coach. I don’t know what that might look like, but it feels like there’s potential there. If you’d be interested in a sort of test convo over a hot beverage, reply and let me know.