Art is never finished, only abandoned.
~ Leonardo da Vinci
After stumbling across this article about the 70% rule – it fits with all kinds of creative pursuits. A recent conversation with a coworker was about a just-finished piece of art. They were “mostly happy” with it – which sounds like a win!
Not only was it a finished piece, but it seems like being “mostly happy” with something is about as good as it gets a lot of the time – that’s part of the growth and learning process. We have a vision in our minds and then it gets roughed up a bit as it transitions from mind to physical world. We polish those roughed up patches to the 70% mark and then keep going.
- This week’s artist is – Thomas Deininger – a trash artist. This video shows some behind the scenes. See even more on his website and instagram!
- Thomas P. Barnett would have been 155 on Tuesday!
- Tone on in to learn how one artist paints realistic skin tones in watercolor.
- This artist has a thing for dogs.
- Papermaking – a rags to riches story.
- This is the Historic Glass Bottle Identification & Information Website.
- Was Manet’s final painting meant to be a riddle?
- This grid of 3000 drawings by Louisa Schmolke is a fun concept.
- The Mona Lisa is going to get her own room in the Louvre.
- This artist doesn’t used sketchbooks any more. This videos explains why and what she uses instead.
- The Public Domain Review (a true gem of the web) has launched The Public Domain Image Archive, “a curated collection of more than 10,000 out-of-copyright historical images, free for all to explore and reuse”.
- Just for fun, Thursday is “Pay a Compliment Day” – a special occasion that encourages people to spread positivity by giving genuine compliments.
Fun Fact: Claude Monet, a leading figure of the Impressionist movement, was legally blind when he painted many of his most famous works.- Today is the Word Honey Poetry Workshop at the Durango Library from 6-7:30.
- It’s time for one of the Yarn Meetups at the Durango Public Library, Saturday from 1-3. Calling knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists of all ages and levels! Go work on your current project in an informal group setting!
- 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 finally found some spray fixative! There’s been a lot of searching and waiting, but we finally were able to bring some in. So if you’ve been looking, come grab it now while it’s in the rack and available!
- The before vs after transformation of this piece was not subtle. The piece had slipped in the faded, yellowed mats – so you could see the acid burn on the paper of the print and beyond it to the backing board. The glass had broken and it was generally un-hangable. Now it’s ready to go back up for a few more decades of viewing enjoyment.
Sure, we could aim for the full 100%, but if we’re learning as we go, we’ll never get there. By the time we reach that 70% mark, we’re likely the only ones to whom the “flaws” of the work jump out at us. Also, by the time we’ve hit that mark, we’ve learned something from the process and now our skills are greater than they were when we started.
So, why not ship at 70%? Done is better than perfect, and growth happens in the doing. Each piece we finish — flaws and all — builds momentum for the next. So put it out there, move on to the next thing, and trust that with each iteration, you’re getting better. After all – the world doesn’t need perfect art; it 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!