| Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. ~ Louisa May Alcott |
My daughter is 18 months old. It’s amazing to watch her go through phases. In the moment, it seems like they last for eternity but after only a week or two she moves on to a new process. As an example: We’ll read the same book 12 times a day, but after a week we switch to a new one and the previous seems forgotten. Sometimes she’ll seem to have mastered a skill, but then after a poor night’s rest, she’ll seem to regress back to not knowing it at all. Then the next day, or a few days later, she cognitively leaps forward and is even better at the skill than when she mastered it.
- This week’s artist is – Crystal Hartman – a local artist who I can’t believe I haven’t featured before! She creates jewelry and art on paper. Be sure to check out her website and instagram for even more!
- Saturday, July 31st, will be a 5th Saturday Customer Appreciation day! Kristen has been working hard on some new surprises in the store, so you won’t want to miss out.
- Head over and visit Caprice in her new location. Create Art and Tea has moved to 1015 Main Ave. Check out their beautiful new building and all the new artist works.
- Edward Hopper would have been 139 tomorrow.
- Brian Eno says you’re either a cowboy or a farmer. Dave Hickey says you’re either a pirate or a farmer. I would like to be a pirate gardener.
- This tutorial teaches how to make a watercolor house portrait.
- Need to stretch your painting budget? Here are some tips from Golden paints (that can be applied to all types and brands of paint).
- Crystal Hartman will be featured at Studio &‘s Pop Up show on Friday. Swing by from 3-8 to visit with Crystal, refreshments, and music from the Frank/Bailey Trio.
- If you’ve been curious about using an iPad and the ProCreate app, here’s a video of one artist’s first time using it. Looking at his sketch, it also shows that the basic knowledge and skill he’s developed translate between mediums.
- Have you visited the Art Market at 11th Street Station? Swing by Sundays from 10-2 to see a variety of local artists selling their work (including our newest team-member at the store, Julia!)
- There is also a lot of live music scattered around town. See who’s playing where here.
- Don’t want to come in to town? Head out to Fox Fire Farms from 6-9 on Friday for live music. Pack your own picnic meal – purchase wine at the winery.
- Looking for a hands-on activity? Check out the DAC’s Ceramic Saturdays.
- Would you like to test your verbal creativity? A friend shared this 4 minute test. I got a 76.
- A friend made a crochet fox for my daughter. She loves it! I got to see the various other ones she’s made and they’re amazing. If you’d like to join in the fun, we got in some crochet animal kits – and some more yarn for variety. I might have to learn to read a crochet pattern just to make one of these for myself. 😀
The opportunity to watching a human work their way through phases is enlightening about myself and my own life. When I’m learning a new skill or technique, I go through the same process of learning, regressing, and leaping forward. When I’m tired or hungry or distracted, I don’t perform well. Now that I’m an adult, my phases last much longer. Maybe that looks like multiple years at a job as I begin, go through learning pains, become comfortable, then move along to new challenges and opportunities. (No, I’m not leaving the Art Supply House, it’s just an example!)
On the one hand, creative pursuits provide an avenue for growth and phases. On the other hand, creative pursuits are a consistent thread in my life, a grounding force that helps me weather the different phases I move through, that can seem so incomprehensible at the time. I suspect creative pursuits are the same for you, a grounding part of your life. Here are some brief tidbits of advice I’ve received about life: Be patient. Be helpful. Be understanding. Don’t make things worse. As the old Sufi poets say: this too shall pass. Until it does, until you pass through this phase into another one, your creative practice will help you stay grounded. The world needs your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – The county fair is coming up in August and we’ll be running the art show! If you’re planning on entering a piece, it’s time to start getting ready. If you would be able to help volunteer, we could use some assistance (mainly watching the art and making sure people don’t touch it).