| If you want to make small changes, change the way you do things. If you want to make major changes, change the way you see things. ~ Don Campbell |
I’m a reader. Always have been. You can tell where I spend my time around my house because there will be piles of books (and art supplies) left behind. Those piles and stacks also point to whatever subject has currently caught my attention. Sometimes I expect that I already know everything in the book – then I at least skim through it and always end up surprising myself by discovering something new, or rediscovering something that I’d forgotten.
- This week’s artist – Chayse Romero – of Frontera Designs. I enjoyed reading about how silversmithing found her. If you think it sounds fun, Chayse offers silversmithing classes. Be sure to check out her website and instagram for more!
- Friday, from 4-7, you can meet Chayse at Create Art and Tea (in the Durango Arts Center building) to see her new work and for a QnA session.
- There are only two more Grit Gatherings scheduled! From 4 to 7 pm on Friday, the City will block off 9th and 10th Streets between Main Ave and Narrow Gauge for people to gather in a socially distanced and masked-up manner. This area will have tables and chairs, entertainment, heaters and lighting. The public will be invited and encouraged to shop at Downtown businesses and to order take out to eat in the event areas. Grit Gatherings are currently scheduled to run until March 12th.
- If you’d like to try designing the newest Colorado license plate, now’s your chance! There’s a contest running until the end of March. More details here.
- Archeologists uncovered an ancient Roman floor in southern France.
- That floor isn’t all – here are 10 big archeological finds discovered/announced last year.
- Like macramé? Here’s a 37′ installation.
- My 14-month old has been enjoying watching the animals at the San Diego Zoo via live cams. Especially the elephants.
- Want to learn something new? Skillshare (an online learning community) has their annual membership available at 40% off from now until end end of March.
- Want to make art your career? It can be a difficult journey. One of the artists/art coaches that I follow is Alyson Stanfield. She has a free Online Presence Audit that I think you will find helpful.
- Sarah Sumner’s show, Turbulence Series, is on display at Animas Chocolate Company during the month of March.
- The 2021 Powder Hounds Art Auction is running. You can see (and bid on) the boards here. Proceeds go to the humane society.
- Speaking of hounds, here’s a dog-portrait drawing video sharing some techniques. (Would that be a pet-trait?).
- Looking for a short-term art project/challenge? 1 Week, 100 People starts on Monday. It’s a quick challenge to sketch/draw/paint 100 people in a week, from Monday to Friday. Details here, join in the conversation on Facebook here, or use #OneWeek100People in your posts on the social media of your choice.
- Michelangelo Buonarroti would have been 546 on Saturday. David‘s looking pretty good for a 517 year old.
- We just received a shipment of some new goodies. Included are some embroidery books and kits! If you’re just getting started, want something more advanced, or are looking for some new stitches, we can help.
When reading, I am generally not looking for a tactic (ie: Hold your pencil this one weird way to magically improve your drawings) but for a new framework to use (ie: Using a different medium with acrylic can make it stay mixable longer so that I can get oil-like effects). Don’t get me wrong, I love tactics and learning new techniques. They can be helpful in particular circumstances. I also love expanding my worldview, discovering ways to look at things from multiple angles, and generally finding new ways to approach the world. Art helps me work through this process. It aids me in literally looking at things differently, it helps me connect disparate thoughts while working through them on paper. If nothing else, it gives me a way to express myself as I am working through the process of growing as a person. What about you? Are you actively changing your mind, growing as a person? The world needs the fullest, best version of you. The world needs your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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