Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.
~ William Butler Yeats
In last week’s email I mentioned how glad I am that there will always be more to learn when it comes to my art. This week I stumbled across this passage about the same concept and thought it worth sharing:
You have not graduated. School is not out for summer. No, school is life, and it’s a daily thing. You must keep learning. You must keep studying. You must keep investing in your education. You must always pursue wisdom, like your life depends on it…
- This week’s artist is – Ruby Silvious – whose work was pointed out to my by a friend some time ago. What a fun material to use! Check out her website and instagram for even more!
- Yarns, Threads, and More is closed. Fortunately, the Wooley Wolverine is now open! Check out La Plata County’s yarn store at 271 1/2 Mountain View Drive in Bayfield, across from Brenda’s Cafe. They’re open from Monday through Saturday from 9-5.
- A common discussion we have at the store is how to finish the edges on a canvas. Here are 5 tips – I’m using the “most interesting way” on my current portrait project and always do #4. While you might say I’m biased, I also think that getting it framed is a great way to go. 😀
- Since it’s world watercolor month, here’s a guide to choosing the right watercolor paper for your project.
- Recently I was speaking with a friend about working with soft pastels and they mentioned their frustration with blending pastels. If you’re in a similar situation, here is a tutorial.
- Here’s a video “Views of Tokyo, Japan (1913-1915)” that has been colorized and resized. I think it’s fun to watch the people reacting to the camera!
- Please welcome Annie Brooks to Studio & as their newest represented artist!
- Speaking of Studio &, swing on by to check out Andy McKinley’s show in the Recess Gallery, on display this month.
- Here are 4 tips for thinking big even on small canvasses.
- A friend of a friend has a kiln for sale. If you’re looking for one (or know someone who is), call or stop by the store for more info.
- The featured product of the week is the Derwent Pencil Extender set. These guys are great – they allow you to use almost every bit of your pencils. Once you get down to a stubby pencil, put it in the extender and keep on using it, comfortably! I especially love these things for colored pencils. While I normally have plenty of different graphite pencils, I invariably only have that little stub of exactly the right purple for my project and this helps me keep on working!
There will always be more books to read, more techniques to try out, new color combinations to play with, etc. Which is part of what keeps art so appealing to me. Fortunately, I don’t have to choose a path and stick to it. I am (we all are) free to switch from drawing to collage to fiber to carving back to drawing to… Each of the individual pursuits will inform the others and we will continue growing as an artist. That growth as an artist might be one of the avenues through which we are becoming more of ourselves – growing more fully into our potential. Our art helps us become who we are meant to be – and the world needs the full version of us. The world needs you, and you need your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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