| Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. ~ Chuck Close |
In the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, he explains the “10,000 hour rule”. Roughly speaking – it takes approximately 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to become world-class at a skill. If you worked at something for 20 hours a week, 50 weeks a year – that will take 10 years of practice. It’s easy to overlook that quantity of time, behind the scenes. Maybe you’ve heard the story of Picasso’s napkin drawing – The story says that Picasso was sitting in a Paris cafe when an admirer approached and asked if he would do a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, swiftly executed the work, and handed back the napkin – but not before asking for a rather significant amount of money. The admirer was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you a minute to draw this!” “No,” Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years.”
- This week’s artist is – Howard Riley – is an artist in so many ways. He paints, he draws, he writes music and then plays it. Just for fun he unicycles. And when he’s not doing all of that, he also builds some amazing frames. In a frameshop full of artists, Howard might be the most creative one – puzzling out how to make… whatever… work. You’ve certainly seen his framing handy-work if you’ve been in the store, as well as his more traditional art – his seascape painting was by the front door and his aspen trees were on display in the frameshop for a few months. Check out more work on his website.
- It’s a full schedule of classes at the Scrapbook Nook! Join the girls on Thursday at 1 to celebrate the upcoming cooler fall while making a great fall album! Play with some great new materials on 10 on Saturday while art journaling. And on Tuesday at 1 work with some awesome new rice paper with some slight texture. Don’t forget that you get a discount on the collections used in classes the day of the class!
- If you haven’t been to see the art show for Common Threads (collaborative super fun public art piece for Durango’s median at 550/160 highway intersection), head to Animas Chocolate Company on Main. It will be on display through the end of the month. There will be a reception on August 27th from 5-7 pm where the kids and parents who haven helped are encouraged to attend and celebrate.
- Just in case you weren’t sure – here’s how to sharpen a pencil for drawing.
- Hungry for art? Head to FoxFire Farms on Saturday from 5-7 for a meal that supports the Dancing Spirit Community Art Center. More info here.
- Chuck Close gives advice to his younger self.
- The Durango Arts Center has a variety of classes coming up next week. If you or a kiddo you know might enjoy some art education and making… check out their upcoming offerings.
- Auditions for the 10-minute play are set for August 24th at either 2 or 6pm at the DAC (you only have to come to one audition time). Head to their website for more information.
- Roma Ransom will be tucked away in the Rochester’s Secret Garden for their summer concert series. Swing by this evening from 5-7 for some live music. There’s a $10 cover charge that benefits a variety of non-profits.
- Jenn Rawling is showing new work at Studio &. Her show, Secret Life of Plants: Exploring the Botanical Connection will be exhibited from Friday-September 1. The opening reception is Friday evening from 5-9.
- Only a few more days to enter our art contest! Get out there and create a piece that features a local landmark or landscape. Send it to us by Friday! Head over to our website for more the details…
- This week’s featured product is a Sta-Wet Palette. The best and worst thing about acrylic paint is how fast it dries. You don’t want it drying on the palette before you’re done with your painting – and it’s a waste of paint to mix up a color just to have it dry up on you. The Sta-Wet Palette series helps with exactly that issue. I took mine to the fair and put out my paint on the 8th. Today – it’s still wet and workable!
I receive a lot of compliments on my portrait art (which I appreciate) but there’s a lifetime of practice behind them that isn’t seen. Sketchbooks from middle school have quite a few portraits (a lot of clowns, for some reason). I remember learning about facial proportions and practicing them – knowledge that has benefited me ever since. While I haven’t sat down every week and consciously practiced, I have been learning and growing and practicing for at least a couple of decades. There’s always room to grow, but the journey’s most of the fun! Are you putting in your hours?
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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