Either you go the way everyone goes and become an ordinary person like everyone else, or you create your own original way and become an extraordinary person that everyone watches in amazement.
~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
In a children’s book (part of the Unicorn and Yeti series) I recently read a story about the two characters as they were painting. Each one painted in a different style (one abstract, and one representationally). Each was jealous of how the other painted, and no matter how hard they tried to paint differently, ended up painting like themselves. Yeti couldn’t paint like Unicorn, but wanted to. Unicorn couldn’t paint like Yeti, but wanted to. They ended up loving the process of painting and trading work with one another.
- This week’s artist is – Jane Mercer – a Durango local. This is definitely a case of, “I can’t believe I haven’t shared her work yet!” In a recent email exchange she mentioned that as, “a local fine art painter I find endless subjects in our charming historical town.” Check out her website for more.
- José Guadalupe Posada would have been 171 tomorrow.
- The Butterfly Artist Collective is sponsoring an art contest for artists between the ages of 15-30. The theme is Transformation. Entries must be received by March 21st. All artists who participate will have the opportunity to show their work March 28th at Create Art and Tea. Cash prizes and other fun perks. More info here.
- Was it ever possible for one person to read every book ever written in English?
- Interesting to learn how the recipes on the back of the box came to be.
- Here’s how one artists repairs canvas with a hole in it.
- Here’s a sense of perspective.
- This example of underpainting will work for more than just pastels.
- Are comets alive? Interesting take on inanimate objects.
- La Plata Youth Services 9th Annual Unchain My Heart art show will be February 16 from 4-7:30 at Create Art and Tea. They’re still accepting artwork for the event.
- We’re in a new month, which means that Create Art and Tea’s First Friday is this weekend, from 5-7. Swing by to see Travis Jensen’s work (and the artist!)
- We’re in the thick of a Shakespearean Snowdown, so there are lots of things happening through Sunday.
- There are classes/workshops/projects available at Let’s Letter Together, the Scrapbook Nook, Create Art and Tea, the 4 Corners Gem and Mineral Club, 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.
- Did you know we sell furniture? Well, one piece. The previous owner of the store tested out all of the different drafting table options and settled on the Futura as the best quality. It’s a sturdy table that has an adjustable angle top with some built in storage. We always get the clear glass surface – with the addition of a light from the hardware store it becomes a great light table!
We’re all different. Our styles develop over time. If you see my watercolor plein air paintings, they definitely look like mine. I didn’t set out to develop a style, but one arrived after I spent enough time behind the paintbrush. It’s easy to look at another artist’s work and wish you could do something like that. They make it look easy. Odds are, if they looked back at you, they’d be saying the same thing! No matter what your style, it’s uniquely yours – and the world needs it!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – As a heads-up, we’re going to be having a spring clean art supply drive in April. We’ll take in donations of art supplies and materials that you aren’t using and distribute them all to an organization or two who can really put them to great use. So while you’re looking through your supplies, keep that in mind. Note the things that you aren’t using and haven’t in some time. We’ll send out reminders when we start accepting donations.