Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.
~ Edward de Bono
In last week’s email, I mused about collecting art supplies. This is a continuation of that train of thought.
Sometimes, the potential of materials – the dream of what could be – holds as much allure as the act of creation itself. This duality between acquiring and using can be a balancing act. There’s a tension between acquiring art supplies and wielding them to express your creativity.
In a recent conversation, a friend said that getting rid of un-used items is basically a dream dying. It’s a part of that person’s self being let go, not just the physical items. It’s not just about decluttering. Those physical objects are snippets of our artistic aspirations.
- This week’s artist is – Jon Foreman – who sculpts hypnotic gradients and organic motifs in sand and stone. For even more, check out his website and instagram!
- Robert De Niro Sr. would have been 102 on Friday!
- Strathmore has a free 4 part workshop series of mixed media projects with Georgina Kreutzer.
- They also have a step-by-step guide to creating realistic landscape oil paintings with artist Layne Johnson.
- Jon Foreman sculpts hypnotic gradients and organic motifs in sand and stone.
- ‘Mouseman‘ keeps British craftsmanship alive.
- Create a studio in an extra spare closet (and a good way to keep cats out when you aren’t working.)
- If you want to be creative, you can’t be certain.
- This is an interesting visualization of why time flies faster as you age.
- Only 25% of the seafloor is mapped – there’s a goal of completing other 75% in 6 years.
- Three artist’s journey answering the question, “How’d you make that?” From glimmer through struggle to breakthrough.
- Where does a cow hang her paintings? In a moo-seum.
Fun Fact: Katsushika Hokusai, famous for “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” changed his name over 30 times in his lifetime, a common practice among Japanese artists to signify different periods in their career.- Today (Wed) from 6-7:30 is the Word Honey Poetry Workshop at The Hive. Get creative with local poets. Join in for a community poetry workshop!
- There’s a Clothing Swap at the Durango Beer & Ice Company Friday from 3-7. Go through your closet and fill up a bag with your gently used clothes that don’t fit your vibe this season! Drop them off during business hours on May 2nd , or noon to 3 on May 3. Come by and shop the amazing selection of cute clothes and accessories!
- The first Friday of the month is this week, so it’s time to officially celebrate Durango’s creative side! Businesses, galleries, and the spaces in between host local artists of all kinds! Find live music, original performances, featured artist showcases, and artisan pop-up markets all across town, Friday from 4-7. Learn more about events happening this month at local-first.org/first-friday.
- The 15th Annual Dandelion Festival is Saturday from 1-9 at Rotary Park. It’s a free, fun music and art festival honoring the spring wild greens, community health, organic land stewardship and joy! Experience live music, local food, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities, dandelion beer garden, dance performances, maypole dance, live painting, thrift store, and informative and fun activities for youth and adults!
- iAM MUSIC Fest is this weekend. This year’s lineup features incredible independent musicians and artists that you will not want to miss! Join us for 4 Days • 6 Stages • 25+ Bands! Your ticket purchase helps support these artists, as well as our year-round music education and outreach programs.
- Head to Lola’s Place for Board Game Sundays from 2-5:30. Compete in your favorite game or try a new one! Meet new friends and enjoy a taco and beverage! It’s so easy… just show up and they do the rest.
- Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 at the General Palmer is a Slow Bluegrass Jam. If you know a beginner/intermediate acoustic music player then this weekly jam is welcoming to all players, with a focus on slower tempo improvisation solos and chord changes. If you can play the I, IV and V chords in G, D and A then you know enough to play at this jam!
- Also Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 is the Twin Buttes Tuesday – a weekly Tuesday night mountain bike ride at Twin Buttes for those looking to blow off some steam after work. All mountain bike levels are welcome to join both the riding & the friendly chatter to follow in the main trailhead parking lot (to the west of the Speedway gas station).
- It’s the time of year when there are lots of live music events, open mics, live jam sessions, etc, scattered about the area throughout the week. There are too many to list here, so if you’re looking for such things, head over to WhatsHappeningDurango.com.
- There are classes/workshops/projects available at the 4 Corners Gem and Mineral Club, the Bayfield Library, Create Art and Tea, the Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts, Durango Sustainable Goods, Let’s Letter Together, the MakerLab, the Scrapbook Nook, 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.
- We recently brought in some new Hahnemühle paper goodies. The Bamboo and Sugar Cane are part of The Natural Line series (the name refers both to the materials and how they’re sourced/made). The round watercolor paper is just fun. Frog sample with metallic watercolor paints not included. Need to see them for yourself? Swing on by!
If you have a pile of paint (or whatever material) that you haven’t used… letting go of it could free up not only space but also mental energy. However, it also means admitting to yourself that you’re not going to be a painter. As long as you have the paint, the potential is there. (Of course, you can always get more… we keep such things on hand at the store.)
Letting go can also be a beginning. Freeing up space – both mentally and physically – can spark new ideas and new dreams. And letting go isn’t giving up. It’s freeing ourselves to leap to the next stepping stone to a new creative endeavor.
Whether it’s with new inspiration or your classic favorites – the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – If you do need to clear out some unrealized creative dreams, our Spring Clean Art Supply Drive is running until Saturday, May 18. Almost everyone has a bin of unwanted art supplies gathering dust in their basement. Whether it be from a project you’ve finished, a ridiculous amount of expensive supplies from college or a sewing kit from a loved one, you’re not alone. Free your burden of creativity past and bring them to the store this month and we’ll pass them on to a nonprofit that will put them to good use, changing people’s lives.