| They are beautiful, unblemished lives. But sometimes I think that when we deny what is worst about ourselves, we also deny what is best. We repress our ignorance, and thus we deny our capacity to learn. We repress our faults, and thus we deny our capacity to change. We forget that it is our flawed human self, and not our avatar, who creates things and reconsiders and forgives and shows mercy. ~ Tara Westover |
The above quote came from a commencement speech that Tara Westover gave in 2019. In it she explained that humans used to have two identities: who we are around others and who we are with ourselves. She believes that we now have a third self: “The virtual avatar we create and share with the world.” Everyone spends a great deal of time carefully curating their best identities online. Except that our online avatars aren’t real – they’re curated projections.
The best part of you, the real you, is the opposite of you on Instagram. It’s when you’re up late studying, unshaven and tired, immersed in those textbooks. Investing in your future. It’s helping your kids with their homework or taking your elderly mother to the doctor’s office. This is how we matter in a world adrift. By investing in ourselves. Doing the hard work of personal growth. Taking care of our loved ones. Sacrificing now for a better tomorrow. Helping others.
- This week’s artist is – William Patino – whose work I heard about before I saw it. I first ran across William when he was interviewed on a podcast and then had to check out his photographs. Be sure to check out his website and both personal and professional instagrams for more!
- We’ve been really busy in the frame shop at the Art Supply House – if you’re thinking about giving a custom framed piece as a holiday gift, hurry and get your appointment scheduled this week to make sure we can get it done on time!
- Next week is Thanksgiving. Whew… how’d it get here so quickly? The Art Supply House will be closed next Thursday-Sunday, Nov 26-29 so that we can all spend time with family.
- Just a quick video reminder that nobody is normal. (Isn’t that a great thing!) And here’s an equally quick making of video if you enjoyed it.
- This video from 1902 is surprisingly crisp! If you scroll down, I particularly enjoyed the side-by-side video of 1902 and 2015.
- Here are 7 tips to painting moonlight.
- There’s a lot of information in this video on color. I will probably have to watch it again.
- Want to check out more than 1,000 of Van Gogh’s works online for free? Explore Van Gogh Worldwide.
- 10 art tips – there’s a bit of something in here for everyone.
- Artist wanted – Aimee of Jitters Java is looking for an artist to paint a mural on the outside of the coffee hut. Email Aimee at 2015DoingIt@gmail.com for more details.
- If you’re a fan of Bob Ross, there’s an immersive experience just for you. Learn more here.
- The Thanksgiving Farmer’s Market is this Saturday in the TBK parking lot. If you’re looking for some local foods or gift ideas from local artisans, swing by to see what you can find. Here’s their website if you want more information.
- The Durango Arts Center is again hosting the Winter Solstice Artisans Market. Swing by from 12-6 from Wed-Sunday starting Nov 20-Dec 23. Check out their website for more info.
- I try to avoid them when possible – but if you see me on a video conference, you might just see me using one of the backgrounds from Studio Ghibli.
Way back in the early summer we ordered some custom-labeled sketchbooks, and they finally arrived! There are three sizes of sketchbooks, two spiral bound and one hard-bound. The bottom left is actually a mixed-media paper with a flexible cover. Either way, we’ve got quite a few of these sketchbooks with our new logo on there. If you’re looking for a new book or are looking for gift ideas, check these guys out!
In the opening paragraph I talk about being your best self – investing in yourself and growing as a person. Part of that is making time to take care of yourself. Part of that is learning, experimenting, failing, and growing through the experience. I do a lot of those things though my art (and suspect that you may do the same.) I explore the world through my art. Sometimes I give my brain a rest while making it and other times I’m stretching my brain while trying something new.
I recently received an email from a friend and thought that the content from it would be a great homework assignment to help you on your “best-self” quest.
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write a famous author and ask for advice. Kurt Vonnegut was the only one to respond – and his response is magnificent:
“Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta:
I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana.
What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.
Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula.
Here’s an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don’t do it: Write a six line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net. Make it as good as you possibly can. But don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Don’t show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms. Lockwood. OK?
Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash receptacles. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow.
God bless you all!
Kurt Vonnegut
The world needs your best self, and making your art is part of that self!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If you’d like to receive a weekly newsletter in your email, you can subscribe below.