| To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight, and never stop fighting. ~ E.E. Cummings |
It can be hard to just be yourself. There is always another expectation placed upon you, another person pulling you toward their preferences, another nudge from society to act in a certain way. It’s a daily battle to be yourself, not merely what the world wants you to be.
- This week’s artist is – Lisa Lloyd – whose work I keep adding to my “revisit” list. The circling birds most recently caught my eye, but she does so much more. Check out her website and instagram for more paper sculpting goodness!
- Joan Miró would have been 129 today.
- What’s your place in the world population? I was a bit surprised to discover that I’m further along than expected… how did that happen already?
- Hermosa Coffee is looking for artists for the Hermosa Art Market. It will be open to as many artists as can fit. There will be no fees or commissions. It’s currently planned for every last Sat of the month: 4/30, 5/28,6/25. Reach out to Lindsey (owner of Hermosa Coffee) for more info.
- The Mancos BurroFest is coming up soon. They still have 2 artist spots available, if you’d like to participate. Here’s more info.
- The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown is this weekend.
- There’s a Spring Craft Bazaar at the Durango La Plata Senior Center on Saturday, from 9-3, featuring homemade jelly, handmade baskets, ceramics, unique crafts, gifts and more.
- Create Art and Tea’s event calendar feels like it gets busier every time I look at it! (Like a Victorian Fashion Show and a Botanical Drawing and Painting Workshop.)
- There are quite a few events available for everyone at the Durango Arts Center.
- The Scrapbook Nook has a week full of classes and projects, if you’re looking for something creative to do. Call them to reserve your spot.
- There’s live music scattered about town all week. See what’s available here.
- Our customer appreciation day is coming up in a few weeks – on Saturday the 30th. Do you have your bag ready?
- It’s Spring Cleaning time! Do you have art supplies, tools, or other materials that you aren’t using? Drop them off at the Art Supply House and we’ll pass them along to organizations who support people through creative pursuits. We’re collecting until the end of the month and are excited to have some things already trickling in.
You’re the only you that will ever exist. You’re so unique and special. We can emulate others, but will be happiest if we embrace our uniqueness. I’ve heard that the number one thing to avoid in our creative work is sameness. If our work looks like everyone else’s, dig deeper.
Figure out what excites you. Experiment. Look for clues and themes in your earlier work. How about you? What’s your quirk or unique quality that sets you apart? How can you develop it, refine it, and share it with the world? It’s never too late to start sharing the real you with the rest of the world.
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew