| No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt |
Journeys are tricky things. We can look at where we are on a path and compare to someone else who’s further ahead of us on the trail. That person appears to be doing so much better than we are, especially since we don’t have a deeper context to consider. Maybe they’ve been on the trail for twice as long as we have, but have only made it a little bit further than us. In only a short time, we might catch and then overtake them. In a snapshot, it doesn’t appear that way and we can be disheartened. We have to compare ourselves to the progress we’ve made rather than where others are along a similar journey.
- This week’s artist is – Christopher Remmers – whose work I was introduced to via a podcast interview (that I can no longer find). It provides an interesting perspective to hear about an artist’s work, especially from the artist themselves, before actually seeing it. The interview made me have to go check it out, and the works themselves made me want to share. Check out his website and instagram for more.
- Jean Béraud would have been 174 today.
- Have you ever wondered why winter sunsets can be so spectacular? Besides the romance, that is. Here’s the scientific answer.
- A few thoughts on loving what you do – using Barnes & Noble as an exmple.
- These works entered the public domain on Jan 1st.
- Here’s a fun video of the song Smooth Criminal being played on a barrel organ.
- A few thoughts on metaphor and how “seize the day” got lost in translation.
- Adjoa Hursey’s show The Little Things by Adjoa Hursey is currently up at Studio &’s Recess Gallery.
- Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute for their special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! These snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans. Head to Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot, 52 La Plata Pl on Saturday from 1-3 (reservations required).
- 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, 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.
- It’s been too long since I’ve mentioned the Pearl Ex mica powdered pigments. Officially, they mix into any viscous medium or may be spread dry on any porous surface to produce deep-luster metallic effects. In more tangible terms, you can use them to make your own paints from scratch, customize paint you already have, add color to epoxy projects, and so much more! Want to play with color? A little bit goes a long way!
As artists, it’s easy for us to look at someone working in the same medium and think about how much more advanced their work is. Especially in this age of social media where we are constantly bombarded with images of other people’s work, it’s easy to contrast others’ work with our own. Comparing their 10,000 hours of work over a decade with our 1,000 over three years isn’t a fair comparison. We have to look back at where we were when we started, or what our last project looked like. Have we made progress, compared to ourselves? Are we better able to convey our desired message, express our feelings, or manipulate the materials as we desire than we once were? If so, we’re making progress! No matter where you are on your creative journey, the world needs your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew