Life was meant to be lived and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I recently read this passage and just wanted to share it:
One of the benefits of being an artist is that everything that happens to you—no matter how traumatic or frustrating—has at least one hidden benefit: It can be used in your art. A painful parting can become a powerful breakup anthem. Melancholy mixes in with your oil paints and transforms an ordinary image into something deeply moving. A mistake creates an insight that leads to an innovation, to a new angle on an old idea, to a brilliant passage in a book.
I think that the same is true of positive events. Beauty and awe provide inspiration. As do moments of euphoria and times of joy.
- This week’s artist lives nearby in Santa Fe – Ken Davis – has worked in a variety of arts – conductor, philosophy, literature, and now a painter! He primarily paints landscapes, working en plein air to capture the feel of a location – which also allows him to self-indulge in hiking and backpacking. He writes about travel experiences on his blog. Check out more work on his website.
- Local creative Business spotlight – Jimmy’s Music & Supply – We have a few businesses in Durango that focus on supporting local creatives. Jimmy’s focuses on the music community – which is second to none. “Jimmy’s is the hub of all things music, as we intend to nurture every relationship with all aspiring musicians and music professionals in the area.” If you like live music, then see what is happening locally. If you’re a musician, or aspire to be one, swing by Jimmy’s Music & Supply at 1480 E. Second Avenue.
- Looking to see your art? Here are some tips.
- Not sure how to price your portraits (or other art?) Here is a useful framework.
- The SAQA trunk show at Stitch starts Friday. Find out more at Stitch’s website.
- Copyright is a pain and artists should stop worrying about it – thoughts from an artist.
- Our second art contest of the year is under way – we’re about half-way through the entry period. You can see the contest details here and all of the current entries here.
- Last week we were thinking about chalk markers, and here is a bit of what we try to keep on hand at the store:
“Life happens” and as artists we can lean into those experiences and share them with others. Translating life experiences through art not only helps us deal with them but also helps others understand them in a different way. Good experiences are amplified and multiplied as we reflect on them and share with others. Life, translated through art, is so much richer for everyone.
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.