We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
~ Aristotle
When discussing different materials, I try to keep in mind the end goal for the project. eg: if you’re just playing with art supplies – do what you want and have fun! However, if you’re looking to sell a piece and want it to last for at least a century, follow the material manufacturer’s directions to help make the finished piece last.
With that caveat, if you want to create excellent work – focus on the basics. I recently read a quote from Daniel Chambliss, “Excellence is mundane. Superlative performance is really a confluence of dozens of small skills or activities, each one learned or stumbled upon, which have been carefully drilled into habit and then are fitted together in a synthesized whole. There is nothing extraordinary or superhuman in any one of those actions; only the fact that they are done consistently and correctly, and all together, produce excellence.“
- This week’s artist is – Luis Martins – who seemed appropriate to share after announcing our new spray paints last week! For even more, check out his facebook and instagram!
- John Trumbull would have been 268 tomorrow!
- Egypt is building a mega-museum to bring Egyptology home.
- I recently heard of this perpetual puzzle – the Voynich manuscript.
- Here’s a free 4-part lesson on painting tropical botanicals in watercolor.
- I saw this evolution of the Great Wave off Kanagawa previously and had to go check it out again after seeing this (which I’ve never thought about). Because Westerners read left-to-right, we don’t read the image the same way the Japanese do.
- Then comments in the evolution post links to a video showing the differences between 111 of the The Great Wave prints.
- If you want to see a print in person, here’s a tracker of where they’re currently on view.
- The 30 Comedy Pet Photo Awards finalists are adorable and hilarious.
- Hummingbirds are wondrous.
- What color is the wind? Blew
Fun Fact: The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest art museum and houses over 38,000 objects. It was originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century.- Ever wonder about Native grasses and wildflowers? Head to the Durango Library today from 4:30-6 for a deep dive into the topic.
- If you’re already at the library, stay from 6-7:30 for the Word Honey Poetry Workshop.
- This is going to be the first Friday of the month – so it’s time to celebrate Durango’s creative side. Find live music, original performances, featured artist showcases, and artisan pop-up markets all across town. Learn more at Local First’s website.
- John Truitt’s debut solo exhibition will be at Stillwater Music. Artist remarks Friday at 6:30 (opening from 5:30-7:30).
- If that’s too busy for you, head out to Fox Fire Farms from 6-9pm for live music and local food. Free admission. Kid and dog friendly.
- 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 just restocked our Ohuhu alcohol markers. With this shipment we brought in some new mixed media pads – and so far we’ve been thrilled with the results! There are only a few places in the USA where you can see these in person – and we’re one of them!
If you’re trying to excel in your creative pursuits, focus on the fundamentals. Master color mixing, or tight stitching, or word weaving. Once those foundations are in place, you can fit the pieces together in different ways.
When you automatically mix colors and don’t have to think about it any longer, you can focus more on creating the image you see in your mind. Likewise, when you know the human form and can accurately represent it, you don’t have to think about the process but can focus on the details.
Drilling the basics to build the muscle memory can be down right mundane. But each of those seeming small tasks combine together to make something greater than the sum of the steps. The little things really do count.
Whether you’re creating for fun, just playing with materials or colors, or making something to last for centuries – the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew