Tell your own story and you will be interesting.
~ Louise Bourgeois
I recently watched this TED Talk about telling your story. The speaker explains how looking for a story each day will do a few different things – it will slow down time and allow you to never “lose” a day. It will help you enjoy the moments of your life. You will realize how important you already are. Great stories (and art) so often don’t capture the grand experiences, they highlight and bring into focus the over-looked details of daily life, the recurring actions with friends you see regularly.
- Danielle Klebes was pointed out to me by a friend, and I’m ever so glad she was! Her vibrant colors really grab your attention, but her details keep you looking deeper into the paintings. She’s a young painter and I can’t wait to see what her work will grow into over time! I particularly enjoyed the Abandoned Art series, seeing the art out and about in the world. She has work for sale, if you’re interested of owning some.
- The Scrapbook Nook‘s schedule this month is pretty abreviated due to the holiday events. Tuesday the 11th they will be making an Elf Garland at 1pm.
- I have been completely remiss in mentioning the Winter Solstice Artisan’s Market at the Durango Arts Center! There are beautiful works by 28 local artists – whether you’re looking for Christmas, Hannakuh, or birthday gifts, or just want to check out some awesome art – you should check out the show! The DAC is open Monday-Saturday from 10-5 until Dec 22.
- This Friday (Dec. 7) evening is Durango’s Christmas Party – Noel Night! If you love the festive atmosphere, be sure and head into town to check it out (and if you’re a bit crowd-averse, I would recommend staying home). There will be all kinds of deals available, so be sure and check out local shops if you’re looking for such. Personally, the first place I’ll be heading is Studio & for the opening of their Bizarre Bazaar.
- Local creative Business spotlight – Yarn Durango – We have a few businesses in Durango that focus on supporting local creatives. Yarn Durango offers inspiration, classes, a variety of groups, and (of course!) yarn, fibers, and notions. One of my favorite classes while earning my art degree was the fiber classes – we were lucky to have an awesome fiber studio and amazing instructor. I also taught myself basic crochet using a hand-carved pencil as a hook. Share the joy (but take the easy way) and check out Yarn at 755 E 2nd Ave.
- Here are a few thoughts on How to Be an Artist – by Jerry Saltz. I definitely agreed with this line in #6 – Carry a sketchbook with you at all times – and especially liked the list in #7 (I have some homework to do). If you see a totem pole appear in the store, it came from the exercise in #9. Looking at art – #17! #29 – so true!
- Want to wrap up the year with a workshop? Patrice DeLorenzo has a Winter Color Painting Workshop on December 29th at Seed Studio. $125 includes all supplies. The dynamic and subtle color relationships that create atmosphere and light will be our focus in this fully guided workshop. The colors that surround us in late fall and winter are perfect for this class. These five hours of instruction, guidance, painting and personal attention will allow you to relax and trust your own creative intuition. For more information contact Patrice at 970-799-8838 or patricefineart@gmail.com.
- New product – Very Big Sketch Book – This sketchbook is aptly named! At 600 12.5×10.75″ pages there will be plenty of space for you to work out visual puzzles, to capture your days in drawings, and to start over on another page when needed. Perhaps it will be left on the coffee table and you can watch as it fills up over time as friends, family, and random visitors help you add to its pages! And when you’re suffering from Art Attacks, this is the perfect place to help you get all of those ideas out of your head and down onto paper. (This might not be the sketchbook that Jerry Saltz recommends you carry around everywhere.)
I don’t know if I’m really much of a writer, but sketching the world around me helps me to do the same things – I can look back at sketches from years ago and immediately return to that moment. What I was thinking, the smells, sounds, and sights that surrounded me. It doesn’t matter how rough the sketch is – it allows me to time travel. Remember, you don’t tell the story of your life, you live it.
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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