| You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected. ~ Amanda Palmer |
It’s interesting to hear the question intros we receive at the store – “This is a random question…” or “I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking for…” or “I’m not a REAL artist but…” People so often conflate being a real artist with making a career out of art making. The definitely seems to be much simpler – an artist is someone who makes art. (A professional artist is one who makes a living from selling their art.) Furthermore, creativity is defined as “the ability to create”. Thus, everyone who comes into the Art Supply House is an artist of some sort. Maybe they’re not a fine artist in the traditional sense – but we have so many cooks and bakers, writers, builders, and other sorts of creatives that it’s astounding. All in addition to the fine artists that we get to work with!
- This week’s artist is – Lauren Grinde – an enthusiastic, kind-hearted young woman who always has a smile on her face and a pencil in hand. Her artistic dedication reminds me of an olympian in training – from summer art intensives, volunteering with the Art Center, and working here with us – she is always pursuing a further knowledge of art. Though her focus is fantasy style caricatures, she is not afraid to try new mediums and go outside her comfort zone to learn something exciting. Check out more of her art on her instagram.
- Yarns, Threads, and More has a variety of classes coming up (and filling up fast!) so if you’re interested in knitting, crocheting, macrame, or other fiber arts – check out their schedule and reserve your spot!
- Wish you had better handwriting? Here’s a course to help with that.
- Need something to do Thursday evenings? Head to the Smiley Building at 5 and join the Glean Team in helping the Good Food Collective gather free food from our town’s fruit trees.
- This is an interesting video that shows how scientists colorize the photos of space, which apparently all start out black and white.
- On a less, um, precise note – the video above made me think of this Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.
- This Saturday is Local First’s 4th annual Harvest Dinner. Join them from 5-9 on the Smiley Lawn for an amazing experience. Make sure to grab your tickets!
- The Durango Arts Center‘s 25th annual Autumn Arts Festival is getting close – be sure to mark Sept 21-22 so that you don’t miss it! (Here’s more info, if you need any details.)
- Speaking of upcoming events – the Fall Gallery Walk is the same weekend as the Arts Festival – Friday, September 20th.
- Here’s a fun tutorial showing how to draw sunflowers.
- Bradley Kachnowicz will be showing work at the Rochester Hotel. The opening is this evening, from 5-7pm.
- We’re in the process of hanging art in the store, so keep an eye out on your next visit – it’ll be here for a month.
- Our next art contest will be going live on Friday. Details will go live on the contest page of our website.
- This week’s featured products are balsa block packs! Both my Dad and Granddad were whittlers and so I’ve always had a love of carved projects. There’s something to be said for a traditional art that can be carried in your pocket and worked on with just a single tool. Want to make something with your hands (even just a fancy toothpick…) then get some carving wood and see what you can come up with. The fox and in-progress squirrel below were some of my weekend projects.
Would I consider myself an artist? Absolutely! Do I make any money from selling my art? No – and if you ask I’ll let you know that I don’t even try to sell it. That artistic background, the practiced creativity that comes from the art-making experience – that’s why being an artist is a requirement of everyone who works at the store. We understand the materials and techniques, can find a creative solution to a problem, and generally enjoy the challenge. We love being here and seeing your project, whatever form it happens to take. Don’t sell yourself short… you’re an artist!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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