Your journey has molded you for the greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be.
~ Asha Tyson
It’s easy to fixate on the destination—the finished project, the big goal—but we often forget that the real magic happens in the small, seemingly unrelated steps along the way. I’ve had times where I felt like I was wandering, taking on jobs or learning skills that didn’t seem to align with my creative vision. But looking back, I realize each of those steps—every detour and side quest—taught me something essential. Those experiences gave me the tools, insights, and confidence I needed to finally bring my ideas to life.
- This week’s artist is – David Kassan – whose work I saw in Artists’ Magazine. For even more, check out his website and instagram!
- Charles Waterhouse would have been 100 on Sunday!
- Strathmore has shared a free online workshop – Drawing Imaginary Scenes in Ink + Color.
- We recently got some aluminum artist panels with Aqua Coldpress adhered to one side from Legion papers to test out. While I’m looking forward to testing out the paper – I’m excited to paint on the aluminum backing. Here’s a conversation and a post about painting on aluminum.
- Relatedly, here are a couple of videos about painting on copper.
- The FBI’s website has a listing of their top 10 art crimes.
- Here’s “The Raven” read by James Earl Jones. And some Othello at the Obama White House.
- And this is James Earl Jones
- The Great Ball Contraption is a class of machines built with Lego that transport small balls from place to place in many different ways. The otherwise pointless handling of balls, and the myriad ways this is accomplished, gives great ball contraptions the impression of a Rube Goldberg machine. These machines can be quite large and elaborate and are displayed at Lego events around the world. Here’s a video of a recent GBC at an event in Japan.
- Sculptors never panic; they just chip away at the problem.
Fun Fact: The color International Klein Blue (IKB) was invented by artist Yves Klein to represent the sky and the sea, embodying his ideas on the infinite and the void.- The Durango Open Studio Tour is coming up next month. October 4-6, 2024, emerging and professional artists will opening their doors all over Durango, Colorado to explore local art studios, discover inspirational art and connect with artists. You’ll have the opportunity of local fine art to purchase, explore artist’s techniques, and view a range of art in each studio. https://www.durangoopenstudiotour.com/
- Today from 11-1 is Community Shred Day at Alpine Bank in 3 Springs. Clear out the clutter and support sustainability! Join us for a free Document Shredding Day, hosted by Alpine Bank, Durango Chamber of Commerce, and Phoenix Recycling. Safely dispose of your unwanted documents and protect your personal information. Suggested donation is $10 per box (up to 3 boxes), and all proceeds benefit the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE). No need to remove staples or paperclips—just bring your documents and we’ll take care of the rest!
- Also today from 4:30-6 – Tour the Santa Rita Demonstration Gardens. The Demonstration Gardens will be comprised of three unique garden landscapes. There is a Pollinator Garden comprised of a multitude of diverse flowering native plants favorable to our local pollinators. A Forest-scape garden which will attempt to recreate the spirit and vegetation found in our surrounding forests yet planted with the intention to be inviting and open to the users of the Animas River Trail. There will also be a Xeric Rain Garden, comprised of xeric plants, natural gravel beds, local boulders and rain capturing features intended to help the gardens be self-sufficient when it comes to water need.
- If you’d prefer to be inside, head to the Durango Library at 6 for the Word Honey Poetry workshop.
- Also at the Durango Library, Friday from 4-6 is Books, Brats, & Brews – Head down and party on the back patio at Durango Public Library! Friends book giveaway, local beers from ska, live music local bands: Sounds Like Practice and Galavant, and family-friendly games. Free and open to all!
- Friday is a Sip and Sketch at Seed Studio, from 5-7. Come Sip and Sketch with Andy Young from Durango Figure Drawing to celebrate Art Month at Seed Studio.
- The Autumn Gallery Walk is Friday, from 5-8. Meet our artists, see our new collections, enjoy a cultural, social event on the town. Enjoy refreshments, music and unique and fabulous art of all genres as we welcome you into our galleries for one of Durango’s favorite Fall events.
- The Gallery Walk kick’s off a weekend of Art in Durango! It’s also the 30th annual Autumn Arts Fest! Saturday and Sunday on 2nd Ave.
- Sunday is the Durango Tool Library’s Repair Day, from 10-2. Don’t despair, repair! Bring your wobbly chairs, tattered shirts, malfunctioning bicycles, and toasters on-the-blink to the Repair Café. A crew of volunteers will be on-hand to help you diagnose and fix your things.
- Wanted, Youth Entrepreneurs! Are you an amazing youth baker, a youth artist with artwork to sell or a youth that offers a service like babysitting or balloon making? Join the Youth Makers Market! The Durango Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace which will showcase the creative arts, goods, and services of local Youth Entrepreneurs between 8-17 years of age. In addition to creating a product or service, participants are encouraged to develop their own brand, build a marketing strategy and utilize their communication skills while interacting with potential customers at the one-day marketplace! Fee for Youth Entrepreneur: $10.00 Durango Youth Arts Festival & Youth Makers Market, Saturday October 19th, 2024 at Buckley Park.
- 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, Picasso & Vino, 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 recently received a shipment of New Mexico Clay. So if you like to sling some around… it’s a great time to stock up! (If you come in and see something new in the clay section, that’ll be in next week’s email!)
The journey is the destination in many ways. Without those moments of uncertainty, we wouldn’t grow into the creators we’re meant to become. So if you’re feeling stuck or off-track, take heart—every step is progress, even if it doesn’t seem like it.
Trust that the seemingly unrelated experiences you’re having now will come together to shape your future work. Keep moving forward. The world needs your art, and every part of the journey is preparing you to create it.
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – We want everyone to make art. So we’re putting together a kit of supplies and guides on how to use them – enabling everyone to make art, no matter where they are, no matter how much time they have available. Want to be the first to know and see behind the scenes? Sign up for the waiting list.