| Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~ Charles W. Eliot |
I have been spending quite a bit of time listening to artist interviews. It’s fascinating to learn the different ways that professional artists make their living (10 artists = 10 methods), how they approach the business of art, how they learned/continue to learn. I’ve taken a few pages of notes while listening. Of course, the hard part is applying those lessons – of following up the inspiration with the work of art making. It’s so easy to continue gathering information and not actually putting it to use!
Speaking of struggles – I want to try something a little different with this email. After reading it, would you hit reply and tell me what your biggest challenge to making art is?
- This week’s artist is – Carla Grace – a wildlife artist I recently heard interviewed on a podcast. I hit rewind quite a bit while taking notes about being a professional artist, and that was before I saw her work! Check out her online gallery, read through her blog, watch some videos (I loved the jaguar). For even more info, head over to Carla’s website.
- There is a full week of classes at the Scrapbook Nook. Join the gals tomorrow at 1 to celebrate fall with lumberjacks, animals, plaid and more! Then on Saturday at 10 and Tuesday at 1 you can work on a variety of fun Christmas cards. They are also offering a series of open classes at 11am on Wednesdays!
- Here’s a worthwhile goal – Sylvia Fein is still painting at 100! She’s got a 70-year retrospective show on display. I find it comforting to know that I’ve got plenty of time to keep making art… I’ll need it to get as good as I’d like to.
- A new show, My Beloved West by Louise Grunewald is opening at the DAC on Friday. The reception will be held from 5-7 in the Art Library, upstairs.
- If you’re a fan of The Wizard of Oz, they just build a yellow brick sidewalk in honor of Frank Baum.
- The Durango Flea Market is scheduled for Sunday, offering a range of items from funky to functional. Swing by the La Plata County Fair Grounds from 8-3 and see what you can scavenge.
- Not everyone’s a fan of debating different, detailed art theories.
- Remember being a kid and playing with invisible ink? Here are a couple of recipes if you want to give it another go.
- I recently had the opportunity to clean a painting. It’s always fun to help restore a piece of original art, and amazing what a few decades will do to a painting (or a framed piece.) The first photo shows the dirty spot that hasn’t been cleaned, the second has everything cleaned except that spot in the sky, and the third photo shows the clean painting and frame.
- Speaking of older paintings, here’s a brief video with some JMW Turner watercolors.
- Want to play with watercolors for yourself? Here is a video with some ways to start your painting.
- Here are the winners from our Draw Something contest. We’ll be announcing our final contest of the year in next week’s email!
- 1st – Dana
- This week’s featured products are empty tins and watercolor half-pans for DIY portable watercolor kits.I know I’m a fan of these (at last count I’ve got at least 7) – the ability to always have some paint with me, to mix-and-match the colors of my choice based on destination or whim, to combine both gouache and watercolor as options… plus the fun of putting together the kit itself! The photo below is the current carry-about, which might be a more exciting visual than a pristine tin and set of half-pans.
I know that I asked you to reply to this email with your biggest art-making struggles. While writing about Carla, today’s featured artist, I had another thought about art struggles. If you’re afraid that you’re “behind” or don’t know enough… she’s self-taught – you can do it too! She spent years practicing and learning and growing and making mistakes… but that’s just part of the process. A formal education codifies that experience, but it’s the same whether you’re lead by a book, a teacher, or videos online. Either way – the world needs your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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