Welcome to ACES WEEKLY Volume 74, Week Seven!

Friends, There's an art supplies store near me that has the clarion call in its window : ' Let's fill this town with Artists! '. Their hope, of course, is to have that happen with artists who'll be buying their supplies from that particular store - though at £50 for a box of watercolor crayons, they may be hoping in vain. When I was helping out aspiring artists in a formal capacity some time back for a great cartoon arts school that no longer exists, I often encountered a desire from some for a magical thing called Bristol Board, which they pursued the possession of in the belief that it was an essential asset for the improvement of their work.  Yes, it wasn't, but the people who made - and maybe still make - Bristol Board, would have never made an effort to disabuse students of art of the illusion that drawing on it would somehow make their work better by some mysterious alchemy.  Why would they do that, when it makes more money for them and the stores who sell it for them than any other kind of drawing surface that will do just as well for the purpose of learning.  It's bad enough that we're all ruthlessly exploited in meeting the needs of our many necessary requirements of existence like fuel, food, and water.  Let's all try to avoid being exploited through just how we choose to express ourselves!  : )  Stay safe, all!  And see you again soon in Volume 75!

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