In this issue...

• Stay in the Game
• Upcoming Workshops
• Ongoing Events
• Purple Crayon Shirts

My husband is a huge soccer fan. His favorite team is the Seattle Sounders FC, which have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs since 2007, the year they were founded. That’s quite a record!

The other day, I asked him why they’ve been so successful, and he explained that they have an uncanny ability to recognize and develop potential talent. They bring on relatively unknown players and turn them into stars.

I imagine that some of the players might not be aware of what their hidden talent is until they’re recruited. I see this at Purple Crayon all the time; undiscovered talent surfaces quite frequently.

For example, a couple of years ago, I gifted a friend of mine a seat in one of our alcohol ink art workshops as a thank-you present. This woman was already an amazing artist, but she primarily worked with clay, both natural and synthetic (polymer), prior to the workshop.

Once my friend started experimenting with alcohol ink art, however, she couldn’t get enough of it. Her work is incredible, and you’d never know that she’d only been painting for a relatively short time. I’m pretty sure that clay is still be her favorite medium, but alcohol ink art is surely a close second.

It’s likely that the Sounder’s recruits don’t recognize the magnitude of their talent either until they’re asked to join the team. I see this same lack of awareness at PC, too. Granted, PC’s artists may just be humble, but I believe most of them truly don’t recognize their gift until and unless someone acknowledges it. It’s often not enough to praise the artist’s work; someone has to buy it.

I remember talking with a PC member about this very thing a few months ago. She told me that she had been creating stuff for years and loved her chosen medium. She was pleased with her results but didn’t know if her work was really any good—or, at least, good enough to qualify as “art.” It wasn’t until she sold a piece that she felt validated; that she could finally call herself an “artist.” It motivated her to continue working.

It’s hard to say what would have happened to the Sounder’s recruits if they hadn’t been chosen for the team. Would they have continued to play soccer, or would they eventually have given it up? The world might have lost a great role model, an inspiring coach, or just the energy generated by a player's love of the game.

The same goes for artists. If you love what you’re making, even if you don’t think it’s very good, and even if no one ever asks to buy it, you ARE making the world a better place just by putting out positive energy. I encourage you to keep those shoes laced and stay in the game!

If you need help finding a new artistic love, our workshops are full through the end of the year. However, as always, if you see a class you’d like to take, and it’s full, please contact us to be put on the waitlist. Even if you don’t get into the original workshop, you’ll get first dibs the next time it’s offered.

Looking ahead to 2022, you can welcome the new year with a new practice: Art Journaling. This fun and inspiring workshop is scheduled for 1/8. We also have a brand new workshop, Introduction to Shibori, scheduled for 1/22—and lots more exciting classes in the works!

I look forward to playing with you!  

​—​​​​​​Pam Robbins, Owner

P.S. Purple Crayon is thrilled to be featured in the November issue of Our State magazine. If you've not seen the article, I hope you'll pick up a copy and check it out!

Upcoming Workshops

Ongoing Events

Purple Crayon Shirts

If you've found inspiration at Purple Crayon, now you can inspire others—and support the studio—by wearing a Purple Crayon shirt! You can pick from several styles (classic tee, slim fit tee, V-neck tee, long sleeve tee, pullover hoodie, and sweatshirt). The slim fit and V-neck tee come in a medium purple, and the rest of the shirts come in a dark purple (pictured below). Your shirt(s) will ship directly to your home. Order yours today!