Important points for me in my development as an artist were that I fully absorbed the talents and knowledge of major artists. Most important is they were strong individuals with dynamic thoughts and approaches in art. I couldn’t get enough from these masters in my learning years. As I often say, I’m now my own mentor. At the same time, I will continue to thank those who took the time in generously passing their knowledge to so many of us.

For the Record
I’ve worked with pastel on Canson paper for over half a century and not for one moment have I felt enough is enough. Every one of the billions of pastel strokes has inspired me for more. Each time I’m at the easel, I’m excited as if I were about to take a new adventure into a fantasyland. Often, my eyes water knowing that yes, I’m living my dream. True as the sky is blue.

Impress Into the Mind
Get in front of your easel and mess around with colors. Play with red against blue-green, purple against yellow, blue against orange. Those are (Munsell) “complement” colors. See how your eyes react when working them abstract. These moments will stay in your mind and broaden your understanding with what colors can do. Incidentally, apply an old classic rule: use more of one color than the other...like more red than the blue-green; or more blue-green than the red. Think of a French Impressionist artwork: large cool landscape with small warm area like a barn. Do the “abstract” today just to get these colors into your inner mind. They’ll stay there waiting for the right time.

I have “abstract” shapes flow in and around my representational works.

It was a major time in my life when I discovered shapes and how they worked within art. Same for so many artists throughout history.

Lifeless Doesn’t Exist
Sometime this week, draw the most “ordinary” subject you can find. A book on the table, a pair of shoes, a fence post, a hand, a coffee cup. Remember, you don’t have to hunt around for something “artistic”...you are artistic. Incidentally, each of those subjects I mentioned have been painted by great, historic artists, e.g. Van Gogh painted shoes. Durer’s hands. Fence posts by Sargent. You might do the coffee cup or...

What’s with Design?
Think of the design of an artwork like the plot of a film. No matter how good the acting, the film will have no purpose if there isn’t a strong storyline. And a good drawing alone will not bring an artwork to life. Remember: plot...design. Yes, another combining of the arts.

Let me add a memorable moment in my art life. When I left a master artist friend to go home, I waved what would be a final goodbye and asked him to give me one word in art to remember. He waved back and said, “design.” (I’ll not stop telling that story).

Don’t Expect
So many of my works have been done from unexpected moments. Like the person posing, the position, even my approach. In fact, I can say that not one of my works ended up as expected. Always, the mind moves while the hand moves. This happens whether you’re drawing or being pulled on water skies. An added reason why every moment of my life is gratefully interesting. Even writing this sentence, which is now ending up not as I intended. How’s that for an example!?

Forget Perfect
My inner mind tells my conscious mind when my work is finished. Often, my outer mind wants to continue fussing, which is okay to a point. But then there comes the time when that fussing is taking away some of the passion and brilliance of certain areas. Nothing human is perfect, and I like that. Who knows what “perfect” is in the arts? I want a true me in that artwork, not a polished, overdone me; the work of a creative human being and not a fusspot.

We Remain Together
I don’t do workshops anymore, but because of modern technology and thanks to International Artist, I’m here in the middle of a class with you. We’ll break and have lunch in an hour.

Outlandish Traditional
I’ve always been an “old fashioned” traditional artist with no artistic regrets. From my infancy with a pencil to this moment on a computer, I’ve lived an eccentric life beyond belief, as those of you know who have followed my career. Whatever and however you’re doing, if you feel it is positive and right for you, join me on this offbeat bandwagon and into the spirited distant we go. We are artists, we think and live like artists.

And the Real Thing
I don’t draw what I don’t see because it can end up a cliché version of the subject I’m after. Like a rock or a tree or yes, a face. I’m inspired by the “real thing” that is visually before me. I observe it and my artistic years and imagination know what to do with it. As they say, interpret it.

Years ago, I heard that representational artists were simply cameras taking photographs of their subjects. At first it bruised my ego. But soon enough, I understood those taunts were from those who felt superior, knowing what was and wasn’t “serious art.” You and I are no more human cameras than a pianist is a “player piano.”

“Representational art” is a fulfillment in personal visions brought to life on paper and canvas. I’ve known so many artists who’ve painted landscapes, still lifes, portrayals, animals, dramatic scenes. Those artists’ works are unique, different, filled with their personal approach and talent. When we get together in a show, I’m in Artist Paradise. So much to see and talk about with each and every work. My world as an artist has been diverse and inspiring and I’m forever thankful in deciding art was my life. You feel the same.

Sage with Age
I say this from observations, experiences and personal knowledge of subject: Being in the art world keeps our minds young. I know hundreds of artists, many in their upper 90s and their thinking is just as vital, interesting, wise and creative as when I knew them 50 years ago. You, dear reader, and I made the right choice in our lives. Let’s go to bed tonight and give ourselves a quiet smile of contentment.

Framing
No question that a frame can be important with a work of art. In my first years, I had little money and spent just a few dollars on frames. No matter how good a work of art may be, a cheap, bland frame can harm its “appearance” and sale. Actually, my framing got better overnight when I joined with a great art dealer. He put my pastels and drawings into hand-made frames which would include linen matts and a small gold fillet on the inside edge of the matt. He didn’t charge me but took the cost off when my artwork sold. The framing made quite a difference. I’m mentioning this here as part of our art world. It’s not because of the flourish of the frame, it’s because the frame aesthetically joins together with the art. Like attending a wedding.

The Ways of this World
Way back, my prices started at one dollar for a portrait drawing. When I upped it to $2, that meant 100 percent increase, and I still got customers. When I hit the $5 mark, I thought this was taking a big chance, but things carried joyfully on the upswing over the years. Well, today, art prices and sales in the art world are all over the place in galleries and auction houses. Whoever you are reading this, know that we’re all in the same unexpected, unbelievable world. We’ll get through. We are artists and that is our strength. No need to explain further. —