THAT’S A WRAP, This is a self-portrait. You can likely see the minor “flubs” I didn’t yet fix. And I didn’t fix them because I wanted you to see the continued fun I have with art. Yes, I’ll happily finish it up, but I thought you’d like to come visit this particular moment—a moment when you can see the obvious joy of creating, throwing in strokes and color, laying in details, some loose but surely accurate. I’ll continue to have ecstatic moments until the final brushstroke. But then, I just might leave it alone. We artists have that choice. Like a film director saying, “that’s a wrap!” 

It’s Time
In my art studio, each day seems to go by in just a few hours—today it’s already tomorrow. But I’ll not complain. I’m in my studio right now and know there’ll be many great tomorrows welcoming me in my art journey. This art studio is Earth’s heaven. Angst disappears as an angel touches my shoulder. At that moment, I feel ready to allow my talents full reign with creating.

Age
As I’ve often firmly said: I don’t look at myself in the mirror anymore. Now, I’d rather see my mind. My mind is much younger than my mug. And it’s the same with many of my artist friends. Age is not something we think of except when we have to blow out candles at that yearly event. We joyously continue creating images with all those wondrous things we see. Age means nothing; existing means everything.

KAINAI CHIEF, This Kainai chief has a moment of calm awareness. Observe the shapes and highlights. Do a pencil sketch of this pastel and experience how I brought his portrayal to life.

Your Own Style
Work with the right art mentors, as working on the wrong basics will instill terrible results. Once you’ve nailed down those great, classic “basics,” in art, you will certainly be approaching your own individual way. Like Neil Peart on drums, Aretha Franklin singing, Heath Ledger acting or Mary Cassatt painting. There are so many individuals of such monumental talent. Raise your personal technique and approach with the truly magnificent art principles. Now, you’re on your way. Having your own “style” in art means your art has finally found you. A natural flow from your insightful mind and through to your fingertips. We artists become more ourselves through our creations. It’s a profound and steady journey, which has thankfully no end. We are continually inspired with our life and surroundings and keep learning from endless visual delights. What a grand way for us to spend our precious years.

Art Likes Variety
Art doesn’t like equality, such as equal light and dark or equal warm and cool. Rather, art likes a dominant color and a dominant value. Check Rembrandt or Serov. Also remember, if your design is strong, you can slightly break a few art principles. And while you’re at it, take a look at Juaquin Sorolla’s masterpieces. I had the good fortune of walking through his studio in Madrid. His art and spirit are still there.

Interpretation
I like to mention conversations where someone says to me, “In art, realism is just like a photograph.” I’ll usually reply with, “Oh no. What you see in my art is my interpretation of the subject—and please understand, I’m not a camera.” After they give me an embarrassed look, we begin a good natured, non-art conversation.

Friendships
I’ve had artist and non-artist friends my whole life. All of us are close and we continually get together. Most of the friends I traveled with to distant lands were artists. We had similar needs, likes, preferences, observations and, yes, occasional workshops. From England to the Fiji Islands, these were incredible, joyous experiences—way beyond description.

There’s More to Color than Just Color
Don’t throw on color just to make the work colorful. Also, as we begin to really understand values in a painting, our colors will then naturally begin to elevate our art. And again, don’t forget the Munsell Color Theory.

ON AN ISLAND, This pastel demo was done fairly rapidly, with special care taken with her features. Her shawl and hair were completed with just a few strokes. Yet, at this very moment, she is with us.

Art Experience
Try drawing a face using just blues, turquoise, greens and purples, plus white and black. Have various values at the ready, but no warm colors. You’re forcing yourself to further understand values. It will open up another mental door.

Applying
At the start of a work, I often lay haphazard strokes here and there upon the pastel paper. Then rub it in with a paper towel. I begin applying more detail around my subject, working the foreground and background together. But from the beginning, I’m more focused on the foreground details. It’s a combination of “getting it right” and also feeling like “me” right from the very beginning. It makes a painting grow with well-earned confidence and pure artistic spirit—very little brain freezing corrections.

A Few Pointers
The shadow area of a well-lit subject has fewer small details and textures than the area that is in the light. But also, if the piece is mostly in shadow, we put details in that shadow and paint the few light areas with slightly less detail. Back when I first learned this, my heart doubled its beat.

When you take your own photos as opposed to working from other photographs, then there’s more of you in the artwork. You chose the subject, angle, lighting, expression, distance, etc.

Working from life gives our working from photographs more of that life—like a film director fully experiencing the real world, having those feelings and intricacies flowing into the film.

I don’t quite know anatomy, but I do know shapes and shadows.

Walk away from your art piece, then come back and look at how the edges are working—soft, hard and lost. Like taking a quick break from a poem you just wrote.

THE MATRIARCH, She’s on her way to get food and clothing for her family in Oaxaca. Charcoal was applied to a white textured board.  The light coming from two directions adds to the euphoria of the drawing. I strived for accuracy in forming her face and hands.  Broad strokes were placed with folds around the shoulders.  Loose shadows on her dress and background add to the overall dramatic design.

So True
The more we “indulge” in what we love, the less time we waste with what worries and grieves us. Creating art is the ultimate remedy. For instance, put this magazine down and do a quick sketch of anything. Then get back here with me, and we’ll see how you feel. Our art is our aesthetic partner.

Where We’re Going
I knew I was going to be an artist from the start. Simple as that. But here’s an interesting part: all of my plans went sideways, upside down and sometimes backwards. Then some of those backwards turned out forwards. In other words, many of my intentions were achieved but through ways I had not imagined. Putting it simply, our strong desire to create art has the strength of a dozen work horses. We plow through whatever gets in our way.

Flow of Freedom
We don’t want to hesitate too long when putting in a dab or stroke because it’ll take away the spontaneity we’ve earned over the years. The more we work at the easel with our brush or pencil or pastel stick, the more those strokes are magic to our eyes. Time, learning, energy and patience take us to where we’ve always dreamed. One of my friends continued getting excited and inspired with each artwork he did, right to his final painting at the age of 99! It’s the same feeling with so many artists.

What We Like
Many years ago, I no longer wanted to be told which artists were important and what artworks I should admire. I figured, hey, I’ll pick and choose who and what I like. We each decide for ourselves: what we eat, where we go, who our friends are and what art we appreciate.  —