Dear Artist, After the last letter, Fred Hulser of Houston, Texas, asked if I might write about the business of accessing the commercial gallery system. Thanks, Fred. I’ll cover protocol and the actual dealing in another letter. Right now, here’s…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Denise Thigpen wrote, “I’ve been drawing my whole life but never had any confidence in myself that I might get anywhere without a degree. I’m in college now and although I’m learning, I am not getting out…
Dear Artist, Among the more valuable skills is the ability to render forms. To get them right painters of other times laboured over spheres, cones and blocks. While it’s not always expected in today’s art, form-finding is well worth revisiting.…
Dear Artist, On Thursday we attended the 90th birthday of George Lengvari. It was a high-end affair in a posh club. Old friends took the mike, toasted him and told tales of his remarkable life and success. George is in…
Dear Artist, Right from the very beginning, Pavel Tretyakov let everyone know that he was collecting not for himself but for the state. The inheritor of moderately successful importing, textile and banking businesses, Pavel, at age 24, started out by…
Dear Artist, It’s the world’s largest and cheapest art gallery. Every day more than 8 million people take a ride on The Moscow “Metro” Underground. In rush hours the trains arrive every 50 seconds. For a dollar or less you…
Dear Artist, In St. Petersburg you don’t want to order your vodka with orange juice. It’s considered a “waste” and servers will frown at your lack of couth. You take the classic shooter straight. Cruising Russian art of recent times…
Dear Artist, At the National Army Museum in Chelsea you can get an understanding of the lives of men and women who have served in the British army. It’s hands-on from the Battle of Agincourt in France to today’s action…