The feminine mystique

I remember the days that we women had to use our last names because of a mans world and no one wanted a painting by us . Now i sign my paintings Beverlyee and proud to do so. Bev

Here is another to add to the list: *Women like to talk and can participate in several conversations at the same time while painting. (They drove me away from the class/studio. Listening to music and ear plugs did not help).

Betty Friedan’s book was one of those I read that changed my life! I learned to look at the world in a whole new way. Following your passion has never been easy and even though times have changed, women still are confronted with the same blocks and issues we had 40 years ago. Families who think we should have a “real” job, husbands who want us to focus only on them and the kids, and bias against artists who are “strange”. Most women I know have to find a balance of their artistic life and their personal life to make it work and try to ignore the nay-sayers. Many wait until retirement before pursuing their passion and sometimes this works. I have a lot of respect for the women who pushed their way through the difficulties early in life and stuck with it in spite of everything.

It’s always guaranteed to start a conversation, if not an argument when someone says, “women are ‘this’ and men are ‘that'”. So much generalization! What REALLY annoys me is that we seem to be back to the 1960’s when there are pink pastel passive toys for girls and blue bright active toys for boys, and heaven forbid that a girl should play with trucks or a boy like to cook or decorate! Gender roles for kids are more fearfully segregated than they ever were before. I don’t know if this will spark another backlash, or things will just get more restrictive. Strangely enough, I think it’s because of the hard economic climate. When things are rough, people want to go back to the “good old days” but they don’t seem to remember what wasn’t so good about them.

Just this last weekend, an premier league English soccer game was groundbreaking, because it had a female linesman. First time at this level of a game. The really interesting thing was the presenters were recorded making insulting off-air remark. Here is one of the lines recorded “Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.” The big problem for these boys was, she was flawless in her performance at the game. It resulted in both of these presenters, who are very well established in there careers, have been suspended from their jobs. I believe Betty would be very pleased. The fact that a woman was doing a “linesman’s” job, and that the male bonding of talking trash about woman is no longer acceptable. Our daughters will think a book like Betty’s, should belong in a museum, and this generation will be happy to donate our copy for the purpose.

This will be quite the discussion! I hope there won’t be much wailing though.

Women artists need a wife!

Betty Friedan indeed changed western thinking about women in their traditional role as homemakers. Thanks, Betty. I was along for the ride and benefited. However, from most reports she was selfish, combative, abrasive, and the fireworks at home were equal to what she instigated wherever she spoke. An artistic life is a balanced life and a revolutionary rarely has one. Your list of attributes women bring to the easel could easily have described men. When we can evaluate an individual work instead of “women artists” or “men artists,” art is the beneficiary. We’re not there yet and it may still take another generation. The title of “Housekeeper” was once a paid and honorable profession. What is bewildering is why some are perfectly willing to hire those services but most American women pursue a career thinking they can do so without breaking stride. Impossible. “Men work from dawn to done but a woman’s work is never done.” Instead of railing over that fact I’m comfortable knowing I personally am a nurturer and anything I accomplish in life will be subjective to putting family first. There is no conflict in knowing yourself and no anxiety in working within perimeters. I wish more men would consider that. If we’re not careful the casualties along the road to success are our children. Equally, artists of both genders face the same feelings of distraction and anxious times. We’re in this thing together and economics does not discriminate – only those who are in power do.

Hi it is the mad poet in the woods here, As always I enjoyed your morning artistic self help. One does wonder about gender and the arts. As a poet it seems to me the base audience for poetry is women. I believe women are a better audience for poetry as they may be more hard wired to respond to complex audio cues. Men are fairly simplistic when it comes to their attraction to visual cues, and women since the beginning of time have been aware of this discourse and had tried to use it to their advantage within the power structure. Weaving was maybe the first mass visual art form that employed colors and design. For “fine” art the question arises, sure the gender of the workers may change; especially at a time when the “professional painter” may be paid less and less within the gallery system; but who are the patrons? Does changing the gender of the workers in the factories change the basic contradictions of the system? Today most of the workers of the world are third world woman. They will not be the ones buying your paintings. Their bosses are the ones who will buy paintings. Painters here will have to paint what they like if they want to sell. Different factories. Same bosses. The West? We speak of a Global Economy and then say “The West” is being threatened? The Chinese invented paper money. Western Feudalism is long dead. Capitalism and its relationship to the global communist property of pollution is now the major contradiction of our times. “Route to Evanescence” Poet-girl’s response to Painter-man’s Landscapes laced with subliminal sex. For I have but the power to kill, Without – the power to die – Emily Dickenson For I too have but powers to kill Within – power never lies – for snake, hummingbird and I – my poems can never identify lightning honey on a tongue buzzing bee a silenced hum in mansions never disclosed snake stretches out his cloths hummingbird, my lead dew he licks, overflow Pearl of an other’s – dick. The Apparatus of high yellow Art turned here into my inadvertent fart. “Your cxx is clouds on my tongue.” now in galleries of King’s is hung. Eyes wrung wet with my Storm – $5000 can never be called – Porn. Revolving Wheel’s Morning Ride – I like to feel it when it is applied. Economical God Amherst Bell? Cochineal birds “moved” to Hell. Victory is soon coming to hot lips – as my drop drowns investor’s ships. Lick up landscapes my thunder’s son! Steam on Stones – Plated Wares fun. Venom beats as starving hearts sing, pure silver pulse of amputated Sting. Forever a hummingbird and a snake – bee falling dead – into a tranquil lake. Jim Larwill Lac Bussiere, Quebec wolf@ncf.ca

Now, if only people would stop buying “art” from places like Target and Bed, Bath’s & Beyond. These mass-produced prints that cater to tight budgets make it almost impossible for artists, male and female, to sell, unless they’ve already made a name for themselves. Here’s a case in point. I was up in Traverse City two summers ago, perusing the galleries and enjoying a bit of retail therapy. I was in a little alleyway, in-between a real art gallery and a print gallery. Both places offered art, but one had original art from local artists, and the other had mass-produced prints — the same kind you see on the shelves at department stores, from non-local artists. I was sitting on a bench in the alley, people-watching and sipping a latte. Two men were commenting on the lovely original work, but then decided on a print from the shop next door. I watched them from the beginning of their search to the end, and when they picked their print, I called out, “buy original art — you’ll be happier!” They laughed and carried their print into the shop to pay for it. As they walked out I asked them why they opted for the print. The reply was, “it was cheaper.” I have heard similar comments from other people over the years. Many who just want to fill wall space. There are many injustices in the art world and trying to survive, and keep up one’s morale in the midst of it, is very difficult when you don’t have a name for yourself. Not to brag, but I used to sell more work five years ago, when my work wasn’t nearly as good as it is now. I have continued to develop a style that has attracted many people from around the world, but nobody wants to buy it. It’s a sign of the times. There are so many artists out there offering wall filler for dirt cheap — it’s hard to compete. Thankfully, I make art because I HAVE to, not because I want to get rich doing it. For me, it’s like breathing. I am proud that I have come this far in the world, with my art and with everything else I’ve done, as a strong, independent woman. I have to work hard to stay motivated, especially since I deal with certain OCD tendencies, agoraphobia, and a neuromuscular disorder. I am not housebound, but I am on permanent disability. I struggle every single day. I flow and I ebb, but I persevere. I think my work is better than some, and not as good as others, but worthy. In the big sea of art, I’ve dog-paddled all the way because I couldn’t swim through the obstacles with ease. But I’m getting there. SMH www.shawnmhardy.com

Robert, Something you aid at the very end of your letter today, really struck me. For many of us, both men and women, there is enough to be done just watching the world go by — and being entertained. That is really profound. Is our world, and are our lives, slowly changing from ‘doing’ to ‘watching and being entertained’? That would certainly be tragic, on so many levels. Unfortunately, I fear you may be right. Inactivity is becoming a way of life for so many; being entertained is the order of the day. Certainly food for thought.

Hi all! There are so many possibilities out there, I think its time to drop the gender comparisons and just do art. As a book illustrator and writer (as well as a painter) the advent of electronic books and their infinite possibilities of interaction and creative scope opens up a universe for all to explore. Glad to be alive and able to learn and grow in this astounding environment.

Another attribute that women bring to their easels is attention to detail and an honouring of the process of craftsmanship. Men, by contrast, bring the big ideas, the audacity, the willingness to take chances. Good artists, bring a combination of these to their work.

I was 13 years old when Betty’s book came out. I read it then. I couldn’t believe how great her ideas were to me as a Midwestern girl and the hope that she gave me.Thank you so much for acknowledging all that you said about her, about painting and about women. I love to paint. You are wonderful to understand that much about woman and our challenges. I have never heard it said before. You must have an amazing wife and perhaps female children?

Something as basic to human-kind as creativity is not, nor has it ever been gender-specific. Male and female brains evolved side by side. “Millions of women” probably designed 95% of that shopping load of products apparently responsible for their surge of creativity. Women jumped on the wagon of creativity Pre-wagon Era. In fact we probably designed the wagon too, because when we weren’t cleaning that wagon, washing clothes on stones, cooking, mending and sewing, we were sitting in it caring for future generations of creative souls, and we probably wanted to be comfortable as possible, so we persistently developed means and ways to achieve that. “Philosophical but nevertheless combative attitudes” are only exasperated responses from a gender shut out of the boy’s club as if we weren’t as worthy, denied rights to open self expression, and who obeyed for far too long.

In high school my teachers encouraged me to try for a scholarship to one of the many wonderful NYC schools. My mother wouldn’t hear of it. Her comment..”Nice girls don’t become artists”. She was obviously thinking about Greenwich Village…a hippie hotbed! Well, I did NOT try and became a Registered Nurse instead…even though she favored teaching as a profession. Marriage and four children later saw my nursing skills only being used to raise my family, By then I was living in Miami, FL and had just found Miami-Dade Community College…a very excellent college. During 4 years of studio classes there, I was recommended for a Merit Scholarship…and got it! (Only about 22 years late!). For about 30 years I created ceramic sculptures and art for the Interior Design Trade and high-end home builders. The next chapter of life has brought me to North Carolina where I started refreshing my painting skills. (I always joked that when the bags of clay got too heavy for an old woman, I would paint again.) Well, lo and behold, I am painting …and TEACHING art in the Continuing Education program at our local Community College. I teach oils, pastels and acrylics……and loving it!!! So I guess I am a teacher, after all! Never too old to change. Betty would be proud!!!

When I received my Bachelor of Agriculture Degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1963, a class of 65, all were men. There was no woman student in the College. All that changed, and changed dramatically. For over 20 years women have outnumbered men in the College and generally outperformed them. When I served a term as Associate Dean Academic in the ’90s, the top 20 to 30 students entering from High School were young women. Gary Storey Professor Emeritus

Don’t you mean, “Steady, well-regulated, workwomanlike habits”? ha ha

I must say for some inexplicable reason, that I read your letters. I have always looked for information on the arts; in particular, painting, that might in some way be useful to me. I am utterly selfish on this point I know. But today’s article wherein you either seriously or in jest deal with Gender is…….disappointing to me. I can well understand that the need and search for material takes you to different parts of the world to paint, comment and interact with the “art reader”; to that extent; there has been interesting material. Delving into psychology, and gender based statistics is not your your strongest suit. I do feel that quality has nothing to do with gender and more to do with luck, training and angst. I believe also that quality in all it’s various forms is actually what people are looking for in the arts. Yes it could be the quality associated with shock or performance, as well as sloppy paint strokes but quality none the less. Every one is a critic. I have now joined that group.

At 60 and still starting out I find myself giving in to the demands of adult children still in the house and a full time job in my husband’s law office as well as a part time job on the side. While all of that commitment takes a big chunk of time, there are small bits of time I can regularly carve out for solitary exploration instead of sitting to be entertained. And I dearly miss the solitary exploration. It comes down to I just have to do it. I need to carve out my time and my space.

Thank you Robert. This is a generous and I believe sincere letter.

As the song says, Sisters are doin’ it for themselves, and the added bonus is that, now that our shackles are off, men too are free to be themselves. Some of them are finding that they like being the one to stay home with the kids, they don’t want a powerhouse job, and they’d rather not die at 60 from stress-related illnesses.

I am old enough to have read Friedan’s book, though as I remember, I don’t think I did. I lived it, instead. I was very, very fortunate in my choice of parents—my dad always taught me that I could do anything I was willing to work hard enough for. We had little money, we were definitely blue collar, but I believed him. 40 years and 34 books and hundreds of paintings later, I still do.

True that women tend to have negative feelings about themselves. But we can get over that!! I have just finished reading a most interesting book called something like 12 secrets of creative women. We really need to bring more of Betty Friedan to our work! You put it so well… Thanks as always for the good advice.

Many of us women have motivated ourselves by becoming Daily Painters. There’s nothing like it for practice, tuning up the work ethic, establishing a new tempo, and making new friends online. I am a member of http://dailypainteroriginals.com and every day I jump up, eager to paint the next one. I’m loving it.

My belief is that a good male artist works with his feminine nature. A good female artist works with her masculine. I subscribe to Jung’s ideas on what it takes to be a balanced and individuated human being. I figure there is mastery to be gained by hard work and study. But not to disregard the complimentary aspect to mastery. It is Mystery; the feminine , unknown, the soft focus to all that is possible. With both in operation, I believe real good art happens.

As a 62 year old woman who has made her living for 35 years totally from her art — Bless you for this article – especially the line “And to the disgruntlement of some of the boys, we know that women in general tend to have better art-brains.” Georgia O’Keeffe thought that generally men created on a more logical level and women on an instinctual level. Can’t wait until women do become the next big thing in art – it’s about time.

There are many painters I admire and want to emulate. I don’t consider which gender they are at all; I only know that they inspire me. And when I paint, I don’t think at all about being a woman. I just paint. Perhaps I couldn’t have gotten to this kind of consciousness without all the women who went before me, who had to figure all that gender stuff out as they went. But I certainly hope that when they painted, or sculpted or sang or wrote, they forgot who and what they were, and just let the art come through them.

Whichever art workshops I have been to or have seen photos of on the internet, I have found that women outnumber men by a great margin. Could this be the reason for women being the next big thing in art? Artist’s gender doesn’t matter if the art is good and good art comes from perseverance which I think women have in plenty. -Mandar (http://mandarmarathe.blogspot.com)

My wife read Friedan’s book and it changed my life. Did it ever! She divorced me! I suppose it was not all Betty’s fault. We had some mututal discord and Betty probably clarified some points that struck a nerve which fomented action and splitsville. Actually, in thirty -five years hindsight, Betty probably did us all a good favor.

The list has been printed in bold type and put on the studio wall. As I read it, my mind ticked off, “got it, got that too, yup.” Then I realized that what I really meant was, “mostly, yea but sometimes not, I’d like to think so, still working on that one.” *The capability and the desire to work alone. I’m absolutely capable, though by the third day with no human contact I simply must go out for a bit and talk to someone. The guy at the post office will do in a pinch. *A degree of independence from outside opinion. The older I get the easier this one is. *Steady, well-regulated, workmanlike habits. I mentally punch in and just make something, even when uninspired, even if all I can do is clean tools or sit in the space where I paint. Showing up is the first and most important step for me. We ladies seem to have an unconscious ingrained draw to the sink, the laundry, the garden, the kids, the grocery store, the desk to pay bills, the neighbor who calls. Damn, all the worthy distractions!! I say, “Walk away, go punch in, they are expecting you in there!” *The understanding that passion comes from process. Some evenings it is hard to put it all down. Flow is so precious! *The curiosity to explore sets and series. You said this many years ago and I try to do this. When I don’t, those are the designs I find least developed, flat, surprisingly disappointing. *An intuitive sense of quality and reasonable taste. Well, I have MY taste and that second point helps here. Go with your gut instinct. (First you must find it, quiet the distractions in your own head and listen) It will be there advising you but you have to listen hard sometimes. *A philosophical but nevertheless combative attitude to the miserably dying vestiges of the boy’s club. Been there, done that. I divorced the boy’s club about 15 years ago… never looked back.

I have to adamantly disagree with you. The women’s movement these days is mostly political, and has little to do with what’s good for women. I don’t know about anywhere else but in the art district where I work the women artists with children have husbands supporting them and they catch a moment or two when they can to do their art between taking care of kids. A number of older women who are artists have men supporting them and they are free to paint or whatever. Conversely, I know a number of men artists who are being supported by their wives and they are the ones taking care of the kids and snatching time just like women. As far as classes go there are a lot of baby boomers who made it and now the wives spend the money doing artsy stuff and by nature women just do that stuff more than men, human nature not nurture. I don’t think the women’s movement has as much to do with women in art as the financial stability of the home. Many men artists are in a different boat. They have families to support and then their art on top of that; many that I know have help from the wife, too. You need to rethink your theory.

Last night I came home elated from having been NOT selected for a national art competition, celebrating that I have once and for all finished with seeking acceptance from the old boys’ network. One participant proudly told me she knew the judge really well, which she felt explained her inclusion. Had my wax and ink on paper pieces been selected for judging I might well have been seduced into producing more to please people of that ilk, rather than pursuing the path that my creative process leads me down – exploration, working alone but also alongside other independent, self-organized artists of both/all genders, learning, watching the paint dry, see what happens, follow the next observation – all the things that you list at the end of your piece. And I totally agree with the last piece of writing, the esoterica – the gladiators are those artists who have learned how to perform for the judges, and good luck to them. But the fact that this exhibition was displayed in a war memorial hall says it all. Tauranga, New Zealand

This is from the Huffington Post: “Females of all ages, races and education levels are paid, on average 22 percent less than males. African American women earn 30 percent less than males and Latinas earn 42 percent less than men. The median income of older women is half what it is for older men. The AAUW states that female workers are still concentrated in traditionally female-dominated professions, especially education and health industries, which continue to be lower paying than male-dominated professions. Even in so-called male-dominated fields the disparity is great–female marketing and sales managers earned $46,696 compared to $74,932 for males according to a 2005 survey.” This from CNN: 28 out of One Thousand (emphasis mine) Fortune companies are headed by women. This from americanprogress.org: “The poverty gap between women and men widens significantly between ages 18 and 24—20.6 percent of women are poor at that age, compared to 14.0 percent of men. The gap narrows, but never closes, throughout adult life, and it more than doubles during the elderly years.” Now these statistics are only for America. Women in Third World countries have considerably less than their male counterparts.

Only four out of thirty five respondents so far are men and to a large degree the discourse has been civil. Robert opens a Pandora’s Box whenever the subject of comparisons of equality between men and women is the subject. I grew up through the sixties and the women’s movement and in looking back much have already changed while much still needs changing. The important fact here is things are changing. More importantly when women use this forum to bash men and only championing women just serves to widen the chasm that is beginning to heal. I didn’t read one comment on how much has changed and the opportunities available to women today. We need to see the cup half full not the other way round or we belittle the work of the Betty Freidan’s who worked so diligently to get this far.

One advantage most men have over women in the art field is . . . they have WIVES! You know, the person that cooks their meals, washes their clothes, takes care of the kids, cleans their house and probably their studios, answers the phones, takes messages, offers support and succor, and generally runs everything allowing the artist to actually do artwork. A significant number of woman artists have to be and do all of the above, unless they are fortunate enough to have a stay-at-home, supportive significant other. So . . . all you artists out there . . . be thankful for the help and support you are receiving from your ‘wives’ and remember to say, “Thank you!”

As one of those women of a certain age, i.e., graduating high school the same year that Betty Friedan published her milestone book, I have seen the possibilities in life for women change dramatically. What my daughter (three children, PhD in Statistics, challenging career as a consultant) and daughter-in-law(two children, law degree,challenging career as corporate counsel) take as their due, we struggled to get a glimpse of when their age. It has been a remarkable and unmistakable march to the inclusion of women on the path that heretofore was clearly marked “Men Only”. Womens’ inclusion in life as a whole has literally doubled our workforce, our brain power and shot creativity through the roof! As far as art is concerned, it was the one outlet that has been a constant part of my life over almost the entire course of it. But, when I attended college, my widowed mother made certain that I pursued a course of study that would allow me to always be able to support myself. Thus I got two degrees in education, never even considering pursuing my passion. Now that I have raised a family, helped my husband start a company, which, the good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, still is going strong some thirty-plus years later, I am finally giving rein to the right side of my brain. It is an unbelievable joy to simply create art. I have no expectations of creating ART, writ large, but I do enjoy the process of doing what I’ve always done, but do now with intention. I belong to a group of mostly women who take a studio watercolor class with an amazing woman artist who is also a gifted teacher. Those three or four hours a week we meet to paint, critique and support one another’s artistic endeavors is one of the best parts of the week, one that we all look forward to with delight. Creativity validates one’s life as no other act, for your own creative expression, no matter how amateur or professional the results may be, is something only you can do. No one else can produce exactly the same painting, sculpture, art quilt, book, poem, photograph, whatever, that you do. So thanks for the reminder that women are called to art, just as they are called to all venues of life. As the younger generation says “You go, girl!”.

Self help, self absorbed, self pity, self…………whatever. It still comes down to making excuses for not doing. I know that, for me, it was awhile after I had children that I was able to, somewhat, freely produce work. It isn’t about male or female, but it is about putting the time in and going through the motions until you understand the process. Not only do you understand, but you also learn how to manipulate the process until it becomes you. If you stay with it long enough, it really does become a part of you. Maybe I am too pragmatic, but so much of what I hear is about making this art stuff much bigger than life and in my mind that is where one loses the connection. Just paint, don’t stress over it, just paint and do it some more.

You say, “we know that women in general tend to have better art brains [than men]”? I haven’t heard that before, and I haven’t seen any evidence of it. So, I’m curious, what is your factual basis for saying it?

Good question, JCB. What do you have to say Robert?

As a writer I’m phobic about gender-benders in dialogue, so I’m considering safety of a sort in saying I want to join the ranks of the gladiators, as that phrase you wrote applies to success…” gladiators are the top earners”.

78% of painters are women? How depressing to see that figure and know that the majority of “successful” painters are men!

Rick Rotante said, “I didn’t read one comment on how much has changed and the opportunities available to women today.” I thought I had implied that in my comment. But maybe it was too vague. So let me make it abundantly clear: Yes, I am very very glad for the changes that have taken place in my lifetime that have enhanced society, and for the opportunities women have nowadays. Dude, I totally appreciate that. As for the glass, it’s full: half full of water, and half full of air!

Theresa, I loved that line, “As for the glass, it’s full: half full of water, and half full of air!” I really am glad Robert decided to bring up the touchy subject of gender… it’s a subject that I think is too often ignored in today’s society because people wish to avoid conflict… or widening the ‘chasm that is beginning to heal’… but personally, I think that’s a mistake; just pretending like everything’s okay because it makes you uncomfortable isn’t going to fix anything.

Well what a lovely painting , you get the feeling you are in it , and how wet you are getting ! . fabulous !!!

Re: Conversation Piece – I love that the reflection is missing ! “There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.” (Leonard Cohen)

Being an artist means different things to different people and we each have to define our own version of success. I find Ms. Friedan’s reference to being a wife and mother and all it involves akin to a “concentration camp” extremely disturbing and quite belittling to women. Many women CHOOSE to relegate their art careers to the back burner while they have young children in the home. If equality is the objective we must recognize that the choice of careers is what matters, not the career itself. And for some that means a balance of career AND family.

Did you write ‘clicback’ on purpose? Funny how in our art, it is creative licence to produce an anomaly, but in creative writing, it is still taboo? Just sayin’! : )

My goodness, this is a mysterious painting, definitely don’t change a thing.

I was painting all day (from 7a.m till 3 pm) and my daughter came home from school in a terrible mood…When I asked her why she was in such a bad mood, she said to me, “Well, I’d be in good mood, too, if I’d stayed home and colored all day”…Yikes! That hurt!

I don’t think I’ll worry about gender roles. They’ll pretty much take care of themselves.

Demon Umbrella! No Shadow!

The Maestro John Angel likes to tell his students at the Angel Academy of Art in Firenze, Italia, that it is not entirely true that there were no female professional artists throughout history. He is making it a bit of his mission to showcase women artists who not only painted professionally, but made good money doing it. Perhaps they did not earn the money of some of their male counterparts (perhaps they did — I do not remember). His point was that it is an error to think that women did not have access to becoming artists. He lectures that the problem is that history books were often written by men and that history books control much of what we know of the past. John Angel tends to dig deeper to find out about these professionals who were by-passed by the writers. I hope that helps someone feel better about their liberation ideas. Thanks.

My wife is trifling and annoying. She waste my time with endless errands and does all she can to keep me from my studio. She is good about spending the money from my art though. She also considers it a “hobby”. She complains when I buy supplies, she complains when I hang out with other artists. Get the picture? It is a two way street. All of the art organisations locally are female dominated as are most of the teaching positions. All of the local art organization meetings are held at times men are working and are mostly attended by retired men. As an artist I have chosen not to “play”. I work by myself, I seek opportunities for myself and enjoy my own company. I think women use to be in the minority but it is rapidly changing. As all things do the pendulum will swing to the extreme and eventually back to center. Until then I will work by myself.

Robert’s claim that “We know that women in general tend to have better art brains [than men]” is not only laughable, it’s a cynically sexist attempt to cater to his mostly female audience. Shame on you, Robert.

I believe that Robert is sincerely in awe of the “female art brain” which I think is just a figure of speech, not a reference to the anatomy. Sudden flood of female artists brought an amazing contribution to the art community with new and fresh ideas. The steady male presence appears to take a backstage in these circumstances, with nothing fundamentally new and exciting at this time. This of course is a stereotype, there are exceptions, as in any trend.

You know …I do not want to appear a prude or conservative…but of late with a surge of interest in the so called old masters…it seems that many of the magazines, are all full of nudes…I sometimes think it has gone too far…and why the almost obsession like to paint like the old masters?? Why not paint like today…I definitely think that knowing full well the rigid long structure of painting…learning the basics, grinding pigments…and so on…I think you know what I mean, that many have become more interested in process rather than painting…seems to be more emphasis on buying way too much in art stuff and supplies rather than simplifying the process and getting to the doing and painting…Why this over complicating and resulting mediocrity of much of what claims to be old master style…so much of it is just …well boring…maybe technically wonderful…but how long can you gaze into the wonders of amazing..when the presentation is only one dimensional in subject and depth…well …I am not expressing myself as well as I am thinking or feeling it…but …of the many tutorials I have participated…and the money spent…many of them by so so artists themselves…I have felt duped into thinking this would help…farthest thing from the truth ever…I firmly believe that simple process and learning to use a simple palette of colours and materials will challenge in ways that may seem apparent at first but help a potential artist immensely in seeing much much more. And tell those artists to put some clothes on those poor models…it is freezing out there and enough with the cheap and bad skin paintings…no different than your Dad’s men’s magazines under the mattress.

Theresa Bayer – I have to disagree with you. I don’t know of one women or man writer, singer, painter, sculptor who can perform or create and not be who they are as men or women. This is what makes us unique as artists and as individuals. When we create, the work produced comes from who we are. I can’t speak for you or women any more than you can speak for me or men. My work is as uniquely male as I am. I may try and speak for women but my voice is male. We can never separate our gender from our work. We may attempt to speak with a masculine/feminine voice, but ultimately, we are who we are forever and for eternity and thankfully so.

James – I’ve never read an email of someone who has missed the point of art and painting and life so much as you. You have obviously been with the wrong teachers and been given bad information. It’s time you do the work yourself and find out why the masters are called “the masters”.

Re Anne Swannell’s umbrella reflections: I think that if you’d put that missing reflection in, the composition would be “ruined”. There is a lovely flow of light watery pavement throughout the painting, leading from lower right and wending its way to the back. A dark reflection there would block the eye’s entrance; there would be no path leading in, not enough space between things for the eye to rest and think. Your artist-within knew what she was doing and you did not block her! Leave it…and the owner may not have noticed, or may also have concluded that it was better compositionally and possibly intended. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

I have forgotten my umbrella several times. Your painting is lovely. leave it alone and start on another. Sometime we artist LOOK for things to worry about, because we want whatever the thing is that is called “perfection”. Wish i had thought of something as lovely.

My wife suggests I mention that the text above comes from the article for which I give the link at the bottom.

Robert has dealt with the creative ability of women in many letters that can be found on this site or in his books. The main thrust of these arguments is the bicameral nature of the brain, the tendency of more women to be right brained than men, and the evidence of a larger corpus collosum in women — the conduit between the hemispheres. He also notes the lack of stubbornness in women, their excellent networking ability, and willingness to take advice from other, including men. (As opposed to men taking advice from women)

Rick, what do you think about authors who write novels from the point of the opposite gender? I am always amazed when I read a book where the main figure is a woman and the author is a man. I am a woman and find that some of those novels are very believable. How can those authors so subtly express themselves is beyond me, I could never do it, just as you say. But really good authors can.

Rick Rotante, thanks for your comment on gender. Perhaps my work comes out with a woman’s voice, I don’t know — I guess that’s for others to decide. I just know that when I make it, I’m not concerned with my gender. IOW I don’t FEEL particularly feminine or womanly as I make art. I can’t speak for anyone else, male or female, however.

I am feeling much more optimistic today after reading your piece on the Feminine Mystique. Yes……I am often overwhelmed by the needs of my family, my home and my life. It is hard to keep all the balls in the air and stay on my creative path. it requires the hours of a vampire, the concentration of a Buddhist monk, the skill of a Criss Angel and an unshakable desire to keep going against all odds. I’m sure many of us would just give up if we could….. but if you are truly a painter then I have found there is just no stopping you. Thank goodness!

I was glad to see you changed ladies to women in your previous post, The feminine mystique. I’m curious. How many women wrote to point that out? I think the use of the antiquated term ladies might be food for another post?

The rather tame response to your feminine mystique post was interesting. Have feminists gone underground or are they tired of fighting against the tide or are they doing something differently! I believe women are just “being themselves’ more now and it’s refreshing. Strong women don’t need to hit men with a sledgehammer or hate us for being men. My ex- wife was a powerful academic and I got a bucket-load of the “boys club” rhetoric and other anti male sentiment. The university is a hotbed of anti male activism. However, I really don’t regret the ‘retraining’ I got from her. I was guilty of many of the crimes of the dominant gender. I learned to talk a bit less and listen more, to take women more seriously, not to overtly favor the overtly sexy attractive women etc. Men are just as conditioned as women and by getting some of these attitudes out, you are able to really enjoy the other gender. Women are fun and I am glad they aren’t like me, don’t think like me, and don’t paint like me. Thank you for the Painter’s Keys. Always a great way to start the day!

Tetley – You would have to tell me to which book you are referring. But even then, I know enough about women to generalize from a female point of view. If I couldn’t do this, I’d get some women to enlighten me. What I’ve been saying throughout is when we do anything; it’s based on who we are unless, as your author did, he wrote a convincing female character for the purpose of his story. But this is fiction. I doubt very much this author could do an ongoing dialogue as a women without some women (and men) eventually seeing thru the sham. George Sand was another effective women writer who wrote under a nom de plume. I believe if we want to be fooled, we will be fooled. Theresa – I can’t believe anyone paints “with their gender” in mind. I don’t sit and say before every painting “I think I’ll paint this as a man!” It’s more complicated and physiologically ingrained. I DO choose subject matter that could be construed as “feminine” but that idea happens in those who still think some subjects are gender specific, like babies and flowers, tea sets and the like.

Re- Annes painting– about umbrella?? Wonderful painting–leave it as is– it’s a conversation piece — —- did she or did she not —  want 2 omit it?

Well, Robert, I truly believe your perspective on female artists is sincere and honest, but I worry about some of the folks who made comments against you.

Previously I found women a mystery. Then I realized I was generalizing. There’s a saying, If you think you know what’s going on, you don’t know what’s going on. While that’s not pertinent as it stands, I now understand that if you think you know what’s going on, you aren’t paying attention. There’s not a lot of mystery, just a handful of unknowns. There are a lot of things to pay attention to, where previously there were assumptions and presumption.

Don’t worry Martha, nobody cares about those few angry pseudo-intellectual babblers.

LOL Rick Rotante! I’m glad you don’t try to to manhandle those brushes when you paint! :^)