Dear Artist, In his recent book, America Alone, Mark Steyn makes frequent mention of “deferred adulthood.” While mainly taking place in Europe, this is where young people in their twenties and thirties are choosing to stay in their folks’ homes…
Dear Artist, This morning Kirk Wassell of Irvine, California wrote, “Recently, I accepted a three-month placement in a Restaurant-Gallery called Bistango. I soon realized that the lighting was inadequate. My real dilemma came when I was told my prices would be…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Dan McGrath of Lexington, Kentucky wrote, “I accepted a commission to paint an old mill. I went to the site with the client, took photos, did an 8×10 inch study, refined the viewing angle and began an 18×24…
Dear Artist, In his latest book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle discusses how the human mind is almost constantly engaged in private thoughts. These inner rumblings reflect our personal trials, dreams, needs and obligations. To…
Dear Artist, With a little help from the animals, vegetables and minerals, one of humanity’s persistent habits is to colour ourselves with pigments and coloured objects. There are five main functions: To be seen or noticed To give info of…
Dear Artist, Ratatouille is the latest Disney Pixar extravaganza. It’s about a country rat who finds himself in the kitchen of a high-end Paris restaurant where he helps a floor-cleaning kid become a gourmet cook. It seems the rat has a…
Dear Artist, This morning Pam Haddock of Sylva, NC, wrote, “Our art association is in a quandary. One of the requirements of our well-attended and successful group shows is that all work has to be original, with no reproductions. We…
Dear Artist, On Thursday morning I was at my easel when a courier appeared at the door. He was delivering an envelope from a friend, a local lawyer of my acquaintance. The letter stated that in 1974 I had brought…
Dear Artist, Sometimes it’s a good idea to cruise your work to see if a few soft edges might improve things. Gradated transitions, both broad and narrow, especially around the periphery of paintings, can go a long way toward a…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Edward Vincent of Sydney, Australia, wrote, “No matter what type of painting I do, my work looks infinitely better in half or reduced light. One wonders if they would be best in the dark! Is it the…