Dear Artist, Last night I attended the opening of the Sidney Fine Art Show. It was a crowded event in a large, state-of-the-art community hall in a small, spirited town. Out of a thousand entries, 300 works by 250 artists…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Duffy Masterson of Ottawa, Ontario wrote, “I’ve been a photographer for longer than I care to mention and have recently taken up painting in acrylic. I find that all the subject matter has been expressed through my…
Dear Artist, A new school has been started up in Houston, Texas. Known as the KIPP 3D Academy, the idea is to give a fresh start to disadvantaged inner-city kids. Underway for six years, KIPP stands for “Knowledge Is Power…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, J. Kwegyir Aggrey of Ghana wrote, “In my society there is no single word for ‘art.’ We have no distinction between ‘art’ and ‘craft.’ All are creative activities requiring skills and a sense of aesthetics. The aesthetic…
Dear Artist, Last Sunday at 2 p.m. my friend Murray came to the studio. He brought with him a very nice 1999 “Carmen” Chablis (Chile) as well as some ripe Limburger and a good Brie. He even brought his own…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Brian Reifer of Velez Malaga, Spain, wrote, “On my website I display works that are not only available directly from me, but also with two galleries that represent me. My Spanish gallery takes works at 50% while…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Margie Deeb of Roswell, Georgia, had some questions about signing paintings: “I make large oils,” she said, “and I don’t see as many artists signing their paintings as I used to. If I sign them, ought it…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, Raynald Murphy wrote from Montreal, “I’d like your thoughts on drawing. In the drawing course I offer at a local Museum, I have only two students registered for the fall session. Yet all three of my watercolour courses…
Dear Artist, On the recent cruise to Alaska I met up with some subscribers. On the boat and on the towns, I asked, “What do you think might improve the twice-weekly letter and the Painter’s Keys website?” Answers varied. Jim…