Dear Artist, On last night’s flight from New York, I read Amy Poehler’s memoir, Yes Please. An actress, writer, director and producer, Amy describes the distinction between that thing you do as an artist and your career as one. “Creativity…
Dear Artist, A new organism is created when artists get together with people who want to be around art. This can happen anywhere, on any scale, but certain urban places feed the give-and-take with a special kind of magic. Population,…
Dear Artist, “A true artist must expect to be out of step with his times and live a life of public disdain and poverty.” A commendable thought, I suppose, and almost a usable quotation, written by a respected name in…
Dear Artist, Gail Pateman of Squamish, B.C. wrote, “My daughter Mieko drew this azalea and wanted to share it with a real artist. She wrote a poem — inspired by the spring sunshine. It was just so cool and spontaneous…
Dear Artist, I’ve often been asked how to determine a starting selling price for art — especially for a younger artist with no reputation. My advice to young artists of all ages is to start off cheap. My rationale is…
Dear Artist, Subscriber Lynda Pogue wrote, “Can you advise me please? I’m mad about Gerhard Richter. How does he mount the canvas to the wall so it doesn’t move when he paints?” She includes a video of Richter dragging a…
Dear Artist, Spaniards are particularly hostile to photography in Public Art Galleries. This is unfortunate because some of the more interesting Murillos aren’t in the books. I love details of the paintings I love. That’s how I came to invent the…
Dear Artist, Glynn Washington tells stories on the weekly National Public Radio show, Snap Judgment. Besides being an early riser and listening to audio books, Glynn is a writer and likes to solve creative problems in the morning. “When writing,…
Dear Artist, I’m looking toward Omey — a small island viewed from an unimportant place called Claddagduff on the Connemara shore. In the foreground, designer rocks step down toward the weedy tide. Beyond, in patchwork fields, whitewashed houses huddle against the…