Giving Thanks
In light of the article this week in Low Country Weekly (http://www.lcweekly.com/art/5760-new-light-new-life), I thought I would do something each day over the next week or so that I have wanted to do at some point over the last 18 months…..to recognize one individual each day who has been instrumental to me in my own artistic development and growth over what is now 15 years since I re-ignited my pursuit of visual poetry in fine art. As this will be an opportunity for me to share my thoughts, insights and experiences regarding these individuals, a blog spot seemed like a better place to do this versus a lengthy post on social media. I hope you enjoy what I have to share and will return each day!
There are seven of these fine individuals, so one a day for the next week. In hindsight, as noted in the Low Country Weekly article, my 22 year sabbatical at times brings regrets for waiting so long and squandering time in a craft that requires just that....time!..... to become a true master, which I have not come close to reaching (yet!) and may never. However, fortunate I am to have had the opportunity and encouragement from each of these individuals over the last 15 years and to have had the fortitude and initiative to pursue it! Of course, I could not have done this without the support, sacrifices and encouragement of my wife, Melody.
I did not go to art school and I did not take any fine art electives in college, so some would say “oh, so you are “self taught” or they would say "wow, I wish I had that talent", hardly I would respond. I, like so many others before me, have learned from the masters of the past and from those contemporary master painters who have had the humility, openness and willingness to share what they have learned with me and others. As for talent, I will say some are born with an aptitude to see, to have good eye hand coordination, to have a color sense, to have an intuition for design and shapes, however, an "aptitude" won't get you very far in this arena of fine art. Without a strong work ethic, discipline and dedication to put the time in (a lot of time), and perseverance (frustration and failure is your constant companion) that "aptitude" won't develop into much of anything.
I learned from some of these individuals through paid workshops, yes, however some of these individuals shared their knowledge (and lots of it) long before I ever attended one of their workshops as you will learn in future blog posts. I plan to share my own knowledge and experience accordingly, as such opportunities present themselves to repay and advance the knowledge further down the tracks for future artists. To each one of these individuals I am extremely grateful to have met you and to have had the opportunity to learn something from you! And one of these individuals introduced me to blogspot, so there you go we all learn from one another......stay tuned to meet them beginning tomorrow!
Cheers!
There are seven of these fine individuals, so one a day for the next week. In hindsight, as noted in the Low Country Weekly article, my 22 year sabbatical at times brings regrets for waiting so long and squandering time in a craft that requires just that....time!..... to become a true master, which I have not come close to reaching (yet!) and may never. However, fortunate I am to have had the opportunity and encouragement from each of these individuals over the last 15 years and to have had the fortitude and initiative to pursue it! Of course, I could not have done this without the support, sacrifices and encouragement of my wife, Melody.
I did not go to art school and I did not take any fine art electives in college, so some would say “oh, so you are “self taught” or they would say "wow, I wish I had that talent", hardly I would respond. I, like so many others before me, have learned from the masters of the past and from those contemporary master painters who have had the humility, openness and willingness to share what they have learned with me and others. As for talent, I will say some are born with an aptitude to see, to have good eye hand coordination, to have a color sense, to have an intuition for design and shapes, however, an "aptitude" won't get you very far in this arena of fine art. Without a strong work ethic, discipline and dedication to put the time in (a lot of time), and perseverance (frustration and failure is your constant companion) that "aptitude" won't develop into much of anything.
I learned from some of these individuals through paid workshops, yes, however some of these individuals shared their knowledge (and lots of it) long before I ever attended one of their workshops as you will learn in future blog posts. I plan to share my own knowledge and experience accordingly, as such opportunities present themselves to repay and advance the knowledge further down the tracks for future artists. To each one of these individuals I am extremely grateful to have met you and to have had the opportunity to learn something from you! And one of these individuals introduced me to blogspot, so there you go we all learn from one another......stay tuned to meet them beginning tomorrow!
Cheers!
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