Being an Artist . . .

I read two articles this morning on being an artists and it struck me that both articles made the same basic point – the number one thing for anyone wanting to make art is to learn the basics of art making—composition, line, and so forth—and be well-versed all things related to the craft. Then you begin to develop your own style.

Matisse, a master of expressionism, believed and taught that artists should begin with learning the basics, he insisted that his students first learn to draw realistically. He later compared this artistic learning period to that of an acrobat, who executes his performance with ease and an facility. He said, “Let’s not lose sight of the long preparatory work which permitted him to attain this result, It is the same with painting.” His number-one rule was “Master the basics, then be expressive.”

Numerous text have been written on the principles and elements of art and design. Most focus on color, form, line, shape, space, and texture as the six elements. The principles of art are generally considered to be scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth. I personally would add composition to the list.

I'm an old man, 78, and I have been involved with art most of my life. A big part of my involvement was (and still is) in learning and practice. I took courses, read books, watched videos, and made every effort to know as much as possible about what I was doing. I eventually got a degree in art. Most of the artists that I admired and still admire were well trained and knowledgeable regarding their art and art in general. None of these artists... absolutely no one … just picked up a pencil one day and decided without any preparation that they would call themselves artists.

WHIMSY AND ALLEGORY

My recent work, in addition to being more representational, has also taken on a different tone. Right now I'm drawn to subjects that involve a bit of story telling and often, whimsy. This change in direction is due in large part to the influences of a number artists to whom I want to recognize and pay tribute.

A major influence for me from the beginning has been Gustav Klimt. His interpretation of the female figure and his use of symbolism, pattern and color taught me that art can be visually stimulating and imaginative.

A newer influence has been my discovery of Peter Paone https://www.peterpaone.com of Philadelphia. He has done some amazing work, most of it whimsical in nature.

Another recent discovery has been Mel McCuddin. Look him up on YouTube. Here's another great artist, older than me, that's still making wonderful and imaginative art.

The final artist that I want to recognize is Cathy Hegman, https://cathyhegman.com of Holly Bluff, Mississippi. Here's another talented and prolific artists who uses whimsy, storytelling, symbols, and patterns in her work to create magical paintings.

Please look these artists up and enjoy their work. Maybe you need a little whimsy in your life too.

Introduction

Let me first tell you about myself: I'm a 78 year old artist living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I have been making art for as long as I remember. I have a degree in fine art and have been in several art groups and associations. Currently I am a associated with the Artisans' Gallery here in Lake Charles.

When we moved here and retired about 5 years ago I realized that I had the chance to spend more time making art. To do that, I decided to convert an unused carport into my "studio." It's kind of a makeshift structure, cold in the winter and hot in the summer (I installed a window a/c last week).  Truth be told I do almost as much cigar smoking as I do painting out there.

My first work was more focused on three dimensional art such as assemblages and what I call my "constructions." Sometimes these things sort of overlap and any distinctions are hard to make. More recently I've been focusing on painting and doing more representational work. My subjects vary widely and tend to be more allegorical in nature