|
 Being born the third of three
sons in Pennsylvania I should have been a Yankee, but Dad decided to raise me
as a Rebel when he moved the family to Texas. Pennsylvania landscapes are all
green and growing with forests and trees, El Paso is dry rocks, brown sand and
thorns. Growing up in the desert became a search for the happy green growing
things. I had to create my own images of pretty places and things to keep from
getting depressed. In my first year of school the study of dinosaurs caught my
interest so I created a world of clay thunder lizards. Mrs. Stewart, my
teacher, got the local news paper to do a story of my creation and thereby
began my career of showing off to who ever would take notice.
My dad taught the practical application of skills in
understanding mechanical relationships and the art of fixing broken things. My
mother saw to it that I was exposed to painting, drawing and music. The
technical 'how to" of function, and the esthetics of shape, form and color has
been a part of my view of the world from early on. Dad's mother and sister both
were into watercolors and screen printing and Mom's sister has been painting
and selling her art since the 40's. I remember being exposed to their
interpretation of reality in their art work and wondering if what they created
was really the way the world was. As I began to paint, some of my friends liked
my work well enough to make offers and buy some of the early pieces.
 I attended classes at the
University of Texas at El Paso to study art, music and women, but the wander
lust took hold of me when playing music became more important than grades. Away
I went, to California, to Arizona, to Georgia and back to Texas, leaving a
trail of drawings and paintings either sold to acquaintances, or given away to
friends. Sometimes life in these Unites States is all about a little of
everything, and for a few years there was no focus or direction to my artistic
endeavors. While I have always made drawings and paintings, visual art was
placed on a back burner to the music during the 90’s and then almost
forgotten until I wondered into a San Marcos gallery called ‘High
Art.’ The proprietor was offering a re-vitalization art class for
dilatants. Just as my interest in art became re-kindled, my wife and partner,
Diane, connected up with the Texas State Study Abroad Program to visit Florence
and Rome, Italy. We viewed many works of the old masters and studied the
history of their lives and accomplishments. Art and architecture from the
Greek, Roman, middle ages and Renaissance periods became mind opening
experiences as we toured Florence, Tuscany and Rome. Michelangelo, Leonardo,
Furini, Andrea del Sarto, Bernini and many more all had their special way to
present beauty and communicate through their art.
 Only in the last few years have
I studied the works of the old masters and more recently, contemporary artists.
There is much to learn about the craft of creating art that can be discovered
by studying successful pieces. The old masters worked at finding ways to bring
the viewer in, not divert one's attention, but to focus it. While it might not
be possible to discover everything the old masters knew, I can hope to put to
good use what I have managed to understand.
There are two aspects of art that I struggle with: one
is deciding what to draw or paint. With that first brush stroke or pencil line
comes the thought, "Do I really want to create this image? Will the vision in
my mind's eye be transferred to the medium? Can this image stir interest and
emotions for me or a viewer?" And two, when a piece is all completed, “Do
I want to find a person to whom this picture speaks? Or do I want to keep it
for myself?” If I can answer “Yes” to any of these questions, if
someone is moved to place my creation into their home, then I have presented
beauty and communicated. |
