For Artists and Art Lovers: A Handbook

This book is the product of my seventy years of experience as an artist and a painter. I have drawn on the thoughts about art that have occurred to me while painting and drawing and teaching. It is intended to provide understanding and inspiration to practitioners and a greater understanding of some of the thinking that goes into the practice. It is also meant to provide non-practitioners who are art lovers with some insights into the ways some artists approach their work. I understand that there are many other approaches to the arts and that other artists have other ideas and approaches, and I celebrate that multiplicity.I have often been asked of a particular work, “What were you thinking when you made this painting?” My stock answer has been, “Painting and thinking don’t go together.” And that is only partially true. The fuller truth is that visual thinking is also thinking, although it may not fit the normal definition. What I have presented here is a collection of the actual thoughts of a practicing artist.I have published these thoughts over the past year, as posts on Facebook. The response from both artists and art lovers has been gratifying. Many times Facebook friends have said these should be a book (and requested to reserve copies), so here it is.I intend this as a reference book that can be dipped into any point and still be informative and useful. I have tried to word my entries in a way that indicates that they record my individual approach, and need not be taken as recommendations to other artists to follow my approach, as I believe that there are infinite ways to approach the work of making art. I have been pleased, however, that quite a few artists are in sympathy with, and have appreciated, my views. Read more