April 29th, 2009
Originally posted on August, 18, 2007

In case you missed it, a couple of years ago attention was drawn to one of China’s most unique export businesses, fine-art painting (see link and also link). Or, more accurately put, cheap art. I am sincerely happy that tens of thousands of poor Chinese painters have found employment. I am not happy that they are doing this for near starvation wages. One painter estimated that he earns 18 cents U.S. for a painting that may sell for several hundred dollars in Europe or in the U.S. How’s that for sweatshop labour?
Read the rest of "Sweatshop Challenge: assembly line fine-art painting"
Posted in Artist-Art, Painting |
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April 29th, 2009
Originally posted on July, 21, 2007
What do painting and sports have to do with each other you ask? Writers, or, at least people used to write about painting. Not much anymore. You can only beat dead horses for so long. Today, people do write tons about sports. Of course, there are plenty of problems in the sport world. There always has been. You have to ask the question: “How much the writers contribute to the proliferation of these problems?
Read the rest of "Excellence vs. Not Cheating"
Posted in Artist-Art, Painting |
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April 28th, 2009
Originally posted on July, 14, 2007

Over the years I’ve been approached many times for advice and instruction. For me it has never been easy or clear as the best way to proceed. And it has not been often that I’ve undertaken the task to give much advice or attempt to teach. It is just too dammed difficult. Thinking about this problem has been with me for a good long while. And I am not comfortable seeming to be aloof.
Read the rest of "Painting Instruction: Finding the Words"
Posted in Painting, Teaching |
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April 28th, 2009
Originally posted on June, 24, 2007
Hopefully, as we become more intelligent, our intellect leads us to more enjoyment. Asking questions is a process of refinement and simplification. In a natural way it leads to understanding that it is the process itself that is the important thing: direct experience with life. This implies that we have a direct experience with the natural world.
Artists and children have much in common: curiosity and the spontaneous joy of discoveries. I want you to do a little experiment. Please go get a piece of paper and pen or pencil. Now sign your name as you always do.
Read the rest of "Recent Thoughts"
Posted in Artist-Art |
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