Thank you, Lon.

"Time is the dictator of style"?
 

Gee and I thought it was the artist.

The only useful references to time about art, as far as I can see are, not enough time, timeless and forgotton by time. The latter I am afraid is a fate many of us will share. I have seen artwork that has taken a year to do, would it be any less exquisite because of the care the painter put into it. I don't think Vermeer, Botticelli, Ingres, Velasquez, Da Vinci, Goya, Rubens, Rembrant, Michealangelo to name a few, put a timer up to judge their accomplishments. I doubt that they just whipped them out. It looks like they savoured and delighted in the process of painting them.

Beginners often mistake speed for mastery. It is instead, the artist's total conciousness in every stroke, fast or slow that makes a work of art, not simply facile brushwork.

Sincerely,

I was reading something Virgil Elliot wrote on another website a while back about Sargent's work. Apparently Sargent labored mightily to give the appearance that many of his paintings were dashed out with great speed and agility. The "spontaneous" brushwork was a deliberate and contrived effect.

I love the fresh look that resulted, but now I know that those paintings didn't spring forth fully formed and perfect all at once, but rather were the result of much contemplation, planning and rework.

Michele, in the lovely book I have on Sargent, one of his subjects talks of how he would start over at least 5 times!

Sharon, I think people should be careful not to mistake this for enthusiasm. I know I am guilty of zipping along, my family questions if we will ever eat again, but I certainly don

Society of Western Artists
 

This piece got first place in the category "Oils" at the Society of Western Artists' show which just took place in Fresno, California.

Congratulations! Very well deserved.

Congratulations, Deladier - what can you tell us about the competition?

Hello, Chris.

There was a large number of pieces on display (maybe 60 or 70). Some were quite impressive and many were competently executed.

The Best of Show was justly awarded to a beautifully accomplished watercolor landscape. There weren't many portraits in the show, although most of the paintings on display seemed to be competing in the "Oils" category (at least 3 out of 5, it seemed to me).

Portraits seem to have an advantage when placed side by side with equally accomplished works of art. They speak to the viewer.