Andrew Wyeth dies at 91

[Amanda Grosjean]

Originally Posted by Marvin Mattelson

.......... his willingness to sit there and work at it until he was satisfied and unlike me (who was waiting for the heavenly ray of inspiration to shine down and bestow true knowledge) he took responsibility and did the work. In that sense he was my greatest teacher, because the next day I went out and bought paint and thus began my journey.

Nicely said, Marvin, I identify with that statement a great deal. I know many who waited for that heavenly ray and it never came. I am a great fan of Wyeth's. I was particularly inspired by the Helga series and have spent many hours flipping through that book. What inspired me more than his flawless sketches and watercolors were the ones that had mistakes...missteps in value or an exaggeration of a feature. He moved on from each one to create something beautiful. It gives me strength to keep going and always keeps me excited to move onto the next thing, knowing I'll figure it out and get it right next time. It makes me happy to think about what I will be creating when I am 91.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Marvin, thanks for telling that story. I remember when I first learned the actual meaning of the expression avant garde. At the time (mid-70s) artists were using it as a synonym for abstract art, experiential art, conceptual, non-representational art--anything but realism. I turned to the person who defined it for me and said in amazement, "But REALISM is the real avant garde!" She looked at me like I was crazy.

We live near the Brandywine Valley and we spend time in Maine in the summer, so I am very familiar with Andrew Wyeth's two worlds. This summer I went to Monhegan with five other artists to paint for a week. Monhegan is about 9 miles out to sea, and the ferry pssses near the Wyeths' island and family compound on its route. Usually they avoid that particular channel alongside his island because it is shallower, but at hgh tide sometimes the Ferry captain will go right by. We were lucky: on our way back to the mainland he took us that way. I felt like a silly tourist as I snapped this photo, but here is my parting glimpse of Andrew Wyeth.

[Debra Rexroat]

For many of us Wyeth, and "Christina's World," was one of the first artists and paintings we discussed as school children. He left us an amazing body of work from which to gain encouragement and example. R.I.P. and thank you, Andrew Wyeth.