There is the plus side of painting with a group. Wednesday, Wednesday
acrylic and oil painting on canvas
30 x 40 inches We learn little tricks and techniques from each other. We get to hear how others are responding to our work. A group is a kind of market research. And certainly everyone has their own way of working, but there is the downside of the "herd mentality." We want approval by our friends and colleagues. This has a way of modulating the work toward prettier colors and acceptable images. That is OK, but not really expressing the authentic person you are. So at some point if you are feeling pressure from the group in that way, you must break out. On the other hand, if you are merely feeling disturbed by honest feedback about your choices, maybe it is worth going back occasionally to keep honing your technique. Life is never easy.

At some point, we have to lock ourselves away and do what we do best, especially us writers. We have to stretch our muscles and sometimes dive into waters unknown. Each morning I go into my study for another day's work. No one makes me. I could get a 'real' job at anytime. But this is what I love. But some days I feel so disconnected from the world. Your letter helped me see this is all part of the process. If I can continue graduating, who knows where I'll be in another year?

Your letter comes at a time when I, myself, have been thinking that I need more than my group offers. I've been painting with them for 2 years now and I am feeling what Leslie is feeling. My style is also all over the place and I feel that "the group" hinders the development of my own process. Robert, you have said so many times, "Work on your process." I don't even know what my process is. I have decided it's time to go one on one with a master. It will be challenging and that is what I need to go from painting "nice" works to painting great works. I will still paint with the group once a week--I have a home studio but with 4 teenagers the distractions are many and I need to leave the house to focus. With a mind to my own process, voluntary graduation is just around the corner.

We artists work hard to build our proficiency Adobe With Crosses
watercolor painting on paper
22 x 32 inches and ability. We work hard to overcome the influence of other painters we admire (influenced is not a bad thing) and are many times filled with doubt about our 'talent' yes, and even wonder about our association with other artists. I can identify with Leslie--I know many artists who are very talented but whose style of painting hasn't evolved and who, while becoming more refined in technique, have not explored beyond their current knowledge. This lack of creativity and exploration seems again to be popular. An hour or so spent with Art magazines will demonstrate the bland sameness of subject matter and technique. Occasionally there will appear in those pages someone who is an explorer and it is like a cool breeze on a hot day, refreshing! Yes Leslie, by all means get out and explore and be creative and work on your style and absolutely be yourself. It's important if one has anything to say... and so is solitude.

I maintained a home studio throughout my Ride
oil painting on linen
28 x 36 inches "real" (read: salaried) non-art career, where I worked once the kids had been put to bed and the chores were done. But when I retired from this "real" job to spend more time on my art, I needed to get out of the house. I rented a small studio in a space shared with other artists behind an artist-run gallery. It fulfilled my requirements at the time: it legitimized my art-making, allowed for camaraderie among like-minded individuals and provided both stimulation and connection with the art world. I am in the process of giving up this space. While there were external factors which precipitated my moving out, and while I probably wouldn't have made the move without those factors at play, I know that it is the right move. I have matured as an artist, am more self-motivated, self-critical and self-disciplined. I know what I want to achieve with my art, and it no longer requires group support. There is a tightrope, and I need to find my own balance. There is a journey, and I need to make it by myself.

I live in a small town and although there Tree in the meadow
pastel painting
20 x 16 inches are many artists, I enjoy being by myself and painting in my studio. I also visit museums, galleries and openings, and I belong to several artist organizations. I also read art books (actually I really just look at the pictures). These are all very helpful. Classes or workshops with artists you admire are a bonus. I see how other artists solve problems that I may be having at the time and different techniques being used. But I still enjoy being alone and concentrating on my art. My social life tends to be with non-artists, and that in itself gives me ideas for my art.

I once was with a group of artists. There Ladies in Waiting
acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal, and watersoluble oils painting
48 x 48 inches was lots of talking, laughing and sharing while we worked. In fact some liked the talking much more than the working. At that time, I thought group painting was a necessary step to gathering information on where I wished to go in my own art style. I saw being with others as a motivator to actually painting. To me the group was almost as inspiring as going to a workshop. Being together with like-minded individuals was a joyful time for me. One day when I saw someone copying my work, I realized it was time for me to go it alone. I do miss the laughter and some of the talking, but the silence in the studio fits me well. My canvases now do all the talking, along with my paints, and I am learning to listen well and I am continuing to be inspired by the simple act of working.

Being happy in life takes a healthy degree of Irises
watercolor painting
8 x 10 inches selfishness and bravery. After all, we each live our own lives and should not make our decisions to please others alone. This is harder for women than men since women have been mainly brought up to take care of others, even at their own expense. But in order to take care of anything or anyone we first need to take care of ourselves. I firmly believe that one can only genuinely give from fullness. Be it fullness of a heart or fullness of finances. Everything else becomes self-sacrifice and martyrdom which does not really make the giver happy. Too many of us are too spent. Nurturing our selves is very important and learning to be responsible and feel good about our own decisions is part of nurturing. We are never going to please everyone. The best we can do in life is try to please ourselves. Then maybe, if we are lucky, we will end up pleasing some others as well. This goes for life as well as any form of art. I am not talking about extreme selfishness here but about a healthy balance of give and take without self-denial.

I understand what Leslie is going through. I White Rose
oil painting
6 x 8 inches recently got a new, perfect (for me) studio, and I feel like I'm cracking wide open. I think my local painting friends are a little put out, although I have offered to have them paint with me here at times - there just isn't enough time in the day to do all I want with my own work. For the first time I feel centered, focused, and jealous of my time in the studio! I feel selfish (for the first time in my life - my 3 kids are grown and my husband is completely supportive) but I can't feel bad about it! The hours fly by as I work. I'm not always happy with what I've produced, but I am happy and absorbed while painting! I think this is one of life's greatest blessings... and I wish it for all artists.

Last June I quite by luck fell into a painting partner relationship. It was very good for me as I developed more self-confidence in my approach and style, and learned much from my partner. She was wonderfully supportive, but able to give a good critique. I was hit by a 'creative high' and able to turn out many more finished paintings due to the nature of getting to the easel on a much more regular basis. My work matured by leaps and bounds. After about nine months she has taken a different job that cut our joint time back to once a week, or less. Although I already miss the camaraderie I know this enforced change will also be good for my art. I needed to be 'pushed from the nest' and this is a strong reminder to me that I am capable of solitary flying. Now I'm excited to show my painting partner what I created in her absence and know I don't need her support throughout the creative act.

I paint en plein air with some wonderful Pine Tree Reflections
oil painting
11 x 14 inches people, but the real motive for the work has to originate outside a group, in the quietness of one's own soul. Only then can we come together with a healthy perspective and expectation of a group. Everyone has their own goals and I find it a rarity for these to be equally shared by everyone in a group. But what can be drawn from a group is the discipline and inspiration to paint, the camaraderie, people to bounce ideas off and a few laughs with friends to balance out the isolation of working in the studio or field alone!

After I was not counting on it anymore, today the long awaited Eclipse
acrylic painting
80 x 100 cm Love Letters to Art came! I can't say how happy I am! First of all because your book is very special and secondly it came as a surprise! It took two and a half months! Until now I didn't want to write again about the book not arriving, because I didn't want you to think of making it up or something, but I don't like to trouble people and I know you are very busy. Anyway, I am so glad to have your book. It is everything I thought it would be!

(RG note) Thanks, Michal. Overseas mail has been a pile of fun for us. We decided that the reason the postage was so expensive was that the Post Office was also charging for storage. All of us in the signing, wrapping and shipping department sincerely appreciate the patience everybody has shown in this matter.