P.S. to my statement above:

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, every gallery I approached had the same comment: “If you were just tighter, we would be interested in handling your work.” During those early years, I remember doing ONE really photo-tight painting...when I got thru, I was totally bored out of my gourd!

From that point on, I worked on my brush stroke, how the paint laid on the surface, how to deliver a brush stroke, to get the MOST out of the delivery...thus allowing the colors and brush stroke be able to stand on it’s own, not merely “rendering” the image I was looking at.

THIS ALSO, is very important: being true to yourself! Being true to how YOU SEE THE WORLD, and how YOU WANT TO EXPRESS that observation. For those early years, I opted NOT to be represented by these galleries, than to change and become a tighter artist...it was more important to me, like the age old quote: “to thine own self, be true.” AND each artist, needs to find “their hot spot”...and express that, better than anyone they know! And if you do, regardless of how “life” accepts you, your life will be fulfilled!

Just a note about taking paints through customs. Tell them what you have before it goes through the xray. I got dragged to one side and grilled at a border crossing. I had a big packet of watercolour paints and in the xray they looked just like a round of high caliber bullets.

A Priceless Piece – magnificent wish for anyone being hatched, matched or dispatched. To soar and go where you please.

I am floating like a dust in the universe and wonder if I can be wise like Socrates and have a place in our society.

Should you encounter the ghost of Bruce Chatwin, please tell him how much I enjoyed his book The Songlines.

Loved this one...I'm sending it to my "closet" artist/mechanic nephew!

Just put those tubes into your checked baggage...if the tubes come packed in a box and you're not the first in line all the better. I once brought home a suitcase full of ceramic tiles from England that was checked, before I checked it through, and there was no problem..they didn't even ask for the sales slip.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful mind with us..on such a regular basis.

Thank you for the eloquent reminder that being an artist is intrinsically satisfying. Sounds like you are enjoying your trip.

"That is, art can have no need or purpose other than the satisfaction it gives to the maker."

Its taken me almost 60 years to get that.

Instead of attempting to get those paints through customs, why not mail them to yourself?

I just thought you would like to see my "studio dog" that I got from the shelter a few days after your letter about studio dogs....see Priscilla video on my wall. I can't thank you enough for planting that seed! What joy!

Cannot stress this enough. If you ever get to see the art of John Louder, and/or his wife, Annie Helmericks-Louder, you must grab the opportunity. They are currently showing a joint exhibition at the university in Warrensburg, WOW !

In an age when it seems anything thrown against a canvas or a wall will be construed as art by someone, it is rare to find a body of work as impressive and inspiring as that being done by this couple.

You can get a few samples by googling their names, select images.

Much of the work was done in the wilds of death valley, and thereabouts.

I left with something to strive toward. It made my week. ~DM

I would love to revisit the problems of flying with oil paints and the artist traveler - what works and what doesn't, what arguments one presents to Homeland Security when you insist your oil paints are made from safflower oil and they think your alizarin crimson is ripe for some type of nefarious device.
At times it is easier just to buy the smallest tube possible at your destination and toss it as you leave. Annoying and costly.

Robert, I must compliment you and your staff. Good job, adding the link above to the Lauder exhibition.

Thanks, Damar, for sharing the information on the exhibition. It's great to see what my Alma Mater is doing.

Linda Menke ? You would not perhaps be one of the Menke girls, from back in the old "hippie days" of the early 70's. Do you remember the Teehaus crowd, incl Peg's daughter, Pam, who married Jerry ? If so, I'm Jerry. We're back in town, after a lifetime of roaming the countryside. I still have a piece of pottery Joy made for me ! If you're one of the Menke sisters, get my email address from Robert, and contact me. (Robert, please let her have my contact info. Thanks... ) ~DM

with regardd to mysteries made real: how can you possibly know why cavepeople made paintings? I don't even know why I make art. Or why I don't make more. Sometimes the art is in seeing it and there is no reason to reproduce it. Sometimes there is a need to slide down a line ro eb and flow with shades in colour. Sometimes it's the best way of explaining something to someone else. Sometimes it's because people say I am good at it and should do it more. Sometimes its a gift because someone else likes the way I can do is even if I am not invested in it myself. Sometimes it's a way to quiet that part of my brain so I can listen to what someone is saying to me. Sometimes it's just plain fun. There are millions of reasons for making art. Lets stop being so presumptious. We really have no idea what was going through the mind of the artist who painted in caves.
Years of studying anthropology has made it clear to me that even when you try you can't look at the world without shades of your own culture inhibiting your view. I prefer rose coloured cultural glasses myself.
And don't even begin on what makes Good art. Maybe it's all in the mental flexibility of the observer.

Some day's it's hard to get motivated so I've always found it helpful to receive positive and inspirational newsletters from artists who are willing to share like Robert Genn.

Your letters are so inspirational and encourage me to paint and be the painter and artist I am supposed to be--"me!" Learning from the great masters and from my contemporaries is important and I would like to participate in some kind of art travel experience. I agree that art is within us so deeply because God created the world and He is the greatest artist. It is cool to think that the world is God's canvas and each morning He paints the world and each evening He paints the sunset and gorgeous colors in the sky, and everywhere in nature.