In the Growing Places
“The growth that an artist seeks is a fine combination of mastering a craft, garnering an audience, maintaining one’s mental health, and working mightily from an ever-expanding base of experience.”
May I always, always stay … “In the Growing Places.” This is my lifelong bellwether verse and, In the Growing Places” is the title of my first book.This Christmas I decided to use the drawings of my six granddaughters for my Christmas card. I had done this once before in 2020. Both times it was a labor of love to have the charcoal drawings of all six girls done by Christmas and for me it was very interesting to see the difference in the artistic and technical rendering that has developed over the past four years.
My growth has come slowly and often with a much labored experience. The voice of my teacher Jim Himsworth rings in my ears as I try to apply the skills and techniques he’s so diligently and patiently taught me. As Jim said in his Christmas wishes to me, “May you always live happily in the shadows and the lights. May your edges stay soft and may you always look forward to the highlights.” All good advise from an expert teacher for an aspiring artist, one who continues to stay, always, always “In the Growing Places.”