The Artist's Road

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Sunset at Etretat 1875 George Inness

One of the many wonderful benefits of being an artist married to another artist is the rich ongoing conversation about all things art. And, one of the benefits of having been artists for so many decades is the longer perspective we’ve gained on the artist’s road. We have been discussing lately the interesting pendulum swings that take place in the development of our individual art and on a larger scale, in the trends of art around us.

Because we both received formal art training at a time when basic skills were de-emphasized and concept and imagination were aggrandized, we did not receive the education in the craft of painting we hoped for. Even in those early days, we both were inclined toward working representationally and honoring beauty. Painting real life was considered out of fashion, unless it was used to make a social or cultural statement. We were told to pick up the skills on our own, and that’s what w…