The Off Switch

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Clairvoyance (Self Portrait) 1936 Renee Magritte (fair use)*

It is interesting to think about the generations younger than ours who will never have known life without the internet. We could blissfully work away in relative isolation, honing our craft and vision. Our connections with the larger world we could parse a bit at a time, visiting a gallery or museum as the need arose and sharing our work among a small circle of artist friends. Now, the interconnectedness the internet offers us is incalculable. Every day we are able to look at paintings - both historical work, museum collections and contemporary work by artists from all over the world. And, we can communicate with artists instantly anywhere, anytime, and they with us - without leaving our studios. It is amazing to see the skill, vision and diversity of artwork. Our easy access to so much art can be addicting. It can also inspire us and encourage us to take our work to higher levels.

It can also be daunting. As…