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The Comedy in the Divine: Part Seven of Eight


When we walk through museums, visit exhibitions and look at art, we come with preconceptions, prejudices and preferences, and, if you are an artist, take from those works ideas and processes we could use as our own. Much of the time we come away with our opinions affirmed, pushed to reconsider an artist's work, or just excited to get back into the studio.

But sometimes, a work of art produces a sudden insight or a discovery that reshapes one's approach to art making.

Here is the ninth work.

Nine Drawings: Part Eight of Eight


When we walk through museums, visit exhibitions and look at art, we come with preconceptions, prejudices and preferences, and, if you are an artist, take from those works ideas and processes we could use as our own. Much of the time we come away with our opinions affirmed, pushed to reconsider an artist's work, or just excited to get back into the studio.

But sometimes, a work of art produces a sudden insight or a discovery that reshapes one's approach to art making.

All that comes before informs us

Masaccio • The Tribute Money Fresco • Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence, ca. 1424-‘27
I have taught art appreciation since 1997 and during that time I talked about Masaccio’s The Tribute Money. Then, in the early 2000s, while analyzing the perspective and how the narrative unfolds through the composition, I discovered a Fibonacci Sequence. Now the narrative unfolding before me took on a surprising impact and depth. No wonder his breaking up the composition into three distinct cells worked so well.

Drawing against Muscle Memory

CLUB [underdrawing] • 2024 • Charcoal on Paper • 20 × 26½ inches
I have created works for stage, mural drawings for interiors and small intimate drawings for private spaces. Each time, as expected, I had to rethink my approach. The translation from stage to paper wasn’t difficult. But the act of drawing? It’s not the idea or materials that get in your way of execution, it’s your muscle memory.

Nevelson Art Project 1991

Nevelson Project 1991
During the first Gulf War, 1991, the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock created a program that brought over 800 public school children to the museum school to create sculptures based upon the work of Louise Nevelson.