Artwork by Arthur Marlin
… The second problem is that in many of these, one ends up copying the instructor, step by step, close but not quite painting by the numbers – a picture done in just a few hours. I think this approach is fine if the desired result is a decorative piece of craft. I don’t, however think that it is likely to produce a work of art – something that is transformative, inspiring, perhaps even enduring. Something that is not a product of chance.
I believe that the best way to produce a piece of art stems from methods tried and true. It requires a strong infastructure. The old masters knew that and it was in inherent part of their work. The Mona Lisa was not a product of a 6 hour workshop or even a week workshop. …
