Blog Week: Listen
I was painting in my south Huntsville studio around 10am when I was interrupted by a knock. A man with an impressive full beard politely removed his hat and said he had come to meet me. He had heard I was a hard working artist who was taking my work seriously — and it was “high time we met”. I knew exactly who HE was. Arch Pike became a dear friend over the coming years. He meant much more to me than I could have possibly meant to him - and I think that probably is a common theme among the people who have changed my life with their example and wisdom.
One of the kindest and most gentle people I’ve ever known is Chuck Long, a well known and respected private art teacher in Huntsville. Hundreds of people are grateful to Chuck for his instruction and friendship - I am one of many. I signed up for classes with Chuck, having no idea that I was walking into a well established watercolor class with a very experienced teacher. It was one of the most fortunate things that has ever happened to me because it wouldn’t have taken much to dash what little confidence I had. Chuck’s nurturing personality and endless patience was a constant in my life for years. Without exaggeration, Chuck changed me life.
Watercolor classes with Chuck were the highlight of my week. I remember them as peaceful hours. Chuck talked about music and travel while he effortlessly demonstrated with his small class gathered around. On the weeks that we painted, he would give individual instruction — always emphasizing the positive and nudging us to see our errors as well as opportunities to improve our paintings. I can’t begin to relate everything I learned from Chuck. He was the first professional artist I knew personally and he will always define the word for me.
I’ve had some wonderful workshop teachers over the years. I’ve gone into each workshop hungry to pick up something that will improve my work and understanding. I had never heard of Sue Archer but she was teaching at Arrowmont in Tennessee during the week I could go — so I researched and found that she painted beautifully. Sue turned out to be a fantastic teacher, communicating in a way that I could really hear and sending us to the book store for texts to accompany her lectures. I don’t remember painting anything of merit that week but I took pages and pages of notes - and drove home with a new understanding of values, color, and line. Thanks to Sue, I was introduced to the elements of design and fell in love with the basics - I think I learned to start at the beginning. In later years, Sue and I often saw each other at the same art fairs and I was able to thank her personally.
And now back to Arch. I knew Arch casually for several years before we found ourselves sharing a studio building. He was fighting a terminal illness with courage, total impatience, and occasional rage. Through it all, he continued to love making pots. He delighted in his art, flying kites, nature, fishing, reading, his passions were absolutely endless. I listened to Arch. He had been down the path I was on and was revisiting his victories as well as his errors. I’m so thankful that he talked openly with me. I listened carefully and absorbed as much as I could. If I can live and make art with half the zeal that Arch Pike did, I’ll be pleased with my time here.
In closing, the voice I’ve listened and been guided by daily has been Mark, my best friend. Mark can listen to hours of self doubt and frustration then simply say, “You have a choice. Paint or don’t paint.” I’ll give him a dumbfounded look and tell him I’m going to paint! And he says, “Fine, then paint.” He’s a wise man.
Mark has built display panels, put art fair canopies up while I’m passed out in the van with a migraine, walked for miles while I photograph every building in New York, helped me balance my checkbook, mowed my studio yard, cut glass, listened to my speeches, attended gallery openings, and listened to me whine, analyze, and strategize for hours. Above all, he believes in me.
Thank you, Mark.
