Creating Time - The Zorn Exhibit

Yesterday several of my students and I attended the Anders Zorn Exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.  We had a great time!

The part I want to share, that enthralled me the most, was the variety of work... watercolor paintings, oil paintings, etchings, sketches, photographs and bronze statues.  That's a lot of proficiency in the field of art!

Some students were surprised that not every piece was finished to perfection or completely refined.  The truth is that all artists have many unfinished and unrefined pieces of work; we just don't share them with the rest of the world.  But it also reminds me, an artist of this modern, busy world, that I find it difficult to dedicate the amount of time he did to his artistic pursuits.  It makes me want to draw, to paint, to sketch, even to sculpt (although I am not a sculptor) all the more!

The answer: well, I don't actually have an answer.  But I do admire a student of mine, who despite his busy life with a young family, draws every opportunity he can.  You can see Doug's work at www.thehippingpost.com.  In the meantime I will be aspiring to that same level of focus and to a greater degree of efficiency in my life so I can put more of my time into painting and drawing.

I understand the Hockney exhibit at the DeYoung Museum is equally inspiring, even if you, like me, are not necessarily in love with his work.  That's why I'll be going there next week.  In the meantime I'll be carving out all the time I can in pursuit of my art.  I hope you find time to do the same. 

Une premiere, Anders Zorn, 1888 (a piece he cut up because he was unhappy with it)