If you would like an inside look at art forgery, and how perceived cachet, not quality or spirit, rules the art market, I recommend The Forger’s Spell by Edward Dolnick. The incredible events described in the book took place during World War Two and are as relevant today.

In a significant way, Dolnick’s story reminds me of the film, F for Fake by Orson Welles—a must see exploration of art forgery and the art market in the hands of that artful rascal, Maestro Welles, and company. 

Art does not exist in a vacuum. It is about life and living, after all.

I’m taking an informal poll, and would appreciate your opinion.

Are adult children responsible for their elderly parents? Yes? No?

Is providing care for a parent a duty, ethical obligation, or a deep existential moral need?

Sooner or later, most will confront this issue and these questions. 

Recently, someone confided in me that they didn’t know whether they were an artist, or not.

Apparently, this question plagues many who would aspire to a life worth living as a creator. Here is a brief excerpt from my book, An Artist Empowered:

A thought inside your head: Am I an artist?

If you have to ask someone, then projecting insecurity shouts: I dont know. And if you don’t know, you haven’t found your dharma. Somewhere along your quest you have faltered; you didn’t follow through, which is the undoing of many would-be artists. Its not that opportunity to confirm your gift and purpose didn’t surface; you chose to dismiss it, most likely out of fear and doubt.

I make this assessment based on my experience over many years with a master painter. I had witnessed flocks of so-called artists flit into his studio on the pretense of wanting to learn more about art.

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The other day, someone who knows my paintings and writing asked me about the difference between art and craft.

There is a distinction worth understanding, not for comparison or ego masturbation, but for clarity. When a sun is born in the galactic mist, the primordial matter and energy do not go back for another go at it to see if they can do better—the sun is born fully formed and perfect, ready to take its place in the universe.

Art from the soul is like the new star. When I paint, the flow is spontaneous, permanent, and does not require improvements, tinkering, or fixing when done.

When I write, however, I am in a different realm. I know can improve upon my words and structure for clarity, so it appears fluid to the reader and that it couldn’t have been written any other way. I can craft and tweak the writing until it speaks for me. If you can improve upon it, then it’s craft.

Some years ago, while I was writing An Artist Empowered, I asked Julia Cameron (author of The Artist’s Way) for her take on handling rejection, and all the other garbage that might fall in your path.

She told me the following, which is worth reading and doing as often as necessary.

My personal formula is this: Rejection becomes opportunity when ‘Why me?’ becomes ‘What next?’