Portrait of the artist, old and young

Portrait of the artist as an old man, New Mexico
--Photo at Abiquiu, 2016, Susan Henry Clark

For many years, I ignored my heritage...art.
My father was an accomplished, if unknown, portrait and landscape artist, and he let us boys dabble in art when we were young. 
Art seemed natural. We grew up around it every day of  our lives...paintings and portraits on the walls, his drive to have a studio, no matter where we lived.
I inherited that, and ignored it, till about 20 years ago, urged by my first wonderful wife to take watercolor lessons. Since then I've continued, with ups and downs, and successes and failures and encouragements from my second wonderful wife and others. 

Plein aire subject, Aibquiu

And for my grandchildren wanting to paint when they come to our house, unaware of the genetic talent they have from their great grandfather.
Thank you, Dad, for getting us to New Mexico, for putting art around us all the time, and for my loved ones for knowing what I didn't know.

Early morning work, watercolor

 

Portrait of the artist as a young man--Terrence M. Clark photo, 1947