"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Friday, July 22, 2016

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

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