Before I get into the next 10 of your web sites, here's a little story about Vincent Van Gogh and American astronomers. A couple of years ago I happened to come upon an article in one of the astronomy magazines about Vincent. Seems like a group of astronomers in the Southwest US became fascinated with his starry night paintings, and the paintings that had night skies in them.

Auvers sur Oise is the place Van Gogh spent the last months of his life and where he ended his life with a bullet (Auvers is one of my 2 or 3 all time favorite places in France - and a town I insist on bringing folks to when I have a Paris workshop). Seems like there was a painting he did in town of a certain house - and the bright stars and planets overhead behind the house. For over 100 years that painting and that house were identified in all of the official town and artist literature. But this group of astronomers wanted to find out for sure, so they went back into the records of what the night skies looked like on that very date that the painting was executed.

Long story short: they discovered that the brightest night light in the painting - Venus, made it impossible for that house to be the one identified for all these years. Armed with this information this group of astronomers traveled to Auvers and met with the local honchos and shared their discoveries. Based on their hard work and study, the correct house was found and the attribution in all the literature and books of the painting changed! At the end of their visit I think they all had a huge party that I was VERY sorry I missed, and the group photo was part of that astronomy magazine story. So much for the French and the Americans not being great friends!

Here's another bit of sleuthing that was reported in Sky and Telescope magazine http://skytonight.com/about/pressreleases/3307691.html?page=1&c=y

And if you have 5 minutes to spare check this out thanks to Nancy Lloyd http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/show.aspx?id=43

Here's something to think about.. Maybe some of you can relate? You do a painting and feel enthused and great about it. Following me so far? OK... but then some other elements enter into this. Maybe an hour later or a day later you can look at it and start feeling negative about it - even depressed. Happens to me, but it's important to make two distinctions: first, it could be the technical critic inside that just sees things that don't work all that well. That's one possibility. But the other possibility is also the more or less insidious one. That's the voice that condemns and demeans - goes much further than being critical. So in my life and work it makes sense to take the time to make sure that it's not that demeaning, degrading voice doing the criticizing. What do I try to do when I hear that voice? I find that simply saying something like: "oh, it's you again - my demeaning voice". What that does is create some separation between me and that negative influence.

Stuff About You ok.. more of your web sites:

See Tom Tuchel's figures, landscapes and portraits at http://www.tomsfineart.com/

and the great variety of subject matter on Diane Whitehead's web site at http://www.artbydianewhitehead.com/

The romantic paintings of Bill and Gloria Garrison http://pages.suddenlink.net/billandgloria/index.htm

The colorful watercolor paintings of Sharon Pitts http://www.sharonpitts.com/

Houses, Cottages and Automobiles of Canadian artist William Band http://www.williambandstudio.com/

How about the Colorado marble stone carving and Colorado landscapes of Laura Wambsgans http://www.laurawambsgans.com/home.php

What? Another Colorado painter? Yes... my friend Leslie Allen http://www.allenfineart.com

The peaceful and personal vision of Kris Paton http://www.paton-place.com/

Fascinating urban paintings of Brooklyn artist Bonnie Steinsnyder http://www.steinsnyder.com/

Gee, must be Colorado artist month or something - here are the oils, pastels, representational and abstract paintings of Karla Nolan http://www.karlanolan.com/default.php

OK... here are my next couple of workshops:

Charles Sovek is teaching a class on the streets of NYC later in August http://www.paintingfrance.com/charles_nyc.htm Don't forget to check out Charles' very special web site.. All kinds of painting lessons and more http://www.sovek.com/ He'll even break down some famous paintings explaining why they work the way they do!
After that I've got a workshop with Teresa Vito in Burgundy in the fall http://www.paintingfrance.com/Burgundy.htm
And one in Paris with Jennifer Padgett http://www.paintingfrance.com/Paris.htm

You've got to come along - you know we're going to have a great time!

Miscellaneous

I ran into a most interesting kind of on line art gallery recently. Unique in that it's free and they certainly seem well organized. In the words of Luck Aleckson: "Myartspace.com is a rapidly growing--and totally free--online community for the art world. It gives artists unlimited space to upload and display their work in a refined, professional atmosphere. Artists may also enter to take part in real-world exhibits, such as one coming this October in the Chelsea gallery district in NYC. Coming this summer: an online marketplace." Here's the link to their site http://www.myartspace.com/

I just started a series of painting of a subject I've always loved. Here are two: Ali-Liston and Jack Sharkey vs Max Schmeling

Laura is asking you folks: "Have you ever had any discussions about the right kind of lighting for a studio? I am in the process of building a home studio, with plenty of windows. I am at a loss for the right kind of lights to install. I would like lights to paint by, and lights to shine on my artwork?" email her at LaLaJon@aol.com

Another cool thing I saw on TV the other night - a documentary-movie called "Who the $^%&#$* is Jackson Pollock". The story about a very down to earth woman who lived in a trailer park and bought a painting for $5 at a local thrift store. What transpired was the pursuit of authenticity of the painting as a genuine Pollock. Was it or wasn't it? A parade of experts from high powered art aficionados to world renowned forensic experts foraged for clues or expressed their opinions as to the paintings authenticity. You'll have to see the movie to see what happened. The one thing I can tell you is that a Saudi prince offered her $9 million dollars for the painting and she rejected the offer!

Heath Insurance for us starving artists: All I know is that I would have saved untold amounts of money when I moved to NYC from Denver if I had known about other options for health insurance. I became a member of a group called NY Artists Equity (appropriate right?) and as a member of that group paid a certain sum for a health plan called HIP. Well, just three months ago I heard about another group called Freelancers Union and found that if I was a member of their group I'd be paying $139 a month less for the exact same health plan! I'm telling you this because I don't want you to make the same mistake. There are options out there and you could be saving money on your health plan. Take the first step by going to http://www.ahirc.org/ which is the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center and have a look around. They help you find a group that might save you some money.

Bernadette wants to know if "you know anyone interested in living in Paris, near Chatelet and Les Halles metros (20 minutes from the airport by the RER and walk everywhere in the center of the city in minutes), please have them contact me at +1 917 287 7938 You can view the apartment online at http://www.parisattitude.com/apartment.asp?numProduit=1957 She prefers a minimum of 6 months. You can also email her at btbeekman@aol.com