OK, let's dive right into the next 10 web sites. If you haven't shared your web site with the rest of us send it to me and I guarantee it will be in the next newsletter.

Here are some fascinating black and white images of bathroom fixtures by Carole Turbin of NYC.

Israeli artist Jacques Sterenberg paints some haunting and expressive figures and portraits.

Time to show the exquisite work of fine glass jewelry by Virginia artist Robbie Daly.

Cincinnati artist Ray Hassard works primarily in pastel, both plein air and studio. Look at his strong figurative work.

Ol' buddy and Chadds Ford, PA artist Virgil Carter uses watercolor, gouache and mixed media to paint NYC scenes.

NYC pastel artist Barbara Rachko paints some powerful, intense and colorful large scale paintings.

Fredericksburg, Virginia artist Bill Harris is a prolific figurative artist who paints with oils in an original and exciting style.

Experience the original and unique artwork of NYC artist Marc Cavello (a Pleiades Gallery member like me).

Why do I like the work of Steven Todd Beyer from Naples, Florida? Because our styles are similar!

Plein air California artist Carol Mayne captures a sense of place with her beautiful scenes of California and Italy.

Well, that's ten artists' web sites. Next month I start with Carolyn Grossé Gawarecki, Teresa Vito and Patti Mollica. I've got room for yours.

Buenos Aires

I returned home from the Ann Templeton Buenos Aires workshop a week and a half ago and have these impressions of the city and people. Buenos Aires is HUGE! You could probably fit 10 Manhattan islands into Buenos Aires. It's an exciting city full of life and activity. Food is good and cheap, cabs are abundant and cheap, and rents and property values are low. The European influence can be seen in the architecture.

We painted in the heart of the city (Recoleta, Palermo Soho and San Telmo neighborhoods) and took one day to go paint in Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Here's a slide show created by Nancy. When the slide show comes up you can click on 'speed' to choose how fast or slow the slides appear. Here is a link to Ann's site.

If you go please be alert because there are some talented pickpockets there. They should give pickpocket workshops. Nancy and I were walking down the street and felt what seemed like pigeon poop land on us. Well, it wasn't that. It was a substance with a pretty bad smell that was sprayed on us but looked like poop. A couple came running over to "help" clean it off us with tissues and water. And then it was all over as fast as it started. It was only after they left that it dawned on me that we were caught in a scam. Thankfully our passports and money were in the pockets of my pants and buttoned closed so they didn't get anything.

Workshops

The workshop I'm teaching in Paris May 16 - 24 called "Putting People in Your Paintings" is starting to fill. Remember that I only reserved 12 rooms to keep the class small. Remember too that this is all inclusive - airfare included. We can work together on finding the best fare and itinerary for you. You can purchase the ticket and I will deduct that amount from the cost of the workshop. As of today, March 1, rates I find are between $600 and $1000 depending on your airport.

I've recently added a non-instructed painting class in NYC June 26-28. I'll work with you to help find lodging if you come from out of town. We're going to have fun painting in the Big Apple!

Early Morning Inspiration

My ideas of what to write come to me around 4:30 AM when I should be sleeping. This morning it occurred to me to write a little about the role of rules in painting. Of course I invite you to agree or disagree. I want to start by saying that I do believe that rules are very important to learn. What do I mean by rules? Here are some examples: 1) lead the viewers eye around your painting 2) the center of interest should be the area of greatest contrast or color 3) objects in the background should be cooler and lighter in value than objects in the foreground. 4) balance colors throughout the painting. These could be true not only for representational painting but also for abstract painting or even other forms of art.

Part of the education of the artist is consciously struggling with these rules and trying to apply them in our paintings. If the process is working a time might come when these rules are absorbed and emerge spontaneously without thinking. When this happens is not under our conscious control but happens in it's own time. The trap to avoid is this: a painting can become nothing more than a checklist of rules. This will give us a painting well designed with all the rules faithfully followed but without any genuine individuality or 'soul'.

The work of a teacher must be to recognize from the earliest stages of a students development the inherent and undeveloped style of the student. This is so critical and comes from the desire of the teacher to see each student as truly unique and individual. So... teach the rules but not at the expense of the "emerging voice" of the student. We want to see true individuality emerge even if it's not the way we would paint! What greater gift can a teacher give than to hold a mirror up so the student begins to value, develop and appreciate their own uniqueness? Besides, we've all seen great paintings in museums where rules were NOT followed.

Artists' Quotes

There are so many profound quotes from Van Gogh. This is just one example: "I am not strictly speaking mad, for my mind is absolutely normal in the intervals, and even more so than before. But during the attacks it is terrible - and then I lose consciousness of everything. But that spurs me on to work and to seriousness, as a miner who is always in danger makes haste in what he does".

Leonardo da Vinci: "Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master".

George Baselitz: "I paint German artists whom I admire. I paint their pictures, their work as painters, and their portraits too. But oddly enough, each of these portraits ends up as a picture of a woman with blonde hair. I myself have never been able to work out why this happens".

This one isn't about art but it made me laugh so I'm including it: "If this is the best of all possible worlds, I'd hate to see what
the others look like" - Voltaire (paraphrased) 1759

Miscellaneous

If you've ever been to San Miguel on one of my workshops then you've been to Mineral de Pozos for a day painting in the gardens of a wonderful B & B called Casa Montana. Susan Montana is now selling her property and I guess retiring. Have a look.

Ellen sent me this article from the New York Times called "In Blindness, a Bold New Artistic Vision" about an artist who became blind in 2001 but still paints.

Don't forget that Michaelangelo's birthday is in a couple of days (March 6). I belive he'll be 534 years old.

Phil Levine Workshops, Inc.
69 bank Street #102. NY, NY 10014
phone: 212-414-8875 fax: 866-501-6873
e-mail: philiplevine@earthlink.net