Dear Artists,

This is one of the most remarkable shows I’ve ever judged. 

Your works made this a very difficult, but joyous task. It’s hard to explain the happiness I felt while paging through your pieces. It’s delightful to know that in today’s market, with AI staring us down to steal our original work and threaten copyright in general, it’s good to see artists maintain the desire to create visions and worlds to still touch the human spirit.

And you all are showing how that future can be bright.

I wasn’t even close to having this kind of skill or insight when I came out of art school. (My art school was a joke—DO NOT get me started…: ) But I was driven to learn. Soon my desire became practical training to attain the kind of skills that others might call, ‘talent.’ In looking at your works, I know this desire is alive and well in all of you.

And I can see that your instructors are giving you excellent guidance. Keep listening!

It was tough to pick medals for this show, too, but I do hope that even getting into the show will inspire and propel you forward. If your work didn’t make it in, don’t do what I used to do: grumble and be hard on myself. Your answer is to continue forward and don’t take it personally. It’s a learning opportunity. I’m sure your instructors can coach you on how to think of it all.

A particular note to the oil painters (and I see that some of you can do digital as well as oil—and this is a good thing!):

Oil painting is a particularly easy medium to handle and remarkably forgiving, once you get the hang of it. Give yourself the patience and time it takes. Don’t rush too much. Every good stroke is a step to mastery, and I believe you can do it. But it does take some time to get rolling. Once you do, you’ll be ecstatic that you gave yourself the patience and training.

Y’know, as for the show, it’s really not about who’s best, it’s about achieving.

Congratulations to all of you, and thanks to Ringling’s instructors for this opportunity. I’m re-inspired!

All Best,
Greg