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Posted on 2/1/2019 10:43:15 AM by john macarthur

I get that. I spend the better part of every day painting or sketching or preparing work for a show. That's right. I do this for a living. Now, I may produce art, but I surely don't pretend to be an expert on art. Art and art appreciation are very personal topics. Just because scads of art critics rave about a piece of art is no indication that you would ever want to own it. And let's face it, most of the raved about art pieces are well beyond most budgets.

It's no wonder that looking for some art to display in your home wears you out. It was easy when your tastes ran to celebrities in sports or entertainment. Those long ago, well maybe not so long ago, posters were like a merit badge on your wall stating your membership in scattered fan bases across the country. (oh my, time to say goodbye to Che or The Bangles, etc.)

Well, how's this for an idea? Instead of focusing on what "prints" are for sale in Target or some other big box store, what if you focus on art work that you appreciate? Original art purchases are one of a kind. You are the only owner of that particular piece. If you discover an artist that has a style you really like, you can become a collector. Don't be surprised if a few of your friends follow suit.

The exclusive clubs in life are chosen by the members. Collecting the works of one, two or three local artists is a conscious decision. It truly is a way to "Make America Great Again". You don't need a red hat. Oh, and after you purchase, you won't regret it. Well done art only increases in value as time goes by. Your piece can not be duplicated.

I would hope that your journey begins here. This is my world. It is about paintings of the streets, the traffic, the neighborhoods, the bars, the restaurants, the shops and the quirky things that become my art in the DC metro area.

Art on!

Posted on 1/29/2019 2:02:56 PM by JOHN MACARTHUR

An odd question? Perhaps. There aren't many ways to describe the life of an artist other than a "journey". Famous or relatively unknown, the moniker fits them all. I wear it as well. My life has been an artistic journey. And to be quite honest, I have never set a final destination.

Art is about the journey. It is how we express what we see and what we experience as we travel through this world. I have never met an artist that was money motivated, although I have no doubt there have been a few. I have had more jobs than most folks. A job was merely the means to an end. I had to have shelter, food and provide for a family. I just could never focus on the intricate workings of maintaining a 9-5. Sure, I have been quite successful and I have always vanished when pigment called.

I have lived in over 50 addresses. They have ranged from my parents home to cars and apartments and rentals and garages. Every one was chosen using the "how cheap can I live" motivation. Homes have been stopping points in my journey. It is only in the last ten years that I can actually say, I am home.

The only item that has been with me for the last 60 odd years is a wooden box. It is a pochade that Kirk Douglas gave me at the opening of "Lust for Life". My father, the drama editor, took me. That little box has traveled all over the United States. It has carried paint tubes for me when I lived in the French Quarter. It has seen the New York skyline, the Baltimore skyline and inner harbor, the camp grounds at Assateague Island and the streets of cities in France and Italy. It now rests on shelf in my studio.

My journey began with Orange paint. It moved on to berries and mud and coffee. Then real paint was added to my repertoire. Today, I have the use of the finest oil, the most translucent water colors, the brightest pastel sticks and modern acrylics. I have developed a skill set for sketching and doing quick studies. I enjoy painting plein aire. Life is good.

I don't have an answer. My journey continues. Final destination? Don't know. The journey remains my goal.