A letter from the Editor

Dear Friends:
Illustrators, including Botanical Illustrators, have known for years how to present their composition by use of a montage technique. For botanical artist/ illustrators, we are always dealing with the issues of plants dying before we get to finish the entire work. Often times we find it necessary to complete the work with the help of several of the same plants. So, the rose you see before you, may in fact be the result of several (if not more) roses used to complete the picture.

The idea that illustrators project images onto paper or canvas, trace drawings onto canvas, or even enlarge drawings they have originally made has in fact relegated them to the “illustrator” category while “fine art” was conceived as work performed solely by the artist eyeballing the subject.

Well, it is time for many of us to accept that since the early 1400’s, if not earlier, the ‘fine artist’ was doing much of what illustrators do. Yes, with the help of optics: Camera Obscura, Camera Lucida, Epidiascopes, Perspectographs, Grids, Plum Lines, Mirrors, and Magnifying Lenses, the fine artist was able to record quickly, change, enlarge, duplicate, and piece together studies for their final (montage) composition.

The information on these well-hidden techniques is discussed in David Hockney’s latest book, “Secret Knowledge – rediscovering the lost techniques of the old Masters. His theory has set the art world in a tissy. However, those of us already comfortable with the use of the OM Art “Perplexi”, and other similar devices, can testify that grid drawing works, is not a “cheating technique,” works differently for each according to skill, and develops skill at a great pace for all levels. So where’s the rub except at the end of your eraser?

All in all, what’s the point here really? Art is a passionate affair. Whichever way we allow ourselves to express it is certainly to our benefit and we hope to the enjoyment of the viewer. So, let’s just dance and not worry about the steps! God bless, OM.

BACK TO TOP

• The Collector’s Gallery, 213 Venice Avenue, Venice, FL, 34285, is proud to introduce the work of OM Braida Exhibition and Sale from February 27, 2002 to March 4, 2002. 10am to 5pm. Meet the artist Saturday and Sunday, March 2 and 3 from 10am to 4pm. Call 941-488-3029

.• Roberta Rosenthal exhibit, "I Love The Hudson Valley"
3rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition at the Star Gallery
22 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY, 845 344- 2010
www.thestargallery.com. Reception February 22, 2002 7-9 pm.
Open from Feb 22 - Mar 29, 2002

• David Hockney, Secret Knowledge: rediscovering the lost techniques of the old masters. Penguin Group, New York. 2001

• The Passion of Artemisia, by Susan Vreeland. A Novel about a woman artist living at the time of Galileo.

• Painting Flowers in Watercolor by Coral G. Guest. Timber Press, Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-509-8

---