Richard Schmid, The Landscapes

I just finished reading and perusing Richard Schmid's new book on landscapes. It's no surprise to me that this book shows some of the most incredible works of art by a living artist today. He is and always has been a star that is just out of reach from us all.

The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art, Chicago, was where I met Richard Schmid. We both served on the Board of Directors and Richard was president. This was in the mid 1980s when some great emerging talent adorned the halls of that old mansion in Chicago. Richard's generous mentoring spawned some of the great names in contemporary realist art in America today. This is the Richard Schmid I know, unselfish and extremely focused in his world of art.

I recommend this new book, "Richard Schmid, The Landscapes", Stove Prairie Press. see http://www.richardschmid.com/ The hardback edition is $135.00 and worth every penny.

http://www.alfredcurrier.com/

How many months in a year?

Are you sure you want to stick with your answer of '12'?
And what is a dry-seasoned year referred to? Maybe El Nino? Are you sure?

We understand beliefs vary widely from person to person, but we count on the consistency of solid facts. This reminds me of why painting commissions can be so difficult. Betty wants a French cafe painting scene with bright red awnings. We work out the details and a month later when I show her the completed piece, she says, "oh, not that color red". Everyone sees color differently, and, everyone sees the world uniquely.

How about the Chinese farmer trying to explain the unusual hot, dry weather one year? El Nino? "The traditional Chinese lunar calendar follows a system in which a month must be made up every fourth year- sometimes there is an extra ninth month, or an extra second month, and so on. This year is the fifth one. Whenever there are two fifth months in one year, you can count on a hot dry spring followed by an extremely wet summer. This is the way it has been in the past, and thus the peasants [farmers] are not surprised by the current heat and dryness. Everywhere in the countryside they complain quietly about the problems of having two fifth months in one year." -River Town, Peter Hessler

Question your assumptions. Is it really like this or like that? There are many truths.
The opportunity for expansion of ideas and awareness, whether of the world or towards art, comes from this constant questioning and observing.

Here's how I see red.
Do you see what I mean by red?

p.s. Colors may vary according to individual monitor settings. ;-)

www.alfredcurrier.com