Art and plants thrive in fertile soil. For some, art is only there for the picking. They plant and harvest endlessly, with little thought of replenishing or rotating the crop. But there are those artists and patrons who replenish, and in so doing, harvest a crop rich in both tradition and insight. Their soil encourages…

Fire Breather by Kit Gentry Here is Kit Gentry’s response to the final art history homework assignment, in an email conversation with Dick. Dick, I’ve been considering the homework assignment, regarding a closing statement. I was tapping away at it this afternoon, and ended up with the following few paragraphs, which I’ll share with you…

My work is visual communication, and I would rather show than tell. I combine words and images to convey ideas. This piece is the start of a visual summary of some of the main themes of this class. To complete it I would like to include some representative works. My natural tendency is toward the…

I have always loved exploring museums in San Francisco and on my travels viewing works of art. I am a member of the San Francisco Museum Society, Hillsborough Auxiliary. We are quite active and never miss a new event always guided by a knowledgeable docent. Still I felt something was missing—I just wasn’t “getting it”.…

Dear Dick, There were some lovely surprises for me in your class. One was that I don’t hate Baroque art after all. I enjoy most of Carravagio’s and I absolutely love Vermeer! I found out that the Rococo period is one that I am not very fond of – with their allegories and “fussiness” and…

My first take is that my work roughly falls into the classic realm. My paintings are predominantly linear, though I avoid universal lighting. I tend to paint in either the late or early colors of the day. I mostly use recessional compositions, but occasionally plane. My process is similar to the surrealist where one thing…

We had the last session of art history today. Curtis took a couple photos with his iPhone. Dick had asked us each to sum up what we’d gotten out of the class. I’ll be posting several summaries, but thought it would be nice to start with this one from MJ, which I think speaks for…

Dick asked us to prepare comments on this painting for our April 9th class (see assignment). Here’s what Bonnie, Joëlle, and I had to say. (Wanda’s comments added April 28.) Bonnie I see the cycle of life eternally moving slowly forward. Death is proudly giving way to new life. The Temeraire, ghostly white, appears already…