thnaks for the kind words

@@StefanBaumann thankyou for the wonderful lessons. You have a big impact in this world, maybe more than you are even aware.

Thanks Karen if you think that those are good you should be part of my patreon. for as little as 5 bucks you can talk with me.

I got my inspiration from Owen Gromme as a Child when I would skip school to go to the Milwaukee Museum. He later when on a group with Robert Bateman whom I also met by accident, in the 70's Gromme gave me some brushes and paint. Both I learned a few tips from. doing out doors. Gromme told me Tansy plant juice, bugs do no like it when doing sketching out doors He also helped me by using clear RED transparent film over words, because it was hard for me to Read, but I did not know I was dyslexic. and he did not use the word. Bateman was the one that game hints also. He also mentioned about the new wave of what is ART , is tossing out all the famous artist learned , by tossing out the Golden Rule and I should not get discouraged, He also told me that there are not many females that paint. Most that do go into cuteness, and I should NOT , lean that way, and stay with my style of Realism. even if I will notice, many Art Galleries will not, a problem he was having. My problem is Time, over the years less art supply stores, now much has gone so in price. When in my mid 20, I had a child. and someone broke in and took all my art supplies, books of sketches with notes about plants and I worked on Flat Canvas when I painted, be I lack space for canvas, When they took items I do not think they knew what they were taking, and probably tossed every thing into trash, because it was not Abstract. I did not have insurance, and no longer could I make money with my art. Guess this is why female artist are so few if they have children. Working a full time job, coming home, getting groceries , and laundry matt. and doing all else. and little money, art takes a side line. I collected enough art materials, but with Acrylic formula changed, but this is what I am stuck with for the moment, because if is what I have, not knowing, but I can use it as an under coat and use Oils over much of my work, guess this is how I will differ from others who paint 100% in oils. Social Security does not pay out much. for art materials. Rent is the main expense., and even I am paying far less than many in the city. I am lucky I am still fairly healthy at 75. Did not intend to write a this long. But do not know any one really as I once did. Today, most are young, more into cellphones, taking selfies, never bother to say "hello" and off in their car.. I read your note, you posted to Stephen, figured you would mind that I added some of my gratitude that more Realism Art is making a come back , and more are using the out doors as their canvas of inspiration. than Tweaking Photos, (some are really good, but noticed many keep the photo EYES untouched of the animals they tweak ) without every using a brush, pencil or pen.

@@tusk242 Thank you for your story! I truly do not believe realistic art using real media (oil, acrylic, etc.) is dead. In fact, I've seen professional artists in game/movie industries choose to get back into oil painting. There's something special about real paint on canvas. As a kid, I always wanted to work in games or movies. I wanted to make my own world. I also wanted to encourage other artists along the way. This is basically what my own youtube channel is all about - learning art, encouraging artists, and creating new worlds. I find as I go through life, I appreciate real media more and more. I recently got back into oil painting, acrylic, watercolor; all the different mediums. Possibly my favorite is pen and ink with watercolor over it. I'm using fountain pens and absolutely love them. I ended up choosing my family over my art, and went a different path for my career. Now I do art on the side and hopefully can grow it into something more. I wish I was able to balance all the demands of life better as a youngster so I could have chosen art sooner. As you said, it's quite challenging to balance everything.

I think Van Dyke is closer to 97. 75's not old anymore. Just keep moving:)

@@tangents6299 Thankyou, I do not feel old, but so many I knew cancer robbed them. Even my sons father, passed in late 50's, my friends, passed in their 60's , and my last friend just when she was ready be Free, to enjoy life, sold her apartment building, found out she had stage 4 cancer. I will be taking a daily break from sitting , now winter is not as slippery to walk to the Lake . In the city, too many do not shovel their sidewalk. There is a Police Horse Stable near by , and a lot of nature in the back, RAILROAD, and shipping dock, and old buildings still stand empty, too, so I will volunteer there.. THANKS AGAIN. for your response . IT helps to get a" jump" of inspiration, to keep on chugging.

@@janaiart5065 I'm really sorry for your friend. And you, as I know you're gonna miss them.

​@@tangents6299 So many fiends, passed Art , I finally gathered enough materials restart, but many are not into Realism, Abstract is still in, and others are into spilling acrylic paint on a canvas, and let it swirl. YES, I love the out come I see others create. Other's are tweaking photos, to look as if done in oil, water colors, pastels, without every lifting a paint brush. I will stay fixed on Old school, but do not know if my work is good enough​ . Robert Bateman thought it was, in the 70"s, Hard to keep going, But then "A I " will win, if WE do not. Right?