John Cage's 'Rules for Students and Teachers':
“When the factory gets the steam up and things begin to
happen, the worker becomes hooked. Also, as skills are learned,
techniques defined, and directions
found, the place begins to look like a perpetual motion machine.” ~
Robert Genn ~ From Robert Genn’s Twice Weekly Letters, circa 2008
Day 89 ~ SE-89-25
“An art factory is a place where unmarked supports enter
on one side, become caressed with the physical manifestation of human
imagination, and are subsequently pushed out the other side. Whether
these modified supports are commercially destined or not, it’s a process
that needs to take place.” ~ Robert Genn ~ From Robert Genn’s Twice Weekly Letters, circa 2008 
Day 88 ~ SE-88-25
“Not many of us can be convinced that working in a
factory is a lot of laughs. Being a factory may be even worse. But
there’s something to be said for building one and getting into it.” ~ Robert Genn ~ From Robert Genn’s Twice Weekly Letters, circa 2008
“Drawing should not stop when you pick up your brush to paint.” ~ Sandy Sandy
Day 87 ~ SE-87-25
Day
86 ~ SE-86-25“During the last while I’ve been giving my two bits
worth to several would-be painters. These folks are young, well educated
and talented. They want to
talk about the business of making art, the possibility of going to art
school, their future in art. They also check my modest brain for what I
might think galleries want, price points, popular sizes, that sort of
thing. While this is all very nice, I’ve glazed over a few times, and
frankly told one of them to paint a hundred paintings and give me a call
when she does. There was a significant silence on the other end of the
phone — as if it was just around the corner that I might coach
creativity into her. “Think of yourself as a factory,” I said. That was
the end of that call.” ~ Robert Genn / From Robert Genn’s Twice Weekly Letters, circa 2008
“You must continue to draw, even when you are painting.” ~ Sandy Sandy
"After the commitment to begin a series is made, it begins to take on a life of its own. With each additional painting in a series, the original thought grows into something more refined and bigger than a singular painting could ever be. Every addition allows the artist’s voice to get louder and clearer, demonstrating that they are on a path, know what they’re doing, where they’re going, and what they have to do to get there." ~ Lynette Ubel
"A series is a collection of paintings that, when viewed, leaves no doubt that the same artist created them all. The theme running through the work is stated and restated in different yet interconnected ways, and the viewer can look at the collection and understand more easily what the artist is trying to convey." ~ Lynette Ubel As a warm-up, I decided to do a smaller oil painting of several of the designs I'm using in my 2026 Calendars. This is a photo of my painting setup with the image sketched on my canvas board.
Day 84 ~ SE-84-25
“First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. Yosemite Valley, known for ‘El Capitãn and ’Half Dome is world famous for its impressive waterfalls, meadows, cliffs, and unusual rock formations, which are accessible by car year-round.” ~ NPS
“The purpose of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is to protect a dynamic tidewater glacial landscape and associated natural successional processes for science and accessible discovery in a wilderness setting. Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, a temperate rainforest, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords. Glacier Bay National Park is known as Homeland to several Native American tribes, and is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage. From sea to summit, Glacier Bay offers limitless opportunities for adventure and inspiration.” ~ NPS I didn't have an original line drawing grid copy of this park, so I redrew it today. I colored in my first two master copies, lol. I've become more organized and efficient as I've added pieces to this series.
"People traveling in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1700s reported an abundance of various animals. As European settlers cleared land, hunted, and introduced domestic animals, wild animal populations decreased. Hunting eliminated American bison around 1798 and elk followed in 1855. Beaver and river otter disappeared in the late 1800s. The eastern timber wolf, eastern cougar, white-tailed deer, turkey, black bear, and bobcats were either extirpated or declined drastically. The exact number of native species lost is unknown. In the past century, most of these species have returned either through reintroductions on lands elsewhere in Virginia or through natural population recovery. The designation and management of the area as a National Park provides refuge to resident and migrating animals." ~ NPS
Day 81 ~ SE-81-25
“Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are a haven to deer, songbirds, and black bears, there's so much to explore. Today, Shenandoah is a refuge for many animals otherwise pressured by human activities. The Park is home to over 190 resident and transient bird species, over 50 mammal species, over 20 reptile and amphibian species, and over 40 fish species.” ~ NPS
“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. And humans want to save the things they love.” ~ Steve Irwin
“Big Bend National Park goes from an elevation of less than 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande, to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains. The park includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, forested mountains, and an ever-changing river. Winters in Big Bend are generally mild, with the occasional short cold snap. Usually, the skies are clear, and daytime highs can run into the 70’s or higher. Under clear skies, however, it gets colder at night, sometimes freezing. With diverse wildlife across its many ecosystems, the park supports over 450 bird species, large mammals such as black bears, mountain lions, and javelinas, desert-bighorn sheep, elk, and even wild horses. Here you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States.” ~ NPS
