4"x6" Miniature Original WatercolorSOLD
This is a bit complex. Inside the window there
are greens and an ornament. On the outside
there is a wreath hanging by a red and white ribbon.
The colors are warm and harmonious with interesting
reflections
I actually have a topic to discuss. If you look at yesterdays
blog comments I received an anonymous comment...
" Uncle Tom!". Since we do not have any Uncle Toms in
either family my next guess is that it was a slur. Wow...
I was going to delete it but decided not to. I rarely
encounter racism and am always surprised when it hits
me, that there are still backwards thinking people out
there in today's enlightened global society floors me.
To not have the beans to sign a real name draws
parallels all of its own.
I decided to look up the actual meaning...
1) A pejorative term for a black person who is perceived
by others as behaving in a subservient manor to white
authority figures.
2) A meek black person
3) A person who compromises and conforms
I do not see that any of these meanings fit me. I am not
subservient to any one but God, I am far from meek; but
I do have good manners! I do not feel like I compromise
anything; in fact I hold tight to my principles. So I am
reaching here... If the reference is to what I paint, I did
not realise my skin color restricts me to ethnic subjects,
must have missed that class. I was raised by parents who
lived under real oppression and made sure I knew how to
conduct myself in the world. They told me it is not a sin to
be black, just unhandy and I was expected to give 110%
to all I did. I was exposed to all art forms and from a young
age my art hero's were Homer, Eakins and NC Wyeth.
I found a love for history and spend a lot of time exploring
historical sites and traveling. This is where I glean my
subjects. I paint what interests me personally and what
speaks to me, which is what an artist is to do. I took time
over the holiday to look at the decorations, the colors, the
play of light and I will do the same with winter and snow.
I pay attention to my surroundings. I am not seeing
any compromise when I paint what I know and like.
You may not like all my subjects but I hope there is
respect for my skill level with the brush.
To anonymous: you need to get out and see the world,
educate yourself and broaden your horizons... and don't
stand behind anonymous, if you want to express an
opinion put your name to it and stand up.
blog comments I received an anonymous comment...
" Uncle Tom!". Since we do not have any Uncle Toms in
either family my next guess is that it was a slur. Wow...
I was going to delete it but decided not to. I rarely
encounter racism and am always surprised when it hits
me, that there are still backwards thinking people out
there in today's enlightened global society floors me.
To not have the beans to sign a real name draws
parallels all of its own.
I decided to look up the actual meaning...
1) A pejorative term for a black person who is perceived
by others as behaving in a subservient manor to white
authority figures.
2) A meek black person
3) A person who compromises and conforms
I do not see that any of these meanings fit me. I am not
subservient to any one but God, I am far from meek; but
I do have good manners! I do not feel like I compromise
anything; in fact I hold tight to my principles. So I am
reaching here... If the reference is to what I paint, I did
not realise my skin color restricts me to ethnic subjects,
must have missed that class. I was raised by parents who
lived under real oppression and made sure I knew how to
conduct myself in the world. They told me it is not a sin to
be black, just unhandy and I was expected to give 110%
to all I did. I was exposed to all art forms and from a young
age my art hero's were Homer, Eakins and NC Wyeth.
I found a love for history and spend a lot of time exploring
historical sites and traveling. This is where I glean my
subjects. I paint what interests me personally and what
speaks to me, which is what an artist is to do. I took time
over the holiday to look at the decorations, the colors, the
play of light and I will do the same with winter and snow.
I pay attention to my surroundings. I am not seeing
any compromise when I paint what I know and like.
You may not like all my subjects but I hope there is
respect for my skill level with the brush.
To anonymous: you need to get out and see the world,
educate yourself and broaden your horizons... and don't
stand behind anonymous, if you want to express an
opinion put your name to it and stand up.
11 comments:
Well said. I have been watching your work and I have been admiring it. I feel that we are blest that you are willing to share your work and your life with us. Sincere thanks. Keep looking up to the SON!
Well put! I think your parent's did a great job.
Oh,Andy, I am so saddened by this. This sort of comment reflects so badly on ALL of us. This is one day away from 2010, folks, get over this crap.This just makes me so angry and disappointed in the human race....I am not so sheltered that I don't know that this exists but, honestly, it sickens me. Whoever wrote that incredibly racist comment needs to wake up and look around. We need compassion and love in this world not hate. When I read comments like this I am embarrassed to be a white person.
Not afraid to sign my own name!
Susan
Andy, Linda:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
You are as articulate, (no surprise),as talented. As one comic stated: You can't fix stupid.
Hard to do sometimes but ignore the ignorant.
Be good
Pat & Mary
To find the bitterness in some people, especially at this time of year,and stated on a blog comment about a Christmas painting is a sad statement. Fortunately,you have a sea of appreciative fans out here that only see color in your paintings as what matters.
I was excited to find that you are in the Group Blog- 'Daily Painters of Pennsylvania' with me. I have always admired your work, and always look forward to your next submission.
Thom Glace
I am white...but comments like this make me ashamed and disappointed that people still feel this way. I have admired you and your work for years. The one good thing that came about by this is that I feel I know and admire you even more after your comments. You must have wonderful parents. God bless you!
Absolutely! Growing "beans" at this stage in life isn't going to happen, but perhaps the "cloud" that anonymous is walking around in can be cleared. Kudos to you Andy, Kudos! Amy in PA
Sadly it appears to be the human condition that there will always be hate and haters. I'm so sorry Andy that you had to tolerate such a comment. I can tell you that I am proud to count you as a friend. I've been buying your work now for at least the last fifteen years, and as I've gotten to know you and your family through your blog I see a man who earns an honorable living doing something that he loves well, who is a wonderful husband, father, son, and friend, who works to give back to his community and his God. I am proud to know you and to own your work. And it is typical of your courage and forthrightness to tackle such a cowardly anonymous comment head on. You keep doing what you're doing, and know that for every one cowardly fool who slights you there are a hundred of us who see you for the person you are, and just see your skin as your skin. I'm white, you're black, big deal. It's the heart inside that counts, and yours is topnotch. Laura Salmon
Bravo Andy, Your are as eloquent as you are talented. I am so sorry that you had to endure this. I have only been visiting your blog for about a year now, but it did not take long to recognize your character. God bless you.
Well said Andy. I have been called a ****** squaw when I was growing up because I look aboriginal (but I am not). My Mom told me (I was 16 the last time it happened so overtly) that it never reflected on me but that it spoke more about who the person who made the slur.
Shawna from Yellowknife
Very articulate response Andy. I am sorry you have to tolerate such ignorance.
God Bless you,
Elsie Mast
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