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In this article, the author, Sheldon Rosenthal, explains his philosophy regarding art and how he works. He states that he is self-taught, and admits that though there is a lot of room for improvement, he is pleased with the style he has achieved, and has no concern about trends, only what he finds pleasing. He usually begins by taking as many thumbnail sketches of his subject, as well as photographs before deciding what to paint. The tools he uses include gauze pads, acrylics and sandpaper. He claims that he works only from memory to express emotion.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including a critique of one of its contributing authors, Ralph Mayer, in the April 1974 issue, one on an input by Kathleen S. Staiger in the March 1974 issue, and another on Frank Vincent DuMond by Herbert E. Abrams in the same issue.

The article lists several art books including "The Story of a Cricket Picture," by Alfred D. Taylor, "Egg Decorating, Plain and Fancy," by Arden J. Newsome and "Creative Stained Glass," by Polly Rothenberg.

The article features several books about art from several publishers which could be given out as holiday presents. They include "The Story of George Washington," by May McNeer from Abingdon Press, "Victorian Public Houses," by Brian Spiller from Arco Publishing Co. and "Philadelphia Architecture in the Nineteenth Century," revised edition, edited by Theo B. White from Art Alliance Press.

The article focuses on American etcher Roi Partridge. It cites Partridge's beliefs in art wherein success is a subconscious ability demonstrating the difference between a true expert and a beginner since real talent is dictated by the subconscious and carrying it out happens naturally. It offers details of his artistic and technical drawing methods wherein he works at his subject's location and only goes to his studio when working with his plates. Also featured are some etchings by Partridge.

The article discusses the growing popularity of prints such as etchings, lithographs and screen prints. It talks about the benefit of having new means of displaying an artist's work. However, with the increased attention in prints, an artist should also take note of the essential methods of printmaking such as intaglio, relief, planographic and screen printing. A description of each process is also presented.

A bibliography related to art is presented which includes the books "Slate and Soft Stone Sculpture," by Frank Eliscu, "From the Sketchbooks of the Great Artists," by Claude Marks, and "Victorian Cemetery Art," by Edmund V. Gilton, Jr.

The article discusses how to prepare a surface for easel-painting. The surface which is used in painting is called a ground, which can be a stretch of linen in oil painting, a paper for watercolor, and the plaster wall in fresco. A ground is said to be important as it allows quick and confident work and is essential for the mechanical structure, survival and luminosity of the art. Tips on how to prepare a canvas and how to select a good ready made canvas are also provided.

An interview with sculptor Frank Gallo is presented. He talks about his influences in his decision to become a sculptor. He discusses where he first studied art, as well as his art instructor who greatly influenced his works. He examines his evolution as an artist from being an abstract artist to become a figurative artist. He also cites several sculptors who in some way influenced his works.

The article focuses on the technique used by artist Hardie Gramatky in painting watercolors. Gramatky believes that the element of surprise has always been the key contributor to the completion of a watercolor painting. He adds that his use of opaque in his works changes the relativity of the pictures. While he admits that there has been controversy over what is honest or not honest in the use of opaque, he points out that artists should consider what is good for the painting.

The article features artist Robert Byrd. Byrd refers to himself as a drawer in line. He does a lot of research first before executing a drawing. It is said that he spends thirty to forty hours on each drawing to bring out the most pictorial element from the story or article assigned to him. He favors Rapidograph pens with different points for drawing.

The article offers an artist's account of his pilgrimage from Rome to Florence, Italy. The author intended to visit the entire range of Western art from Classic to Medieval to Renaissance by going to key places where they are situated and to add pleasure and value to the experience by creating on-the-spot drawings and paintings. He cites the pleasures he experienced while strolling in the Sistine Chapel and Spanish Steps. He says that with all the visual stimuli around, even the stone pavement has acquired historical significance.

The article describes the art scene in Mexico from the point of view of an American artist. Mexico has been described as a land of contrasts, with pre-Columbian, Spanish and modern influences. The country has various types of people and landscape, and has significant contributions to art including pottery, textile design and sculpture. The article features some of artist Denver Gillen's work using Mexico as his subject.

This sections lists several books received by the journal, including "American Printmaking, the First 150 Years," by J. William Middendorf II, "Survival Through Design," by Richard Neutra, and "A Dictionary of Art Terms & Techniques," by Ralph Mayer.

The article discusses the art styles that were developed by American artists. Such styles include abstract expressionism, pop art, kinetic art and junk art. It specifically tackles pop art, which is said to be an art of realism due to its inclusion in the oldest and most vigorous tradition in American art. It is inferred that pop arts were presented in the form of billboards, gaudy sculptures and hand-painted shop signs, among others.

The article highlights the works of painter Liuboslav Hutsaliuk. The author implies that Hutsaliuk's oils and watercolors express his philosophy of bringing happiness and pleasure to people through his paintings. He cites that Hutsaliuk's works are dominated by bright singing colors, sunshine and subjects of universal appeal. Hutsaliuk explains that he paints from his memory and from the studies he had previously done. Images of his oil and watercolor paintings are also featured.

The article features watercolorist Ray G. Ellis. According to Ellis, watercolor was most frustrating to him in his early schooling and has tried a variety of techniques but the unique quality of watercolor offers freshness and subtlety brings him back to it. He infers that watercolor demands continuous experimentation and long hours of preparation, considering proper lights and color as well as balance, clarity and vitality. His "Fog" painting is also discussed.

The author examines the production and use of mud by colorist painters using the color wheel diagram. Mud traps that may be encountered by artists are dirty tools, materials which are snarled together, not enough mix space, taking color from original piles, using black especially outdoors, following light changes outdoors and lack of positive inspiration or plan. A recommended way to avoid the mud trap is to look at nature in terms of color and light and to use a complementary color system. Steps for mixing colors when producing mud is provided.

The article discusses the process of scratching in art. It discusses the use of the scratch board by illustrators in the production of white on black drawings, and offers a step-by-step guide to using a scratch board. The article also discusses various methods of experimental cutting which leads to the use of sandpaper. It suggests that with scratching, artists can produce drawings that are uniquely scratch board.

The article focuses on the periodical's Eleventh Annual Travelogue, a information source for readers who plan to travel locally and internationally. The travel guide offers information on several art tours, workshops and events. It provides information about events such as art festivals and exhibitions in the U.S. as well as in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Europe.

The article features the works of Raoul Dufy, whom the author describes as one of the greatest modern painters, printmakers and designers. It features several of Dufy's works including "Chateaux and Horses," "Social Gathering," and "The Yellow Violin." The author also describes Dufy as a draughtsman with stupendous dexterity and a colorist in the French tradition of Manet, Renoir and Delacroix.

The article discusses the author's introspection about the symmetry of the human face. He speculates that asymmetry might be inherited or caused by pressures exerted on the unborn baby. The article also informs about the task of a portrait artist to recreate the human face which the author believes to be nature's masterpiece.

The article features the paintings of Foster Caddell, a painter and a teacher who illustrates children's books for major publishers and for several Protestant religious institutions. It discusses some of Caddell's paintings including "The White Cloth," "The Johnson Place" and "Little Louie." The article also describes the painter as an artist who places great importance on the craft of painting to fully convey his emotional reaction to visual stimuli.

The article features artist Adolf Konrad and his artworks. It notes that Konrad started to study cubist art in his student days, but ended up doing surrealist paintings due to his aim of finding more human content and deeper expressiveness. He was born in Breman, Germany in 1915. His earlier art influence was Heinrich Vogler. He has studied painting under Herman Maril and music under Hugo Kortchak. Konrad's opinion on his painting "The Anniversary" is also presented.

In this article, the author discusses on how he prepares for an art project. He says that he finds watercolor an exciting challenge and every painting he creates is a result of a definite battle. He discusses the preparation needed to create a picture that has authority, control and a sense of vitality, and these include information gathering. He also enjoys a type of drawing called "dry brush extended study."

The article presents questions and answers related to art including the dangers of exposing oil painting and tube oil colors in sub zero weather, recommended practice in watercolor flattening, and the use of casein-oil emulsion.

The article highlights the thriving art scene among California artists, who are posed to rival the talent of their counterpart in New York City. The increased interest shown by corporate collectors like banker Bart Lytton has helped local artists to gain attention. Contemporary art collector Joseph H. Hirshhorn said that the next to New York City, California is considered as the second most important art capital in the world. Howard Warshaw, Rowland Peterson and James Weeks are among the artists who are popular in the California art scene.

The article provides a discussion on the relationship of art and sports. It is mentioned that in early Greek time, athletes became models for sculptors and vase painters due to their speed, agility, and grace of form. It is also stated that it takes at least four years to train an architect, artist, or designer, as observed by most art educators. It notes how art and sport provided man a challenge to achieve excellence in highly disciplined activities.

In this article the author discusses the importance of composition in a picture and explains his working method. He states that artists work with composition in two ways, those who develop it as they work, and those who already know their composition and make their work fit it. He himself, when working on a commission, works by the latter method by basing his composition on prior sketches. More sketches which can include background material reportedly provides him with an overall idea of how to frame his work accordingly.

In this article the author discusses his views on woodcuts and explains his techniques in working with it. He states that he considers the process magical, a view he feels other printmakers feel. He says, however, that whatever medium an artist uses is not as important as the message they convey and the skill they use to portray it. He also decries various modern methods for blurring the distinctions between prints, paintings and sculpture, believing that woodcutting is a unique art on its own.

The article discusses the use of acrylic paint in art. It says that Mexican artists were among the first to experiment with the medium as a means of preserving their work, as acrylics are impervious to temperature, cracking aging. The other advantage of acrylics is that they can be applied on most surfaces, even ordinary paper such as those used for wrapping. A description of how the author works, which involves laying it out on a butcher's tray and treating the material like watercolors, is included.

The article discusses the reproductions of prints, cites the similarity of lithography with off-set printing, and explains how the latter is in itself a form of art. It states that modern technology has ensured that prints are no longer available simply to the elite, but cites the existing view that those who reproduce those prints are seen as being against art. To ensure that originals, which are viewed as art, are kept distinct from reproductions, various processes to ensure authenticity are described. Work samples of print productions are provided.

A calendar of events for artists in 1967, which includes an Art Tour of Europe from July 26 to August 17, the Study and Art Appreciation Tour offered by the Artist's Way from July 12 to August 12, and the European Art Tour offered by the Greenbrier Arts Association of Greenbrier College.

The article presents a speech by artist Charles Schorre delivered at the annual awards dinner of the Society of Illustrators in New York on January 15, 1967, in which he talks about the reason behind the society's existence, discusses the impact of the introduction of photography to the art sector and claims that illustration, fine arts, typography and photography are interrelated and they should all be used by the artist.

In this article, the author describes the painting process and his methodology, with samples of his work provided. He states that all paintings should be regarded as physical objects, while to qualify as art, it must be well made. He professes indifference to what others surmise about an artist's frame of mind when creating a composition, citing the importance of skill and talent to render a work. He explains how he approaches a painting, describing a work in progress of a girl in a bikini, explaining how he considers the lighting, texture and size.

The article considers announcements and promotion pieces as an art form. It classifies announcements and promotion pieces as the gruesome, the interesting, and the attractive. A random selection of such pieces delivered is individually examined for aesthetic appeal and utilitarian purposes. Some pieces by printers and typographers are also presented and examined.

This section offers news briefs relating to travel and art. The book "Guide des Artisans et Createurs de France," compiled by Gilbert Delahaye is recommended for Americans in France who are searching for examples of typical French craftsmanship. Hanging houses in Cuenca, Spain dating back to the Middle Ages were restored and transformed into a museum that features Spanish abstract art. Van Hasselt Sketch Tours has launched a traveling painting workshop, the itinerary of which includes Brugge in Belgium and Costa Brava in Spain.

The article discusses the prevalence of unusual Christmas cards by artists. Artists reportedly were first concerned with the illustrative element but has since paid concern to design, size and texture. It is stated that the possibilities for interpretation of the Nativity were not exhausted by the masters. The author recommends the collection of these cards as pieces of miniature art or original printmaking.

The article features Japanese artist Naoko Matsubara. Despite spending the first few years of her childhood in the midst of World War II, Matsubara still pursued her passion and was admitted to the College of Fine Arts when she was 19. Learning design from Lizze Ueno Rix, Matsubara was so inspired with Western art and began traveling and explore art from the West. She has become known for woodcuts using her unique techniques. She has also written books like "Tu Tze-Chun" and "The Tale of the Shining Princess."

The article describes various fundamental aspects of painting. First, it is pointed out that paint has it own quality and the painter has to love the texture, hue and form imparted by it. Secondly, it is observed that painting will never be the same as nature and vice versa because art by nature is artificial. Thirdly, a painting is actually a type of self-revelation in that it is said to be similar to poetry.

The article offers news briefs related to art. It reports on the Stewiacke Valley in Nova Scotia, which is becoming as an ideal place to take a farm vacation. The town of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico will host the eleventh season of the Mexican Painting Workshop on June 7-19, 1966. The American Youth Hostels, Inc. has issued its "Highroad to Adventure" free booklets on summer trip and job prospects for 1966.

The article offers information on tours and workshops in the field of art. "Europe for Credit: An Art Tour of Europe" will take place from July 22 to August 18, 1966. The Seventh Annual South Seas Art Cruise offered by Matson Lines sails from San Diego, California on September 4 and from Los Angeles, California on September 5, 1966. A workshop featuring Southwestern art in all media is being sponsored by the Ranch and the Gila Wilderness Wayfarers in Silver City, New Mexico.

The article focuses on the life and career of artist Frank di Gioia. Among the people who motivated di Gioia's artwork are Charles Farrand, artist Walt Kuhn and John Sloan of The Art Students League of New York. His paintings include "Master of Ceremonies," "201 Bowery" and "The Audience Joins In." Many of his ink and watercolor sketches were made during his trips to Europe and Africa with subjects focused on historic buildings and monuments. His technique consists of mixing grays and blacks with other colors, touches of dry brush and scratching.

The author expresses his thoughts on the use of watercolor as a medium of art. He contends that a painting is a work of art because it is a sincere expression of deep human feeling. He also claims that he can develop almost any design effect using oil, color, and black and white graphics while factors including climate and terrain dictate his approach to watercolor painting. He describes his method of painting as one that follows a fluid pattern or design starting with an organized knowledge of what will happen when procedures are followed.

The article discusses different media used in sculpture such as wood, bronze or terra cotta and focuses specifically on rigid urethane foams which are commonly used for minimizing heat transfer and vibration as well as for insulation. Rigid urethane foams are made from organic diisocyanate and liquid resins and are available in various densities. The author describes his use of the material and his approach to ongoing projects that include fountain sculpture and a mobile orbital sculpture.

The article presents U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers involved in arts and crafts work in the developing nations of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The volunteers' role is to share their skills to help other people utilize their artistic talents and to enrich their individual lives and their regional economies. They develop individuals' marketable skills and are involved in a variety of handicraft projects. The Peace Corps artists and craftsmen help developing nations to preserve regional art while modern art develops.

The article discusses the roles of great artists as art teachers. It states that a great majority of artists were good art instructors while all of the great teachers are artists of a different kind than Michelangelo and El Greco, more conscious and articulate and more like Lorenzo Ghiberti and Thomas Eakins. Students can also reportedly influence their masters with the most brilliant and highly influential like Emile Bernard, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh.

The article presents questions and answers related to art, including whether there is a foolproof method for laying gold leaf directly on Bristol paper, concerns when painting on velvet, and a request for a list of the standard sizes for picture frames and glass.

Several creative photographs selected by eleven leading art museum directors from the Photography in the Fine Arts collection and exhibited from May 20 to June 16, 1965 at the Kodak Pavilion at the New York World's Fair are presented including "Lake and Moon, British Columbia," by Don Worth, "Nude and Dandelions," by Jack Andersson and "Children Playing, Seville," by Henri Cartier-Bresson.

The author reflects on the work of a painter and potter, who shifts from one medium to another. He relates that using painting as a passport, the artist moved into pottery and sculpture. When the artist starts again in a different medium, returning to the canvas from the pottery wheel, he is inspired and recharged continuously. According to the author, moving from one art form to another enables one to expand ideas and provide an artistic benefit.