A sad loss in the world of art. Gale Bennett and his wife 'Cello ran the Art Study Giverny program for years. And what a great program it was. Gale died Easter Sunday at the age of 68 after battling for months with brain cancer. My memories of him are sweet. Whenever I had a group of painters in Paris I would bring them up to Monet's Gardens on a Monday (the day it's closed to the public) to paint. I had heard about an art program run by a colorful character names Gale Bennett. Well, for whatever reason, he and I didn't meet for several years. When we finally did we developed a real bond. One time in Giverny during a rain storm, I called up to their house and asked if we couldn't come up to visit. Well, in a matter of minutes Gale and 'Cello sent down a van to get our group. When we got there we found bottles of red wine, cheese, bread and a remarkable studio facility for art students. One would think he and I would be competitors but it never worked out that way. I was always so happy to refer people to their program. Here's a link to a story "The Years of Gale Bennett". When you get to this page you can click to see 14 of his images. I will miss him. He made a wonderful contribution to art and helped so many people.

OK, let's dive right into the next 10 web sites: I have only 9 web sites ready for the May newsletter, from artists Jim Pollock, Linda Dobkin, Cheryl Cline, Betsy Kellum, Mary Backer, Dennis Duncan, Deborah Whitehouse, Lorraine Oberg and Concetta Antico. Send me yours!

Here are the colorful landscapes of Texas artist Micheal Hammons

and the plein air paintings of Louisiana artist Ann Warner

Jan Blencowe paints the quiet beauty and diversity of the coastal Connecticut landscape

New Jersey plein air painter Rae O'Shea

Ol' buddy and Illinois artist Jayne Bellows.

Jo Ann Williams Walker's brightly colored landscapes and florals.

Daryl J. Urig paints figures out of doors in a modern style but somewhat reminiscent of Fragonard to my eyes.

The powerful imagination in the paintings of Canadian artist Gerry Marchand.

Got to love the name of Erika Wain's site: Loon Art House!

Contemporary American realist California painter Frances Poole.

Two workshop announcements. I mentioned last month that I was planning a workshop in Buenos Aires but I didn't have any more details at the time. Well, things are starting to take some kind of shape. It looks like next January or February would be the ideal time to do this weather wise- our winter and there summer. And it looks like I will have two teachers and two classes at the same time: Ann Templeton and Gregg Kreutz. This would be a great place for the non-painting spouse and friend because of all the great shopping and the relatively low cost of food, merchandise, entertainment, etc. There would of course be the option of coming to paint without instruction. I've started taking a list of interested folks so please don't forget to send me your name and email address if you'd like to be updated. Feel free to add any comments about such a proposed trip.

One spot has tentatively opened up for the trip I have schedule for Greece (Santorini and Athens) http://www.paintingfrance.com/MaryWilbanks.htm

I just saw the most fascinating program on public television about how to maintain brain plasticity and 'youthfulness' as we age. I just made a mad dash to the computer to write this before I forget. What's the difference between people who age with energy and enthusiasm for life and those who age and see all of their capacities decline? It's about learning - the continued dedication to learning; the passion to learn and grow and not just be satisfied with what's worked for us to this point. Its always been a question for me that has hounded me for the longest time: what makes artists different? Well, on one level we're not different. We have the same jealousies, angers, issues that everyone else has - thus shattering the myth of the artist somehow being special. BUT.. the other side of this is how the artist can be in a constant learning mode, stretching our brains to maintain this critical elasticity or plasticity. Now, are ALL artists in this constant growing, challenging path? Unfortunately nah! Why are some of us just satisfied to do what's been successful for us in the past? Why are some of us continuing to push on beyond that to whatever lies in wait for us down the road? Could part of it be economic success? If our paintings are selling like hotcakes why should we go beyond that? Isn't it tempting to stay there? So in a way the success of selling paintings can be a double edge sword. On the one hand it may be what we all long for, but on the other hand it could be the very thing that guarantees a dulling down of our capacities to be great and exciting people as we grow older.

So fellow artists - don't stop growing, pushing, questioning, trying, discovering.... It could very well be the thing that keeps us young and makes being an artist so special.

Here's the most inspirational story from Lori about her life as a painter being stricken with polio as a kid: "Hi Phil, As a 7 year old, I contracted polio in 1950 during the epidemic. I was completed paralyzed from the neck down. The first 10 days I was in an isolation ward and had a spinal tap. Very scary. I recovered most of my body movement except my left arm. Kept falling and concussing because I couldn't get my balance. Now I hike and dance and do my art. My right arm is weak so I paint flat on a table even big sized paintings in acrylic. Painting on an easel bothers me big time. I can't hold my arm up very long so that is partly why I do abstracts. But the main reason I do abstracts because it soul satisfies me."

Here's a link to Lori's blog http://www.lorilandis.blogspot.com/

Here's a story I just received from dear Texas friend Ruth... in her words: "I think you night remember that just before the Portugal trip 2 years ago, I had 13 paintings stolen from a salon. They had only hung overnight. I have always thought that they would turn up somewhere, and yesterday, A young woman from Houston came up to me at a show and told me she had 3 of my paintings that she bought on craigslist. Said she loved them. I said, well, they were stolen, and she looked as shocked as I was. There is a hope that the the thief might be tracked down. I still have the case # and the police report, etc. I guess I mention this so that you might put the word out to other painters who hang their works in restaurants and salons, coffee shops, etc. that break-ins do occur, and usually the painter bears the brunt of the loss. Luckily I had documented everything on film, and I highly recommend that everyone do that."

I'm sure there are a number of inspirational stories out there, so send 'em to me..

Some more great artists' quotes:

This one from George Baselitz: "...I paint German artists whom I admire. I paint their pictures, their work as painters, and their portraits too. But oddly enough, each of these portraits ends up as a picture of a woman with blonde hair. I myself have never been able to work out why this happens."

Here's one from Lucian Freud: ...."I remember Francis Bacon would say that he felt he was giving art what he thought it previously lacked. With me, it's what Yeats called the fascination with what's difficult. I'm only trying to do what I can't do."

This last one is from Berthe Morisot: ...."It is important to express oneself...provided the feelings are real and are taken from you own experience."

Phil Levine Workshops, Inc.
69 bank Street #102. NY, NY 10014
phone: 212-414-8875 fax: 866-501-6873
e-mail: philiplevine@earthlink.net