Childhood experiences have a lasting impact
By Kristin Hoerth
Many Moons by Mike Weber.
This story was featured in the March/April 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art March/April 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
ONE OF MY MANY happy childhood memories is of my mother reading to me and, later, of us taking turns reading aloud. We delighted in countless classics of children’s literature this way: Charlotte’s Web, The Borrowers, The Chronicles of Narnia. I have no doubt that this early foundation in reading set me on a path that eventually led to my degree in English and my career as an editor (not to mention my enthusiasm for word games).
I got to thinking about this memory while working on this month’s issue, which happens to be full of great anecdotes about how artists first became interested in art. One of my favorites comes from Carol Arnold, who is part of the portfolio of Texas artists on page 102. When she was in second grade, young Carol went to a friend’s birthday party, where the friend’s mother had put together an art contest. Carol won a turtle and was hooked on art for good! Another great story comes from Texas painter Janet Broussard, who tells us, “In third grade I loved horses, and I had a friend who drew them very well. I asked her to draw a horse for me, and then I copied it over and over.”
Yet another Texas artist, Ray-Mel Cornelius, says that drawing was a form of expression for him from early childhood. “My mother would make little books out of a paper bag, for which I would create an illustrated narrative.” Featured artist Mike Weber had a similar experience: His mother was a painter, and when Mike was young, she would draw the outlines of pictures on small pieces of glass, then flip them over and let him fill in the images with acrylic or oil paint.
Weber, of course, soon began creating his own drawings, went on to art school, worked in animation for many years, and now creates striking artworks that combine photography and painting—you can read more about his technique in the article on page 74. His story is one of four in this issue that focus on less-common artistic materials. In addition to Weber, we take a look at the work of Chris Maynard, who precisely cuts and mounts feathers in shadow boxes; Chuck Middlekauff, whose paintings are a mixture of watercolor and acrylic; and Olga and Aleksey Ivanov, who collaborate to create paintings in the ancient medium of tempera. We hope you enjoy this medley of different mediums and their compelling results.
This story was featured in the March/April 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art March/April 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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