David Tatham took us through a discussion on faces (and hands) this morning and on the broad concept of family/groups/communities in the afternoon. Learned about some cool new artists like R. Dadd (a kook who renders wild fairies --English), and K. Sage (an Ithacan...who did surrealistic art a la de Chirico--very evocative). Learned about Walter de Maria (through the reading on meaningless work..essentially, messing about...work that really is just for the artist and no one else). Walter de Maria is the forerunner to Robert Smithson and Andy Goldsworthy. De Maria created the Lightening Field:

The Lightning Field, 1977, by the American sculptor Walter De Maria, is a work of Land Art situated in a remote area of the high desert of southwestern New Mexico. It is comprised of 400 polished stainless steel poles installed in a grid array measuring one mile by one kilometer. The poles-two inches in diameter and averaging 20 feet and 7½ inches in height-are spaced 220 feet apart and have solid pointed tips that define a horizontal plane. A sculpture to be walked in as well as viewed, The Lightning Field is intended to be experienced over an extended period of time

Let's just put it this way. Mr. Tatham is making us think. His connections are illuminating and puts a fresh twist on the ordinary. The readings are hard. But hey.

Greg Manchess has us hopping. He did a beautiful demonstation of rendering a model in oils from scratch. No pencil work. Nothing. We had a long crit of our book jacket work. Making progress on that. He brought in thumbnails, reference through the final tight sketch (prior to paint) he did for a range of clients from pulp novels, Louis Lamour books, a National Georgraphic job etc. Elegant sketches. Lots of self photography for reference and models. Greg also gave us a slide presentation of his body of work. Remarkable.

SU did a little 1 hr. market study on the program with many of us at lunch. We will wait to see what happens.

Perfect weather.

The picture above is the Fairy Feller's Master Stroke by Richard Dadd. The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, was to become the title of a song by the rock band Queen. This picture has inspired Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett in their work.