This past weekend was the first time I participated in Greenville’s Open Studios.

I had my doubts.

My studio is at the nether reaches of Greenville County in the “dark corner”.  Frankly, with so many great art studios clustered conveniently near downtown, I wondered who’d make the trek.

But some of you did.

Short of offering to reimburse you for gas, I want to thank you.

It was fun.

Although part of the attraction of being an artist for me is laboring in obscurity, I know no work of art is complete until someone sees it. I value your interaction with the products of my labor. I love to hear your comments. Very often you see something in it that never occurred to me. And although it’s nice to get compliments, I value the thoughtful criticism, as well.

Really.

A little story: As a kid, my mom was my biggest fan. It was Mom who stuck paper and pencil in my pudgy hands in church so I’d quit fidgeting during the sermon. It was Mom who sprung for art lessons when my 2^nd grade teacher noticed some ability. It was for Mom that I did my first oil painting, which she hung proudly and prominently in her living room all her life and which is now stored in my garage because, well, it’s a painting only a mother could love. One time, when I was in high school and really struggling with an art project—struggling so much that I was ready to chuck the art thing and become a forest ranger—Mom came into my room and effused at how wonderful the piece was. I realized she was trying to be encouraging.

I also realized Mom didn’t know crap about art.

She was a great mom but an iffy foundation on which to base a career.

So I value folks who love art and take time in their day to come to a relatively remote spot out of creative curiosity.

Thanks.

It was fun.