A friend from Carnegie Mellon, where I attended college in 1981,brought to my attention the work and whereabouts of our drawing professor Herb Olds. He was probably the single most influential artist who dramatically altered my thoughts and drafting skills, as a self taught,inexperienced and uneducated 17 year old.I found several images online that he created. He continues to create and shape lives in San Diego.He is in my thoughts on this day.Thank you Mr. Olds.
And on this day, I am also thinking most fondly of Leonard DeLonga, the legendary sculpture professor from Mt. Holyoke College who became very much like a father to me, and to many others,while attending there from 1983-1987. He was a gentle giant. He was large in stature as were his bronze creations. He and his art were powerful and monumental,perhaps intimidating at first glance.But he had a heart and spirit that was generous,gentle,kind and infectious. He guided me and allowed me great freedom while in his sculpture class,as he simultaneously counseled me about life.As persuasive and charasmatic as he was,he never succeeded in getting me to embrace the process of bronze casting in its entirety. Unfortunately, I was too impatient and unfocused but Mr. DeLonga recognized my ability to produce elaborately finished wax figures very quickly and charcoal drawings to accompany them, and so he encouraged me to do what I loved rather than follow his curriculum:)He teasingly called me "irreverent" as did another sculptor I met in recent years! I always thought that was ironic and funny because I tend to be such a rule follower.
Sadly, he passed away in 1991, a year after my daughter was born. He too is always in my heart and in my thoughts. I think he would laugh, because I have been sculpting a bit lately,(not in wax and never to cast) but he would know my true passion is for my drawing and painting.He might also be surprised that I abandoned all of it for 20 years but sincerely satisfied that I rediscovered and finally embraced it again:)
Reflecting on those who influenced my art and my life, many whom perhaps never knew, makes me particularly grateful at this moment.
So Mr. Olds and Mr.DeLonga, thank you and thank you M.H.for reminding me.
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