Duane Keiser & 2 pastel sketches

Here's 2 pastel sketches. I've been thinking on an article about Duane Keiser in the Oct 2008 issue of the Artist's magazine, http://www.artistsnetwork.com/magazines/ .

He's credited with starting a painting a day movement. See http://duanekeiser.blogspot.com/ .

I like the way that he says that "magic happens not without diligence" He learned his work ethic from his artist teacher Raymond Berry http://faculty.rmc.edu/rberry/public_html/bio1.html at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA. Basically "think of art as blue collar work....Sometimes you don't feel inspired and painting just feels like digging ditches. Highway workers don't tell their boss that I don't feel like paving a road today and if they can work in 100 degree heat, we can get to an easel." I think to learn or improve at anything you need to practice. It's like lifting weights. When you first start you can only lift a little but the more you practice the more you can lift.