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Howard Pyle illustrated more than 125 books.  Of those books, he wrote 24 himself.  Of those 24 books, one-- Pepper and Salt -- contained 90 of his illustrations. Of those 90 illustrations, one was this small pen and ink headpiece of a girl with 17 geese: Many thanks to Molly and Mary at the Delaware Art Museum for locating this drawing that I recalled seeing there 20 years ago. The first thing you notice about these 17 geese is that Pyle treated each one differently, with its own angle or stance or personality.  Each has its own dignity:  There are no stray lines to suggest geese in the background that Pyle didn't feel like drawing completely.  No Photoshop.  No photocopiers. Charles Dickens wrote: I should never have made my success in life if I had been shy of taking pains, or if I had not bestowed upon the least thing I have ever undertaken exactly the same attention and care that I have bestowed upon the greatest.

The use of color is critically important for the working artist, well designed color can make your work powerfully compelling and will reach your audience at an emotional level that moves them. That will be our topic of study for this year's Color Workshop on Saturday, February 11, 12-8pm . So whether you're a landscape painter, figurative or entertainment artist, if you're in the LA area I'd love to see you there. To enroll contact the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art at 877 695 2232. Online at www.laafa.org . Here's what we'll cover: The fundamentals of color theory for painters (traditional and digital). The emotional impact of color and lighting to create mood and environment. Principles for organizing the complexities of color into pleasing harmonies. Strategies for solving color problems quickly and effectively. Color exploration exercises. Painting from a costumed model in a theatrical, colored light environment.