The Portrait Society of America Chairman's Letter Educate, Inspire, Connect

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "How much of human life is lost in waiting."

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Over the past 26 years, the Portrait Society of America has offered a multitude of educational opportunities to conference attendees by artists who graciously donate their time and resources. The faculty artists shown are (clockwise, from left): Shane Wolf, Kevin Chambers, Rose Frantzen, Robert Liberace, Oliver Sin and Mary Whyte.

Losing both my parents recently and going through a few other life changes has caused me to reflect on that statement often. I wonder how many times I've waited to do things I want to do things I've thought about for a long time, considered the variables involved but still haven't acted. Extenuating circumstances might be at play, but more often just my own fear of failure may be causing me to hesitate to act on my dreams or desires. This is certainly true of my art.

Recently at a dinner party, someone asked me if I was a "risk taker." On the face of it, the answer seems so easy. I am an artist for heaven's sake! That's a pretty big risk! A blank canvas, block of clay or stone, or sheet of blank paper is a success or disaster just waiting to happen. How many of us hold back, stare at what could be, but stop short of tackling a work we would like to take on?