WAYNE THIEBAUD: A Life Well Lived

I was so sad to hear about the recent passing of Wayne Thiebaud. (Dec 25, 2021..at 101yrs old).  What and amazing legacy he left in the art world.  This post is originally from May 2014 as part of my Mr.E Asks 3 series.  I thought we'd revisit this post as a way to honor this wonderful human & gift to the art world!  May we remember his "sweet" impact on the art world! 

WAYNE THIEBAUD

When I started thinking about people I'd like to interview...Mr. Thiebaud was at the top of my list!!  Though I really enjoy his older pieces...pies, cakes, candies, and such....I LOVE his landscape paintings!   He is a living legend!!!!

 

However...I figured I'd probably not get a response.

Here was the first reply.

 

"Mr. Thiebaud does not use a computer. However, I can relay the questions to him. There is no guarantee that he will respond. He is inundated with requests on a daily basis. At the age of 93 (94 in November), he does not "work" too much on tasks outside of those in his own studio and at his home. But, it is worth a shot."

 

BUT HE DID!! HE DID RESPOND!!!

I hope you enjoy the mini-interview with Mr. Wayne Thiebaud.  Oh..and I know it is Mr. E Asks 3, but I couldn't stop with just 3! ha ha ha 

1) Did you have art classes in elementary, middle, and/or high school? If so, how much of an impact did it have on you?

" I do recall several "art" classes in elementary schools in southern California. Mostly very general drawing projects and classroom group mural works.  High school provided more specific opportunities. Classes in drawing and watercolor taught by a woman who had been instructed by an experienced person   Long Beach Polytechnic High School housed a major auditorium attended by the civic public for “major” events. The stage manager and technician instructed us in the designing and building and painting of sets in a professional manner."

 

2) What was your family/friends response to your desire to be an artist?

 

 " Very Supportive."

3) What words of encouragement/inspiration do you have for those desiring to pursue a life of art?

"Obtain as much professional formal instruction as possible and work very hard."

 

 

4) What is your motivation to continue creating art?

 

"Love of and long looking at fine works of art."

Mr. E Asks 3: Dan Hanna (Illustrator)

http://www.bluebellylizard.com/

http://www.danhanna.com/

In celebrating the release of the new Pout-Pout fish book...I have another Mr. E Asks 3 

with the illustrator of the series.  He is pretty funny!!!!  I hope you enjoy the interview...and don't forget about the chance to win the Pout-Pout series!!!!!  Leave a comment with a 2 or 3 sentence description of a fish lesson you use in your classroom!  I'll draw a name from those who do this...and the winner will receive a complete set of The Pout Pout Fish Books!  Please "Like" Art With Mr. E on Facebook & "Follow" me on Twitter to see if your name is selected!!! 

1) What was your early inspiration for creating art/illustrations?

My childhood bedroom wall and a box of crayons.  There are so many things that have inspired me:  other artists, picture books that I read when I was a kid, comics, nature and on and on and on… In particular, "The Far Side" single panel comic was one of my favorites when I was younger and one of Gary Larson's anthologies was called "The Prehistory of the Far Side".  It showed his rough ideas before he would clean them up.  This was an epiphany for me because his scribbles looked just like my scribbles and it was the first time I remember thinking "I can do this!"

2) How does your personal art and illustration differ?  

Do they influence each other?

They can't be in the same room together.  My personal art thinks that my illustration art is childish and my illustration art thinks that my personal art is narcissistic and a waste of time.  Only after many interventions and couples counseling sessions have I finally gotten them to start working together.

Actually my personal art is more experimental and my approach with "The Pout-Pout Fish" books derives from some of my more successful experiments.  I used to draw more carefully and deliberately but the results would often look lifeless.  At one point I made an effort to loosen up my style by starting off with scribblier scribbles.  I've found that these small, quick scribbles ultimately lead to drawings that feel more lively and humorous and which surprisingly have better structure.

I've also learned that I get better results if I don't draw from reference images.  I'll usually do a bit of research but then I'll just draw based on my faulty memory.  There is something about mistakes and misinterpretations that tickle the mind.  As a child I remember noticing that the game of telephone often produced a result that was far more interesting than the source.

If you're building a bridge then mistakes are probably something to be avoided.  But if you're an artist, a mistake can be an adventurous friend who takes you to fantastic, out of the way places, that you'd never have thought to visit on your own.

3) What are your words of encouragement for 

those wanting to get into illustration?

Think of pens, pencils and paintbrushes as magic wands.  Everything is possible.  You can draw a simple rabbit being pulled out of a hat or conjure up entire universes filled with nothing but hat wearing rabbits.  To become an illustrator is to become a wizard!  You will astound yourself with the fantastic stuff that tumbles out of your head onto a piece of paper.  So the next time you pick up a pencil – make some magic happen!

BUY A COPY
POUT POUT FISH ON AMAZON
OR  http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780374360955

MR.E ASKS 3: DALE CHIHULY

    

?WHAT?

People, I'm just as amazed as you all?!?!!? ha ha ha  But yes...Dale Chihuly was willing to be part of Mr. E Asks 3!  I don't know how I'll top this?!?!?!  

 Nashville was blessed to have his work at two locations a few years back.  As a district we created lessons that explored his work...and created Chihuly "like" projects.  I have to say...his work truly excited my students.  They loved what they were learning about....and "FORCED" their parents to take them to the locations that were displaying his work. 

HERE ARE MY CHIHULY LESSONS:  

http://www.artwithmre.com/search/label/Chihuly

HERE ARE THE CHIHULY LESSONS:

http://chihulyelementaryartlessons.weebly.com/

HERE ARE THE RESULTS FROM OUR DISTRICT:

http://mnpschihulyartlessons.blogspot.com

AND NOW....MR.E ASKS 3: DALE CHIHULY

 What inspires you to continue creating art?

"I want to make something that has never been made before, something no one has ever seen, something with power that inspires everyone who sees it, creating an unforgettable experience."

   What is one thing you feel all young people should know about being an artist?

"The whole idea of making art, as far as I'm concerned, comes from doing it over and over and over. You have to make a lot of mistakes. Mistakes made in glassblowing can become some of the most beautiful artworks. Follow your gut and create something no one has seen before."

 Nature seems to be a major source of inspiration in your work. Are there other things that inspire & influence your work?

"Being surrounded by water is really important to me. Glass is so much like water. If you let it go on its own, it almost ends up looking like something that came from the sea. I’ve always lived on or near the water.  It’s always provided a sense of inspiration for me."

PLEASE GO TO CHIHULY'S BE PAGE TO GET ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION!!!!!

http://www.chihuly.com/

Mr. E Asks 3: WAYNE THIEBAUD

 

YOU READ CORRECTLY!!!

WAYNE THIEBAUD

 

When I started thinking about people I'd like to interview...Mr. Thiebaud was at the top of my list!!  Though I really enjoy his older pieces...pies, cakes, candies, and such....I LOVE his landscape paintings!   He is a living legend!!!!

 

 

However...I figured I'd probably not get a response.

 

Here was the first reply.

 

"Mr. Thiebaud does not use a computer. However, I can relay the questions to him. There is no guarantee that he will respond. He is inundated with requests on a daily basis. At the age of 93 (94 in November), he does not "work" too much on tasks outside of those in his own studio and at his home. But, it is worth a shot."

 

BUT HE DID!! HE DID RESPOND!!!

I hope you enjoy the mini-interview with Mr. Wayne Thiebaud!  Oh..and I know it is Mr. E Asks 3...but I couldn't stop with just 3!!!! ha ha ha 

1) Did you have art classes in elementary, middle, and/or high school? If so, how much of an impact did it have on you?

" I do recall several "art" classes in elementary schools in southern California. Mostly very general drawing projects and classroom group mural works.  High school provided more specific opportunities. Classes in drawing and watercolor taught by a woman who had been instructed by an experienced person   Long Beach Polytechnic High School housed a major auditorium attended by the civic public for “major” events. The stage manager and technician instructed us in the designing and building and painting of sets in a professional manner."

 

2) What was your family/friends response to your desire to be an artist?

 

 " Very Supportive."

3) What words of encouragement/inspiration do you have for those desiring to pursue a life of art?

"Obtain as much professional formal instruction as possible and work very hard."

 

 

4) What is your motivation to continue creating art?

 

"Love of and long looking at fine works of art."

Mr. E Asks 3: Phil Hansen

After Phil Hansen's session at NAEA San Diego, I asked him if I could do a mini-interview with him via e-mail.  He told me that would be great...and then was whisked off to do a book signing.  I wasn't sure if he'd really remember...or have time for my questions.  He is a busy guy & all!!!  True to his word...he replied to my e-mail (The day after I sent it!!!! WOW!!! He continues to impress me!!!!!).  He is much more than his TED talk....that is only a nice introduction.  I'm so glad I was able to meet him, and look forward to his future work, his site gbaacademy.com, and hopefully meet up with him again.  He's the type of guy you wanna grab some Starbucks with & just hang out. 

So here is my first ever...

MR. E ASKS 3: Phil Hansen

Question 1:  What has been your favorite unusual media to work with?

Phil: Working with the worms was my favorite unusual media by far.  If you can even call it a medium.  ha!  It was such a challenge to learn the best way and how to capture it on camera.

Question 2:  Do you duplicate media or do you move on after mastering something new?

Phil:  I occasionally use a media multiple times.  this is most often seen in the text work I do.  I find it to be the most challenging and engaging work I do.  

Question 3:  If you were to speak to a frustrated artist...what word 

of advice/inspiration would you give them?

Phil:  Simply keep pushing and you'll break through, have an epiphany, or discover a new direction at some point.  This really can't be understated.  Fighting our own fatigue/block/struggles is a fight worth having!  

THANK YOU SO MUCH PHIL HANSEN!!! I SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THOUGHT, AND WILLINGNESS TO SHARE!!!!  

Make sure to check out his book