Stacy Weitz Minch

image from the Met's online collection I've always had such a fondness for Van Gogh--occasionally I need a good dose of his paintings. I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't share my affinity for this artist (though there are surely many more who do, based on his popularity). His drawing is poor (if you don't believe me, look at his paintings of people), his ability to express form is lacking, and his shapes are generally quite flat and outlined in cartoon style (which is actually kind of charming, but from what I understand, most of his contemporaries were appalled by his work). And yet, I can't help but love it. His colors can be really stunning--and there's just something so personal and alive about the way he applies that paint. His iris paintings are some of my favorites. He was a melancholy soul, Van Gogh, and some days, I can relate on some level (can't we all?). Maybe that's a large part of what makes him so appealing. ...

I've gotten this question a few times lately, so I thought I'd take a few minutes to think the answer through. Why didn't I go into art? I have always loved art, so I guess it would have made sense if I had gotten an art degree. My dad used to bring home stacks of paper from the recycling bin at his workplace every day, and my older sister Jackie and I would fill the backs of the perforated-edged computer paper with our drawings.  A drawing I did of my mom's rocking chair at age 6 Our depiction of my dad's workplace (he worked at a refinery). I'm on the left :) There was a boy in my school class whose mom ran art camps for kids. I participated in quite a few of them, and even won 2nd place for one of my paintings :) Me, 8 years old painted around age 7-8 In junior high, my interest in art grew. I took an art class every quarter/semester at school if I could fit it in, and continued to take art classes in high school. Stipp...