About this time of year, we start to see lists: The best movies, the best novels and so on. I am going to add my own list: The Artists I admire. Let’s see if I can keep it up until the end of the year. No. 1 on the list is Francis Bacon. I am crazy about his work. He influenced me to do my first triptych and I am now working on my first pentaptych. No. 2 on list of Artists I Admire. A little girl in Italy sees a painting by Amedeo Modigliani and gets a glimpse of what art

We always think of artists alone in their studios working madly at their work but in many cases they are not alone. Their pets keep them company and see it all - the ups and downs, the emotional turmoil, the moments of bliss and satisfaction. I have always worked with cats around me. Here is a list of my favorite photos of artists and their pets. Cleo, the artist assistant Meditation Among Pigeons by Rossella BLUE Mocerino Artists and their Pets. No. 1 on the list. The Aust

This recent cover of the the New Yorker clearly depicts people at an art opening too involved in talking to each other about the shocking state of our country to pay any attention to the artist and art displayed on the walls. Many people think of art as superfluous anyway, a luxury to be enjoyed by the well to do, a flourish but not relevant to our lives. And yet art matters. Art matters deeply. I want to talk today about what happened to art, artists and art collectors durin