All of us kids--me my brothers my sister and any other kids who happened to be around-- were encouraged in art from as far back as I can remember. Probably to keep us from killing each other possibly to cultivate a little culture as well. I recall plenty of arts and crafts in school which forced me into the use of different mediums and different practices that I otherwise wouldn't have gotten into. I'm sure I don't draw as well as I did when I was a kid since drawing then was and end in itself rather than a means to an end. The medium I favor almost exclusively is oil with the occasional water color or charcoal. I've done some pastel in the past but that was mostly just screwing around. Likewise with encaustic--painting with hot wax. Some pen and ink for graphic design.

Jonathan Kalin

When they were young, Jon Kalin told me, he and his siblings were encouraged artistically. “Probably to keep us from killing each other; possibly to cultivate a little culture as well,” he adds. He recalls the arts and crafts in school that forced him into the use of different media and practices than he probably wouldn't have gotten into.

Jon claims to not draw as well as when he was a kid because then drawing was an end in itself rather than a means to and end. I don't agree with this assessment having seen the work on the Kalin web site. (J.W. Kalin's Fine Art )

Most people can draw--to some extent, in the same way that most people can sing. When it comes to expressing onesself well, Jon Kalin's work is at least a few steps beyond “good.” I'm certainly glad that he did the cover art for Journey.

— gary kline
03dec09