The Sweat and Joy of an Artist's Life

As they say, there is no rest for the wicked. On the Fourth of July, when everyone else was doing as little as possible, I found myself working up a sweat at 6000 feet altitude. Almost a mile high above Palm Springs, there is a small town of alpine beauty called Idyllwild which, in spite of its popularity with tourists, still manages to maintain a leisurely pace and bohemian spirit. Every summer the town fills with poets, musicians and painters who come to participate in an intense two-week workshop. I was invited to be part of the "Painting's Edge" program where well-known painters and critics were giving lectures and spending time with the participating artists by reviewing their portfolios and discussing their work.