This image is from an article in "The Portrait Signature" magazine about my mentor Nelson Shanks.
In the article there is a mention of my successful efforts to create a "master class" at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (the first such class ever offered at PAFA) which would include an exhibition in the museum.
That is how I got to know Nelson.
His home and studio were located 20 minutes from Philadelphia and there had always been talk around the Pennsylvania Academy of his, then defunct, apprentice-program.
When I first met Nelson he was telling me that he had never been invited to do anything at PAFA in all the years he had lived so close to the school. I thought that if I wanted to take a class with him that I would have to request the creation of one that he would be willing to teach so I took up a petition among the students and some of the faculty ( Al Gury, Deborah Deichler, Edith Neff and others) also signed it.
There was a new President at PAFA, Gresham Riley, and he was receptive to the idea, so I made appointments to meet with him to further discuss the possibilities of creating this kind of class.
When Nelson received a letter from Riley inviting him to teach a workshop/seminar at the academy, which would also include a solo show in the academy museum, he was more than happy to invite me over for dinner (risotto and beer) to get to know me.
The following morning, at 6am, I was back there working in his studio and I just kept returning day after day, each day proving my willingness to be there by working hard. I recall that I lost a lot of weight running for trains and working long hours and eventually stayed there but the education I received was better than I had ever hoped for and I am very grateful to Nelson for taking the time to teach me.
Here is the entire article.
Nelson in the Cast Hall of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts teaching the first Master Class held at the school. The cast hall and two large studios off of it were filled to capacity for the program.
(Image from the artist’s website).
A letter from Nelson Shanks. 9/8/2003
A partial list of artists with whom Nelson Shanks studied closely:Wilbur Niewald
Edwin Dickinson
Henry Hensche
