"When we were children, my father, the painter David Gentleman, never offered much advice to me or my siblings. If we wanted to draw, he would hand out pencils and let us get on with it. He was encouraging, but never gave us instructions. If we were enjoying ourselves, more paper was available; but if we wanted to go and do something else, that was fine too."
"At 95, he has attempted to distil everything he has learned about working as a painter since the late 1940s into clear advice. These lessons are not aimed exclusively at art students, or even at older people who want to paint, but are for anyone wondering how to build a life and career as a creative person. I haven't inherited his artistic talents, but I have picked up"
"Over the past two years, as he wrote this book, I've spent hours in his Camden studio, talking about painting and drawing and helping him search for pictures to illustrate his ideas. Here are 10 things I've learned from a lifetime watching him work. David Gentleman with his wife, Sue, in their garden. Photograph: Andreas von Einsiedel/Alamy My father's parents were both painters who met at the Glasgow School of Art in the 1920s,"
David Gentleman, from a family of painters, sustained a decades-long career by focusing on painting, drawing, design, and commissions. He maintained a strong work ethic rooted in enjoyment, providing resources and freedom rather than instruction to his children. At 95 he distilled practical knowledge into clear advice aimed at anyone seeking a creative life or career. His approach emphasizes consistent practice, adaptability across mediums and projects, and earning a living through varied artistic work such as book covers, murals, stamps, and logos. Close observation of his studio routine and dedication shows how passion and discipline combine to sustain creative livelihoods.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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