101 Ways Not To Be A Racist

I am like many of you. I’m white. In case you weren’t aware, we still make up the vast majority of the population. I don’t have exact numbers, but last time I checked the national census data whites made up about 75% of the total population. Blacks came in around 13% and Asian and Hispanics made up the rest of the numbers. I imagine the Hispanic population is higher these days, but, again, I don’t have exact numbers.

The point being, white people, like me, still make up the vast majority. For this reason, it’s kind of funny (not funny, actually) that white people are so worried about the ‘dangers’ of other races in America. It’s sort of like going to watch a Yankees vs. Tigers game in Yankee Stadium and Yankee’s fans being terrified and worried about the handful of Detroit fans scattered throughout the crowd.

Many white people will argue that they aren’t afraid of black people or other minorities, but unfortunately that’s just not true. I know, I know… they’ll tell you they have black friends at work or school, they may have a black neighbor or even a black doctor… after all, they do have a black president. But in most of these cases, white’s still hold the social power in these situations and their black “friends” are only their “friends” because they have assimilated into their predominately white communities. In short, they’re still in Yankees stadium surrounded by other Yankees fans; it’s just that some of those Yankees fans are black.

However, when the tables are turned and white people find themselves in an environment where they are the minority they suddenly feel uncomfortable and scared. Don’t believe me. It’s a simple experiment. Go to an all black part of town, where you are the only white person present and hang out for the day. Most of you won’t do this… Why? because you’re scared and uncomfortable with the idea. No home court advantage, you could say. Suppose you had to live there, forever. Would you buy a gun to protect yourself and your family? Would you use that gun if you or they were threatened?

What many white people fail to realize is that’s how other, minority cultures feel all the time. They never get home court advantage. Not at the grocery store, not at the bank, not at the car dealership, not in courts, and not in the criminal justice system. They are always living in an environment where they are the outsider. Yet, ironically it is they who are feared. Why so scary, one might ask? Well, I don’t have the time to explore biological development, cultural constructs, or human anthropology in a blog entry, and it’s doubtful you’d want me too because it would be a lot of facts and data. And, while facts and data certainly point towards clear and present truths, people in general are far less likely to be won over by facts and data (although they’d never admit it) than they are by their up bringing or personal experiences. So, let’s set aside the facts and data, and allow me to tell you a story… a story about my up bringing and experiences. We’ll call this story 101 Ways Not To Be A Racist.

I like most white people grew up in a largely white environment. I had predominately white friends and neighbors and they were happy, healthy, and typically financially stable. But, I didn’t live in a vacuum. This is America after all. So, I had black neighbors who were doctors and at times they’d come over and dine with my family. I had black teammates, as I played basketball in the inner-city basketball leagues in Memphis, TN. Eventually my family moved up north, and I had some black friends and even had a black roommate in graduate school. In fact, my family even ‘adopted’ a young man (if you can adopt a grown man) from Sudan, who grew up in refugee camps in Africa. He was sent to America, like many other Sudanese boys, to be protected from the civil unrest in northern Sudan. We, as good white people, were delighted to take him into our home and help him get a good start on his new life in America.

Furthermore, as an adult I took on a teaching position in Brookhaven, PA. Brookhaven is a small borough between Chester, PA and West Chester, PA. If you are at all familiar with Eastern Pennsylvania or the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, then you know that Chester is very different from West Chester. Chester is poor and primarily black; West Chester is affluent and primarily white.

Yet, because I taught at a private, classical school anchored in between these two parts of town, we were blessed with a mixing of students from both Chester and West Chester. It was an integrated school, and, for the most part, the kids got along beautifully. It was a real testament of how young people from different races and cultural backgrounds could get along and coexist.

At no point in my life did I view myself, my family, or any of my close friends as racists… look at all the examples I just gave you… clearly we weren’t racists… I wasn’t a racist, right?

Hmmm… not exactly.

You see, the last part of this story begins with my marriage. As fate would have it I married a black woman. Technically she is Haitian American and therefore West Indian, as opposed to being Black American, but either way her skin is “black,” and when people see her they see a black woman.

You would think that going into an interracial marriage would definitely solidify the, “I’m not a racist card.” I mean after all, I married a black woman! Yet, what I have learned from this experience is quite the opposite.

You see, while I had black friends, and neighbors, and even a temporary black roommate I never had my life completely assimilated with someone black. I could always go back to my white neighborhood after my inner-city basketball games or my white friends after hanging out with the black kids, etc. Now I am unequivocally linked to “blackness” because I’m married to it. And, for the first time I’m seeing and experiencing racism in a way that I never imagined or understood. More often than not that experience is indirect as I watch the way people respond to and/or treat my wife. I noticed how their demeanor and attitude changes when they meet me and see she is married to a white man. I noticed how I’m looked at and treated differently because I’m married to a black woman. I noticed how some people are scared of my wife who is probably the least scary person I know… unless of coarse I’ve made her angry in which case then she is a little scary, but only towards me. I noticed how we get followed in stores, and how women will clutch their purses when my wife walks by them.

Now for the first time in my life I’m re-seeing and re-hearing what people say. My eyes and ears have been re-opened. Peoples say racist things all the time and don’t even realize it. Often they think they are being complementary and are shocked when their comments are not met with smiles and approving nods. I myself have been guilty of this… even though I was sure I wasn’t a racist.

You see, as I’ve been writing this fun (not so fun) little blog, I’ve been being a racist. No, I haven’t shot any black men, or hung them from trees. I haven’t burned down any houses, or called them dirty names. But, I have qualified them as different from myself… different from my white neighbors, different from my white teammates, different from my white students, and different from my white roommates or family members. You see, even though I accepted them in my life, on my teams, in my neighborhood, and even into my family I viewed them as different because they were black. In short, I can accept the Tigers fans in Yankee stadium. I can be polite, not curse at them, or dump my beer on their heads, but at the end of the day… they’re still Tigers fans, not Yankees fans and therefore… from a baseball stand point, we can’t relate. (for the record I’m a Tigers fan & I hate the Yankees… we all have our prejudices). The difference in this little metaphor is of course the fact that baseball is a game. Games come and go. A person’s race is not a game. It’s not a choice. It does not come and go. It is for life, and because of this it affects every aspect of a person’s life.

If you still don’t believe me, or think I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill. Let me give you some common examples of things I hear white people tell my wife nearly every day:

“Wow. You are a beautiful black girl.”

“You are one of the most beautiful black girls I’ve ever seen.”

“I have a friend who is black.”

“One of my best friends is black.”

“You’re not even really black.”

“I’m blacker than you are”

“Oh, your husband is white? That makes sense. I’m not surprised”

… and the list goes on

In all of these types of statements a few key issues are at play. Firstly, the qualification of ‘blackness’ as different from ‘whiteness.’ Notice that they don’t say, “You are one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.” Ask yourself this. When you see a beautiful white woman do you say, “Wow. You are one of the most beautiful white women I’ve ever met.” No, because ‘white’ does not require qualification. When you meet a new white person do you say, “Oh, I have a friend who is white,” or, “One of my best friends is white!” ,When you go to see a movie with an all white cast do you say, “We’re going to see that new movie about white people,or that new white comedy, etc.” Are you beginning to see how absurd this is?

The second major issue is the assumption that in order for a black person to affirm and support their own race, they must also affirm and support your stereotypes of their race. How about this one, “What, you don’t eat sauerkraut? You aren’t even really white, are you?” Or, what would a white man have to do to get this response from a black man, “Oh, you’re dating a black girl. I’m not surprised.” You see, things sound a little funny when they’re flipped around. But, unfortunately it’s not funny at all. You might think these subtle forms of racism are menial, but to think that misses the point because most people don’t value things as highly if they are deemed as different. It’s true.

Sticking with our baseball analogy, a Yankees fan is likely to obsess on a bad call on the Yanks, but celebrate or, at the least, gloss over a bad call on the Tigers. It’s human nature, but that doesn’t make it right. Yankees fans value the Yankees, so every call is important… especially the bad ones. But Yankees fans don’t value the Tigers, so calls against the Tigers aren’t important, unless of coarse they benefit the Yankees. You see where I’m going with this?

This week, our country is in a racial tizzy over the events in Ferguson, Missouri. Yet the responses from many white people are like those of Yankees fans who’ve just witnessed a bad call on the Tigers. You can celebrate it, ignore it, chalk it up as part of the game, or simply rationalize it. It is however unlikely that Yankees fans would respond the same way if the same call was made on the same play but it went against the Yanks instead of the Tigers.

What if a upper-middle class white kid from a local private school decided to steal a pack of cigarettes from the local Wawa, but instead of apprehending him, or simply giving him a stern warning and making him return his stolen goods, the police shot him, multiple times, to death. Wouldn’t that seem odd to you. What if it was your son, your brother, your cousin, or even just that kid next door? Yet, that is similar to what happened and continues to happen in America. The only difference is the lives being taken or black, not white.

Because I married a black woman I know that if we ever have a son he will be a black man. The fact that he would truthfully by half white is ignored by society because if you aren’t all white you’re black. What do you think that says in and of itself? What if when Michael Brown’s father stepped out of his home in Ferguson to find his son dead in the street… instead of it being a black man… a black father… it was a white man… a white father?

I have to now ask myself questions I never would have asked before because my sons will be black sons. And there lies the problem. I should have been asking myself these questions all along, regardless of what color my sons would be. And that’s why I’m a racist. And, that’s why you might be a racist too.

The Greatest Story You've N/ever Heard: Introductory Remarks.

Introductory Remarks:

    Everyone reads the Bible for different reasons.  Some read it from a historical perspective, some read it from a critical perspective, some read it out of obligation, and some read it because they believe it is the word of God.   Inevitably, how you approach the text will be the guiding factor of what you find there.  The Bible is a vast and complicated book.  From my personal experiences, when people set out to read or study the Bible, they usually do so because they are searching for something.  Like in all matters of life, a person will usually find what they are looking for if they are willing to search hard enough.  This is no more or less true with the Bible than any other text.

It is for such reasons that the Bible has become such a widely debated and controversial book.  It is for such reasons that there are so many different, sometimes conflicting, branches of the Christian church.  Just the number of denominations under the umbrella of Protestantism is itself staggering.  So, what does the Bible really teach us?  Is there just one answer, or are there many answers?  Is one interpretation more accurate than another?  Does one denomination or branch of Christianity hold more relevance than others?  These are all difficult questions to answer.  And, unfortunately the responses to any of these questions will depend on the person providing the answers.  For some there will only be one correct interpretation and therefore only one correct answer, while for others there may be a plurality of possible interpretations and therefore a variety of different answers.  In sum, different folks, different strokes.

Like many readers of the Bible, I grew up in the church.  So, before I even began to read the Christian scriptures on my own, my head was already filled with stories, ideas, values, and beliefs.  It is very difficult to read any text in a different light than how one was taught or trained.  Accordingly, my experience has been that those who have been taught or trained to adhere to traditional, contemporary Christian beliefs usually, whether correctly or incorrectly, read those beliefs and values into the text.  This is not necessarily a fault; it is natural and to be expected. Conversely, they often read over, or completely ignore, those passages that don’t pertain to their chosen set of values or beliefs.   Such is human nature.

Understandably, my personal journey has been an uphill battle.  But, as I’ve have grown older, as I have done my own serious scholarship, and as I have explored the writings and beliefs of other religions, I have worked diligently to read the Bible differently than how I was taught.  In some sense, my goal has been an impossible one, as I wanted to read the Bible from a completely fresh perspective… outside the confines of the dogma or doctrine I had been indoctrinated in since childhood.  This isn’t necessarily because such teachings were ‘wrong’ or even ‘ill received.’  More accurately, my ongoing effort to approach the Bible differently is predicated on the understanding that there is and always has been a plank, or blind spot, in mine own eye, regardless of either doctrine or dogma. 

Experience has taught me that real learning begins by closely analyzing one’s own faults and errors.  It is for this reason that I have worked to read the Bible ‘differently.’  Accordingly, the critical voice I offer in this book could be understood, first and foremost, as a criticism of many of my own beliefs, values, and even of the community that raised me.  Yet, what I have found from my years of teaching and studying various religions is that the ‘truth’ one finds in any one particular religion typically begins with the ‘truth’ the individual is seeking and expecting.  Knowing this I attempted to approach different religious texts with the same expectations I had when approaching the Bible.  For example, I began to read texts like The Bhagavad Gita or The Upanishads while seeking the same ‘truths’ I typically sought when I read the Bible.

The exercise was illuminating.  It was therefore only a matter of time before I began to wonder, what if I read the Bible like I traditionally read other religious texts, texts I believed were written with an intent and purpose but did not expect to provide eternal answers or divine truths. Would the Bible teach me the same ‘truths’ I already assumed it taught? Would the main characters be the same?  What would the moral of the story be? When would the story reach its climax and when would it reach its conclusion? 

Most modern scholars have learned to approach the Christian scriptures as a narrative.  As scholars have proven, the individual narratives found throughout the books of the Bible are best understood when placed in the context of the greater meta-narrative of the Bible itself.  The isolation of individual chapters, passages, and even verses often does an injustice to the original writings and can, at times, do an injustice to the greater story as well.  Accordingly, it is my goal to follow scholarly tradition and interpret all the books of the Bible as narratives in the broader context of a larger meta-narrative. Yet, even a narrative approach to the scriptures does not necessarily aim to read the Bible as purely mythic.   

To be sure, the two are closely connected and not mutually exclusive, but most Christians read the Bible differently from how they read The Iliad or Beowulf.  The reasons for doing so are obvious as The Iliad and Beowulf are traditionally read by Christians as clear examples of fictional myths whereas the Bible, on the other hand, is typically read and understood to be the greatest non-fiction myth ever complied into written form.  Yet, when all the chips fall where they may and one cracks open their Bible and starts to read, it is difficult to know where history ends and fiction begins.  After all, Jesus was known to teach in parables.  Is the truth found in these parables predicated on historical facts?  Must the Good Samaritan exist for Jesus’ parable to be true?  I think we can all agree the answer is no.  The truth lies in the story itself, not in the historical facts that do or do not surround it.

In short, what I have observed in my years of teaching is that when most people read the writings of other, opposing religions they tend to read them as fiction; they approach them with the assumption that what is to be found between the covers is not to be believed as ‘factually true’ but is still worthy of interest and general curiosity. This is interesting when one considers that, for example, the city of Troy existed, and it seems that it did once fall by the hands of the Greeks, not unlike in Homer’s story.

Well, what if I read the Bible in the same way?  I concluded that such an approach would not only expose how the Bible appears to all those living outside the teachings found within the Christian tradition, it would also expose what the Bible in fact does and does not say, regardless of history or tradition.  It is therefore my goal to take what some philosophers might refer to as a ‘phenomenological approach’ to reading the Bible. In short, my goal is to bracket off all those questions that are impossible to answer such as which manuscripts are the most accurate or which passages are to be trusted, and to instead direct my focus on questions that can be answered.  Simply put, my goal is to answer the bigger questions: what is the central story found in the Bible, and what does that story have to teach us?

My answers to these two simple questions are provided in the pages of this book.  Some may be uncomfortable with the idea of reading the Bible in such a way; yet, my experience is that when one approaches the text in this way the contents of the scriptures take on a new and powerful light.  One’s attention is no longer diverted by questions of doctrine, dogma, or traditional church teachings, and it is instead redirected to the message of the story itself. This isn’t to say that there isn’t a place for facts, textual accuracy, and even general historicism.  In fact, my first book The Best Bible Study You’ve N/ever Had* addressed many such problems, directly.  It is just to say that in this book, the second in my series on the Bible, such issues will be considered but will not be at the forefront of my exploration.

It is therefore worth noting: if you aren’t already aware, last year I compiled a virtual, online Bible study into a book titled The Best Bible Study You've N/ever Had.  This book was to function as the first installment of an ongoing series.  The book did well, and as a result I have produced the second volume in the series, which is the book you currently hold in your hand.   If you haven’t read my first book, The Best Bible Study You’ve N/ever Had, then I highly recommend you do, as it well help you to better understand the writing of this one.  With that said, both books were written to stand alone, and they can therefore be read independently from one another, as well.

Much of the material that I addressed in my first book may have been challenging for many readers as the conclusions I often arrived at did not always adhere to traditional, contemporary Biblical teachings, and they probably would not be welcomed in most conservative Evangelical communities.  Although, it is worth noting that my study was designed to focus on the Bible, and the Bible alone.  It therefore did not concern itself with the beliefs, teachings, or values of the Evangelical Christian tradition, or any specific Christian tradition throughout the ages.

This was intentional.  My goal was to take a ‘deconstructive’ look at the Bible in hopes that by breaking down the scriptures into ten key areas (areas based on ten basic quiz questions) I would then be able to expose many of the issues, inconsistencies, and problems found within the scriptures themselves.  Inevitably this process also exposed many of the problems found within common church teachings as well.

            The Christian Church has been around for a very long time.  It has existed in many forms and has held many different beliefs, values, and teachings throughout the centuries. Like in all cases, the church is a product of its time, and it is also a product of those who make up its body.  In sum, the church, at any point in history, only exists within the people who make up its congregations.  As its congregants go, so goes the church. This is no more or less true today than it was 500 years ago during the Protestant Reformation.  This fact alone may be helpful for some readers to remember.

Nevertheless, with any ‘deconstructive’ act the end goal is not destruction but construction.  It must be understood that any ‘deconstructive’ process moves in waves.  The building of ideas and beliefs is not unlike the building of objects or buildings. In order to build something new, or perhaps to properly rebuild something old, things must first be broken down and, at times, destroyed.  As a result, to some the initial wave, or movement, of destruction may appear nihilistic, but this is a false precept. Dismantling must occur first before rebuilding can occur, so while the first wave of deconstruction may be destructive the second wave is always constructive.

Such is the case with my first study and, in turn, my current study.  In short, my first book was written to breakdown or ‘destroy’ many of the common misconceptions people in the church hold about the Bible. This second book is being written to build up or ‘reconstruct’ what the Bible actually does have to teach us. Now that the dismantling has begun, and readers now recognize that many of their thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs about the Bible are skewed, inaccurate, or false, reconstruction can begin.  Now we can address what this story actually has to offer.

This new study, this new phase of exploration and reconstruction, shall be called The Greatest Story You've N/ever Heard, and its aim is to rebuild the Bible in hopes of discovering what its true message is. As noted above, the ‘truth’ of this message will not be grounded in church creeds, doctrines, dogma, or even in historical certainties; it will instead live within the movement of the story itself.  As the story progresses, its teachings and truths will emerge.  That is the message I hope to capture.

The Bible, the stories of the Jewish god Yahweh, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth have all had an enormous effect on the world.  Their influences throughout history are beyond compare and even comprehension.  Yet, like all stories, these stories have gotten bogged down, watered down, and corrupted over time.  It is my hope to breathe some fresh life into them.  It is my hope that be revisiting these stories in a new (yet old) light, readers will see the real message offered by the Bible.  Some may disagree with many of the assessments and conclusions I make.  That is to be expected and welcomed.  Like in my previous book, I intend this new book to be a platform for discussion, which encourages further research and scholarship for all parties involved. 

Hopefully when readers have completed their reading of this new book they will have encountered the Bible in a new, different, and hopefully more fruitful light.  In short, it is my hope that they will have heard The Greatest Story They’ve N/ever Heard.

            Following a similar vein as last time, this book will be broken down into ten sub sections.  Each subsection will represent an individual chapter. The ten subsections are as follows:

1. The Emergence of Judaism (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)
2. The Flight from Egypt (Joseph, Moses, and Aaron)
3. Before the Kingdom (Joshua and the Judges)
4. The Coming of the Kingdom (Samuel, Saul, and David)
5. The Building of the Temple (Solomon)
6. The Diaspora & the Prophets (Jeremiah and Daniel)
7. The Second Temple Period (Ezra and Nehemiah)
8. The inter-Testament Period (1 and 2 Maccabees)
9. The First Century and The Teachings of Jesus (The Gospels)
10. The Teachings of Paul and the future Church of Christ (The Letters)

Epilogue: The Greatest Message You’ve N/ever Heard.

*My first book in this series, The Best Bible Study You've N/ever Had, which functions as part one of my project, is currently available for sale.  Please visit Amazon.com and purchase your copy today.

On Artistic Tools: Is it 'Cheating' to use a Projector or Grid System?

A recent painting where I made use of a Grid System

Today I’m going to address a topic that will only be relevant to visual artists. This isn’t to say that a non-artist can’t read this blog entry and find it informative; it is instead to say that the topic at hand is field specific. And, while I haven’t done much writing on the topic of art lately it is ‘technically’ my area of expertise, as my academic training is in Philosophical Aesthetics, and I am a practitioner of the visual arts, as well.

From my experience I have noticed that there is, at times, controversy surrounding the use and implementation of certain artistic techniques, particularly the use of tools such as grid systems or even projectors to achieve more concise layouts and designs.

Eventually someone always asks, “Isn’t taking advantage of such techniques simply a crutch, or a form of “cheating?”

Well, there is no short answer to this question, but most artist I’ve encounter don’t view such methods as ‘cheating,’ per se. Although, in certain situations it may definitely cause one to question the integrity of an artist. So, let’s look at these methods a little closer and judge for ourselves when the use of such methods may be deemed admissible.

Simply put, art is about creativity and expression. Therefore, there are no set rules on how one chooses to use their creativity or how they express themselves. Yet, I’ve never known a visual artist who doesn’t take pride in their (or others’) ability to draw or paint freehand or with the use of limited tools.

In regards to the use of grids or projectors, a simple question one might ask is: “could you produce the art piece without these methods.” If one answers yes, then they are likely only using either of these techniques as a tool to enhance of expedite the production of their art. If their answer is no, then it is likely that these methods are in fact a crutch and the artist is more dependent on tools and tricks of the trade than on talent. Yet, this isn’t to say that there isn’t a time or place for the use of either of these methods.

In short, an artist should not depend on these methods in order to achieve success; instead, they should use these methods to enhance success. In the same way a talented athlete will take advantage of the most sophisticated and up-to-date training, equipment, and sports medicine to achieve the greatest outcome, professional artists should not hesitate to use the most sophisticated techniques for drawing or painting.

I have found that in most cases, even the most talented of artists will make use of both grid systems and/or projectors in certain situations. For simplicity’s sake I’ve narrowed it down to three main areas of usage. The areas are: time, size, and style.

Time: Many artists will make use of certain tools like projectors, and in some cases grids (depending on how involved and time consuming the grid system itself is), to speed along a process. Simply put it is a matter of pragmatics. The more art an artist can produce, the more art they can sell, and subsequently the more money they can make. Many artists are crunched for time and have to produce a wide body of work in a certain amount of time for a show. It is much easier to use a projector to speed things along, rather than layout each piece by hand. Accordingly, I’ve known many artists who are very talented and gifted using loose free hand skills, yet they will still take advantage of a projector for simplicity’s sake.

Size: The relative size of a piece is a key factor to consider whenever planning your layout. Inevitably, as a piece gets larger it becomes more difficult to maintain proportions, especially if the piece itself extends beyond one’s normal field of vision. Therefore, many artists won’t bother with a projector or grid for smaller pieces. But, if he or she begins working on a piece several feet in length and width (or larger), many will grid their canvass or even use a projector. From a historical perspective, the grid system is a classical tool that artists have been taking advantage of since antiquity. Long before photographs artists would use live models. If they were painting a “smaller” piece they would paint by sight on location. But, if the painting was to end up as a large mural on a wall or even on the ceiling of a chapel they would often sketch the piece from sight, grid the sketch, and then transpose the grid to a larger off site location. In this respect, the grid system has a more historical and relevant place within classical art history than does the use of photographs. Yet, I don’t know anyone who’d argue that drawing or painting from a photograph rather than using a live model is “cheating.” A projector is, however, a different story. Yet, I imagine that if digital projection was an option in the classical age some would take advantage of it too.

Style: The style of the desired art piece is perhaps the greatest determining factor as to which tools an artist uses. This is most certainly true when using grids or projectors as well. Simply put, many artists want their work to be interpretive, in which case they will intentionally avoid gridding their canvasses or using a projector so as to allow for more freedom of expression. Yet, at times artists will want to achieve ‘photo realism.’ In such cases proportions and exactitude will be of the utmost importance. In these instances the closer a drawing or painting is to the original, the better. Therefore a grid will help and a digital projector is optimal. Most photo realistic painters are now using digital projectors routinely. Therefore, their artistic skill is displayed less in the initial layouts and rather in the actual painting process, where they are blending and shading objects, etc.

Personally, more often than not, I choose to free hand most of my works. This is because I like them to have a looser interpretive quality. If however I am working on a large scale piece where I want to achieve ‘photo realism’ then I will use a grid system. I in no way feel that this is “cheating.” If anything I view this as taking a page right out of antiquity, since they too often made use of grids. As far as the use of projectors goes, I personally don’t own one. If I did I might at times use it. I have tried using a projector on a few occasions in the past, and from those minimal experiences I came to two conclusions. Firstly, I realized how much enjoyment I get from the preliminary layout work. Even with a grid there is still a lot of measurements and mathematical formulas one has to figure out before creating a grid, and I personally enjoy the process and challenge. Secondly, I was surprised at the amount of skill still required even when using projection. This is especially true when painting (verses drawing) because once one begins to apply paint to canvass they will inevitably cover over their initial layout, in which case they will still be dependent on their eye and hand for detail work. The projected layout simply gets one started on the right track.

Like all matters of art, there is no one definitive method or answer. Each person will have to make their own choices. All forms of artistic expression begin by an individual artist and their personal journey. Where the journey begins and end is entirely up to them.