© 2002 commentary and photos by Herb Ranharter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It isn't often that one finds a kindred spirit; it is a rare and special thing. Just as I am pulling up tent in Austria I stumbled upon a childhood friend whom I hadn't seen in at least 40 years. Similar to myself, he too had pulled his roots and redefined himself in the art field. Peter Newrkla started in the biology arena and made a transition into the art world. I myself worked as electronics engineer for more than 25 years until I could realize my dream and shift into art. He works in oil painting, I work in pen and ink and printmaking; our ideas match in astounding similarity yet our results are deliciously different.

Even for an accomplished painter like Peter it is a battle to make a living; the experiences with the market are equally similar even with such significant differences in the field of art. It is never the less a lifestyle that doesn't demand as much material wealth as it requires time, space and tools. Even so, kids have to be fed and roofs have to be fixed, so money has to be earned. There is nothing as intoxicating as a bit of success and appreciation with the customers. I know of little on earth as satisfying as a finished artwork that meets with my own criteria of quality and fetches a price that lets me continue to develop my other ideas into finished art.

Visit the Newrkla web site and enjoy the wealth of ideas that will surely amuse you. Buy something if you can afford it, an art purchase will make you and the world more interesting.

With one last greeting from Vienna before I return to California, I remain,

Herb Ranharter
Correspondent at large
http://www.delARTe.com.

Peter Newrkla's web site: http://www.newrkla.com/lebenslauf.html

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