In my fifty-plus years as an artist, a perennial student and teacher, I have attempted to use consistent guidelines in critiques and judgmental circumstances regarding not only my own works, but those of learners, professionals and others who strive for success in their visual arts efforts and creativity. Generally, my guidelines are: form and content, the means and ends, style and substance, or media mastery and expression of concept. Secondarily, I consider presentation--e.g. reasonable and adequate frames (or the lack of them), the visual impact of mats that includes an absence of color as well as proportion and scale related to the image and whatever else amounts to craftsmanship in the presentation of the work to any viewer, whether through professional assistance of self-made. I pay attention to the use of the so-called elements of art: shape, form, color, texture, perspective, composition and the rest.

This exhibition presumably represents my belief in the fulfillment of those goals, and in my view represents an outstanding selection of the best the dynamic arts colony of beautiful Santa Barbara has to offer through the Santa Barbara Art Association. It is hoped that the artists on view along with every patron and art lover will learn, profit, and enjoy the show of some of the city's finest.

Robert K. Gronendyke