While I was away overseas teaching, the drawing I had selected to show in the Art Students League Instructor exhibit apparently sold. No one could be more shocked than I was... as this 15 minute sketch was surrounded by dozens of masterfully painted oil pieces and sculptures from many noteworthy and represented New York artists. I only entered it because I thought that I should show the sort of thing I was actually teaching, as opposed to my most impressive work. Regardless, someone thought it was worth owning. I've never sold a gesture drawing before. Because of this, the sale marks a very auspicious occasion for me. I do these sorts of work because they give me joy... and the impetus behind them is to maintain my technique, not to be taken as "serious art". I slave haplessly over my paintings and worry about them even when I am away from the easel... but my sketches are merely an exhilarated expression of my love of drawing, usually relegated to be used as studies for future paintings or random posts for Instagram to prove that I am still alive and have some form of output... to keep the hand moving... the mind active. Today, I met with the buyer and signed the drawing for him... because I never sign them. I've never entertained the thought that someone might want to view them as anything more than skillful exercise. I am deeply humbled and grateful to anyone who has ever spoken highly of my gestural work... thank you all. #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #art #artist #drawnfromlife #drawing #sketch #draw #sketching #lifedrawing #figuredrawing #quicksketch #gesturedrawing #gregfollender #follender2019 #artmodel #figuremodel #dibujo #kunst #contemporaryart #15minutesketch #contédrawing #instaart https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fENgsn5XG/?igshid=5440sn9iyaln