Some decades back, I had a very good friend named Ric Higlin, He was an artist. At least people who saw his work (me included) thought of him as an artist. He painted in various media, drew and sketch very skillfully, and he was quite a good sculptor. Many knowledgeable people bought his works, sometimes for fairly respectable amounts of money.

He could do all kinds of abstractions. And at the same time, he was prodigiously skilled, to the point where, if he wished, he could draw or paint a portrait that was almost a photographic likeness. And any and all points between, including outrageously funny cartoons and caracatures. He had essentially complete control over whatever media he chose.

No matter how abstract or realistic, Ric's works were not "accidents."

When people would ask Ric what he did, he would respond, "I am a painter." Sometimes a bit flummoxed, not knowing if he might be a house painter or sign painter, they would ask, "What sort of things do you paint?"

"Pictures," Ric would respond.

"Oh!" they would say, "then you are an artist?"

"Well," responded Ric, "that's not for me to say. I paint pictures. If people look at something I've done and declare it to be 'art,' that pleases me very much. But whether or not I am an 'artist' is not for me to judge."

I always had a great deal of respect for Ric Higlin.

In terms that would be understood by readers of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I'd say that Ric knew where his towel was.

Don Firth

P. S. A quote from Douglas Adams that may be germaine to this discussion:

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."