A Failing Grade in Art !

Cartoon from Plesh Creative Group Design Library 

I started drawing and painting in grade school. At the age of fourteen, I started attending summer classes at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I knew then that my life would be in the art field. And yet, as a senior in high school, the only failing grade I ever got for a semester was in - you guessed it - ART!

The curriculum and teachings at the Art Institute sometimes conflicted with the teaching style of my high school art teacher, Mrs. L.  I was more inclined to lean towards the philosophy of the Institute and frequently challenged her approach.  This brought up the predicament of my behaving more as if I were her equal rather than her student.  As a result, Mrs. L and I had a somewhat rocky relationship. I was probably cockier than I should have been when it came to art and Mrs. L gave no ground in her domain. I think we actually liked each other but there was, nevertheless, a continual sparring between us.

It came to a head when I was called out of one of my classes and was told to report to the art department. When I arrived, I found an art class in session and Mrs. L awaiting me with a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush. You see, I had this habit of flicking my paintbrush to clear it from water (and paint), which left some residue on the floor. Sure enough, there were dried water and color specks on the floor where I always sat in the last row. Mrs. L informed me that I caused the mess and therefore had to get on my hands and knees and clean it up. Obviously embarrassed and looking around the room I saw the girl I had a huge crush on at that time.  Believing Mrs. L. knew of my feelings I now realized her motive for having me clean the floor during that particular class session.

I decided not to comply. She insisted I scrub the area or get a failing grade for the semester. I said “I’ll take the F” and left the room, dignity in hand, pride intact.

That was a long time ago. In today’s society there may have been lawsuits,  suspensions and/or  arrests made. Maybe the whole class would have held a protest march! Whatever may be the thing to do in one of these situations now, at the time it was simply a battle of will; a little jousting between student and teacher who actually liked each other.  Mrs. L stuck to her guns, and I received my one and only F.

But every story should have a happy ending. Several weeks after our encounter, Mrs. L informed me that I had been awarded a Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Gold Key for Art, the only recipient in our school district. Several weeks after that I traveled (by bus) to Pittsburgh for the awards ceremony with - you guessed it again - the girl I had the crush on who unwittingly gave me the motivation to stand my ground. 

The moral of the story?  Don’t flick your paintbrush and if you do, clean up your mess. 

( I’m still working on that ).

So You’re Not Going to Harvard?

photograph by Jim Plesh

My dad emigrated from Croatia many years ago at the age of 14. He worked in the steel mills of United States Steel’s American Bridge Company in Ambridge, PA, 18 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Until his retirement at age 65, he worked his whole life as a laborer, never achieving much of a formal education. However, he was wise and possessed strong common sense. In the small house where my parents, two brothers, two sisters and I lived, the mantra was that in the United States everyone had the opportunity to build a better life through education and hard work. Like so many parents, my mother and dad worked very hard so that we’d have that opportunity. 

From early childhood I knew I wanted to be an artist, and I pursued that goal. As a senior in high school I applied to and was accepted at two of what were then considered the best art schools in the country, Pratt Institute and the Art Students League of New York. Having applied and being accepted at both you can imagine my joy, excitement and anticipation of attending one of these prestigious institutions. But it was not to be. My dad pointed out that we could not afford the “whole package” and that it was best I pick any school in Pittsburgh, where I could live at home and bus to school. He said I had excellent choices, including Pitt, Carnegie Tech, Duquesne University, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. If I applied and was accepted to one of these institutions, he and my mother would cover the tuition. 

I was very upset and pleaded to go to Pratt, my first choice. My father stuck to his guns and insisted that if he and my mother were to support my continued education, it would be through one of the Pittsburgh institutions. It was at that time, in his own brusque manner, that he shared some words of wisdom which altered my outlook—words which I want to share with our young people today. He said, “If you want to learn, you’ll learn. If you want to succeed, you’ll succeed, regardless of the school you go to.” He went on to say, “Even in the finest of schools, no professor is going to open his head and drop his brains into your head. You’re the one who has to seek and strive and learn and build your brain. And you can do that at any quality school if YOU put your mind to it. YOU are the one who will determine your future and successes—not a professor.” 

It was a little crude, but I understood the message my dad imparted and took it to heart. I went on to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Would I have had a better art education at Pratt Institute? Possibly. In fact, probably. But within ten years of graduating from the Art Institute, I was creative director of the Rust Craft Corporation in Dedham, MA, responsible for a staff of 125 creative personnel. One of the art directors reporting to me was a graduate of Pratt Institute. Three years later I was appointed Vice President and sat on the executive staff, along with two graduates of Harvard. It was then that I best understood the wisdom of a hardened steel worker with no formal education.

If you’re a young student and have the opportunity to study at Harvard or go to the likes of Pratt Institute, you’re obviously very bright and very fortunate. If you’re a young student attending a “lesser-rated” school, you too are bright and fortunate. You can seek, strive and learn—and enjoy every opportunity for success. No one but you determines the boundaries of your education and success, regardless of the school you attend. 

Remembering Robert Laessig

Upon graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh at age 19, I entered the work force as a designer at American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio. At the time American Greetings was a hotbed of creative talent, comprised of outstanding painters such as Fred Leach, Maxine Masterfield and Al Chiara; humorist Tom Wilson, creator of “Ziggy”; writer George Burditt; and numerous others. The atmosphere was electric and fostered creativity. One of the most colorful and dynamic personalities there was Robert Laessig. Considered the dean of the creative department, Mr. Laessig was my first art director as well as a wise mentor in those early years of my career. His tenacity and enthusiasm were contagious, and his talent as an artist and painter unparalleled. His critiques and direction were invaluable to my development as an artist.

Bob Laessig was an innovator and perfectionist. His mastery of floral art is second to none. His art was his life, and he lived it to the fullest. Upon leaving American Greetings and the commercial art field, he became a fine artist extraordinaire, enjoying super success and recognition. Laessig won prizes at the Akron Art Institute and the Butler International Art Show in Youngstown, Ohio. He was presented a distinctive award for the best watercolor in a show, and an abstract painting of his was purchased for the Cleveland Museum of Art. His work hanging in no less than four museums, he also exhibited at the American Embassy in Norway, designed the official White House Christmas Cards for five years during the Johnson Administration, won the Ohio Watercolor Society Gold Medal and won the Winsor & Newton Award. Additionally, he earned the top award in the National Academy of Design Exhibition at the National Academy Galleries in New York City. The accolades go on.

In his later years Bob enjoyed traveling the world and stated in his biography, “My love of traveling also contributed to my keen observation of nature as a whole, including color, layout, shapes and forms and at times interesting subject matter.” Mr. Laessig passed away on November 16, 2010 at age 97.

One of my fondest memories of Bob Laessig involves an art exhibit sponsored by and for the artists of American Greetings, an annual ritual at that time. Awards were given for two separate categories: realistic, representational art and contemporary/abstract works. Bob was always expected to win first prize in the realistic category and usually did. He also was on the receiving end of good-natured ribbing about his traditionalism by the contemporary artists. That was the case until one year when awards were announced. Bob won first place in the realistic/representational range as expected. When first place was announced for contemporary/abstract works, a new name emerged and no one stepped forward - until Bob Laessig stood up to accept first place in the contemporary category as well. He had entered an abstract piece under an alias. He won the best award in both ranges and had the last laugh on us all.

Laessig using the help of a heavy grass roller on a long piece of cloth covered with paint and stretched out in the yard. Later that cloth was cut into pieces, waxed and worked on until suitable as backgrounds for his paintings. He developed the technique of using Pellon and wax. A trip to India broadened his knowledge of batik, the art of waxing.