Thanks, Mr. Ross, for the Inspiration.

Good morning Fred. I just posted on my facebook page your Portrait Society speech a number of years ago on academic art and relevance. It stirred up some great debate and today I reread the speech and it felt as inspiring as I remembered. When I originally read the speech years ago I was in a sort of limbo in my career. I was an aspiring traditional figurative artist that just graduated from college where I was told not to paint this way or I'll never have a career. It was hard to shake all the nonsense but after years of listening to my heart, along with this speech being the final blow, I find myself empowered as a traditional artist today and accomplishing all I set out to do in this profession. All I wish to convey is a thanks to you for the inspiration. Sincerely, Eric Armusik [Eric Armusik won a Chairman's Choice Award the International 2009-2010 ARC Salon™]