I started out as an oil painter and took the switch to watercolor. Did not know much about watercolor and was fumbling along and thru the grapevine heard about this watercolor session over at the Natl Art League in Douglaston for the unthinkable price of $2 ...I was there in a shot. The place was packed from the basement to the second floor..all spaces were filled to capacity and among his students Marge Soroka and a host of others, all with professional abilities. Not knowing what to do I replaced my water container throughout the day as I was completly out of my element. Thankfully I did not put in a painting for critique which proved wise when the critique took place and I saw (what I thought) perfectly wonderful paintings getting the ax. When I got in my car I knew I would be back because I knew everyone knew more than me and I wanted what they had an only Ed Whitney was able to provide. Here I was learning from someone who did not teach you how to paint but how to construct a painting. Wow what a disclosure.
I stayed up until Whitney died and the group at the Natl. Art League, all Whitney students, formed 30 artists. Sadly it is no longer in existence as many are gone and others moved away but it was a stellar moment of complete joy and learning..constant learning and I was privileged to have Ed's tutelage. Pepsi Freund
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