Louis Bouche, Visiting Artist Lecture 1959

Louise Bouche gives a lecture at Skowhegan talking about his experiences as an artist and educator. Throughout the lecture, Bouche engages in a lively conversation with the participants, talking about artists that have influenced his practice–particularly Picasso–and offering words of advice. Bouche encourages the participants to value integrity and warns them not to be an artist solely for the purpose of chasing success, because this kind of thinking can produce suffering. Bouche then says that artists don’t have to be tortured souls, but have the right to live happy, successful lives. Bouche ends his lecture by stressing that artists should turn towards nature for inspiration, as nature improves their ability to actively look. Bouche concludes that looking is just as important as creating and will lead the participants to find their own direction as they continue to grow as artists.