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, telling him the artists that have influenced his practice–particularly Picasso–and offering words of advice to them. Some of the advice that Bouche shares includes valuing integrity and warning the participants to be wary of only being an artist in order to be successful, 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 stressing the importance of artists to turn towards nature for inspiration, as nature will provide them the ability to become stronger in active looking; for looking is just as important as creating and will lead the participants to find their own direction as they continue to grow as artists.