Jack Balas, 2021; SELF-PORTRAIT AFTER 50 YEARS OF PAINTING (#2059) India ink on paper, 30x22 inches     text: Finally, after 50 YEARS of PAINTING and even more of GENERAL LIVING! I have made you, yesterday, this SELF-PORTRAIT. And I KNOW you won't LAUGH, even my CRITICS and nay-sayers, because I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW that artists since time began, even those with SOCIAL or POLITICAL AGENDAS (YES, MOI) have sought to bring you, DEAR VIEWERS, not only (in this case) paintings-IMAGES ! - (SHOCKING !) of how things ARE or APPEAR, but also THINGS AS THEY CAN BE the whole thing about creating one's REALITY and bringing you an artistic VISION, a way of SEEING, even a way of BEING. I am not the first, I must admit, to go bravely off in this direction despite the consequences, so I make a big shout out thank you to my predecessors and inspirators, including (in no particular order) PAUL CADMUS DAVID HOCKNEY MICHELANGELO ANDY WARHOL KEITH HARING KEHINDE WILEY MARSDEN HARTLEY GRANT WOOD DOUG SIMONSON CHARLES DEMUTH WES HEMPEL NICOLE EISENMANN KENT MONKMAN DON BACHARDY DUANE MICHALS among others (and you know who you are). And as for you, dear reader, I patiently await the day when, long-time friend or just recently enlightened, you walk up to me and whisper into my ear those three cherished little words: SIGN ME UP.