Every artist and every person, that includes you, I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout the years has influenced who I am today. Getting to know each and everyone of you made me far more complete person. Sharing our feelings, sharing our triumphs and sharing our failures helped me get through difficult days in this crazy world. For last 25 years, these 3 artists in particular, D A Metrov, Paul Mintz and Paul Moscatt have left such enduring memories and life lessons that they continue to shape who I am.
He just wanted to be known as METROV. We initially met when this website launched in 1999. Metrov said he wanted to submit to the website a “simple” statement about art. We continued to correspond over the years till his untimely death in 2020 (Car Accident). Metrov left with me what the duty of all artists should be and our responsibility as artists to continue the fight for justice. One of our last communications, Metrov said, “I’m glad you’re still fighting the fight.”
An artist is a conversationalist, a medium for his spirit, trading symbols with others who know the talk and the passions — the splendid passions — the joys, the sorrows, the angers, the griefs, the lusts, the terrors, the loves, all the loves, all the feelings (emotion) possible, captured beneath their surface (intuition) as mere colors, shapes, movement and light (intellect). It attempts to grab at the very roots of manifestation. To reach in through the veils of three dimensional illusion and fondle the stuff in there, the universal soul, the as yet tangible energy of God-mind, whirling around in the awful ethers of creativity. METROV
Artist and great friend Paul Mintz and I first met at an art opening in 2000. He approached me, we traded introductions and which pieces in the show were ours. After a bit more talk and drink, Paul stated, “you got a very interesting face”, even said it to the other artists within earshot. Asked if he could do drawing of me and of course I agreed. He quickly took out a ball point pen and a lined note pad and got at it. About 5 minutes later, tore out the sheet of paper, handed it to me and that very moment marked the start of a beautiful relationship till his passing 2024 at age 91!
Paul was one of the hardest working artist I knew. He was always and I mean always drawing on anything and everything. He never seemed to stop and just kept going with an honest energy you rarely find. Paul never backed down or slowed up. In fact we did a project at the Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD that involved a sidewalk mural style chalk drawing at the main entrance. He said he’ll do the design and layout the grid, great! About a 30 minute drive from the city, we got within a couple minutes of the stadium, and then Paul said, I forgot the grid and artwork at home! Darn, I said we’re going to have to come up with something and simply winged it. Worked out well, some of the younger onlookers started helping us out with their little bit here and there. Paul was 73 years old at the time!
Over many years, we shared a lot of “lunch specials” from the Chinese carryout at the studio. We could talk all day about all things. He would go on and tell me stories about other artists or his time in the military or his 2 packs of cigarettes a day habit when he was younger. Paul Mintz left me the desire to live life unafraid and unflinching and to simply enjoy the ride and just keep on going. I miss Paul!
I can report artists Paul Moscatt is still going strong in 2026 at age 95! What can I say about an artist painter who simply loves to paint. I’m not 100% sure where Paul and I connected but it was around the mid 2000’s and it’s a relationship I’ll never forget.
Paul Moscatt is a retired professor from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Paul and I crossed paths many many times over the years. We would usually run into each other at Art Events here and there in Baltimore City. I can clearly remember Paul telling me one time that he recently had cataract surgery, he could see the colors better and felt 40 years younger! He even had a plein air painting exhibit with his group at my gallery space. Which he hung and set up himself. Successful and fun opening.
Through the years, I would visit Paul at his studio and after every visit always left wondering if I could even consider myself an artist. He has decades of paintings, props and paint brushes laying around. Paul Moscatt’s studio is just awesome. The amazing part, he has works there from the 1960’s through the 2020’s. Think about that, 6 decades of working a paint brush, 6 decades of laying paint on canvas, 6 decades searching for perfection. Sixty plus years in love with his craft.
Paul could always tell what prop he used for which painting. He could tell who was in the painting and the year it was painted. There was always an interesting back story to each painting! Paul Moscatt is the consummate painter’s painter. Last time I ran into Paul at an art show was the Out of Order Benefit at Maryland Art Place 2022 and the last time I visited he and Carlene was in October 2026 at his studio. He taught me what true passion is all about and that I haven’t even started to scratch the surface.
It’s my Baltimore! Feel free to message or text me 443-390-6599 or theunartist@outlook.com or Instagram