157. CARNIFEX MARDI GRAS 7 - A black ink and black color pencil drawing on a 11 x 14 size coquille board. It appears in the book, "CARNIFEX MARDI GRAS," by John F. Carr, published by Pequod Press in 1982.

"Serendipity - The finding of valuable or agreeable things not sought for". That is my dictionary's definition of the word. But I object to the words, "not sought for".

The preliminary thinking and planning that I do for a picture is, of course, based on the story I am illustrating. But it is all effected by all the information I have that is stored in my mental bank since the day I was born, as well as all the experiences I've had in this world.

So, while I may have a well defined plan before I start on a picture, I am always hoping that as I proceed to sketch or paint, that some accidental stoke or unintended mixture of colors will lead me to continue on in a direction I had not planned on, a direction that will result in a picture that is better than what I had planned on.

I believe that serendipity often lifts craftsmanship to the level of "art". It's what inspires an artist to be more creative, to raise his work to a higher level, knowing that his hand can move at times in a way that is magical. It is a great joy to experience.

Perhaps serendipity may "not be sought for," but it is certainly "hoped" for.