A few days ago, John Alvin was inducted into The Hall of Fame at his high school, Pacific Grove High School.  His sister Suzanne Alvin was there to accept the honor and talk a bit about John Alvin and his career.  She spoke to the kids, thinking about what John would have said, and what advice he’d give to aspiring artists. 

We at John Alvin Art and ArtInsights asked her to tell us a little about it.  Here’s what she said:

“I only had a few minutes, and had to keep it really short. I told them what I though he might tell them: to not compare themselves to others; to exercise their own creative spirit, find their unique voice.

I finished with something he once told me: One time I was anxious about a situation that was not going well. He said:

“Just be yourself. After all, who else are you going to be?”

He would have loved the whole thing; he would have charmed them, of course, and made them laugh.”

It wasn’t a big deal, but we who knew John’s respect for not only his own art, but for others who struggle to create, as well as his mix of humility and desire to be appreciated, know this little gift would have meant the world to him.  It means, as he was a mentor and inspiration to many artists while he was here, he will continue to be an inspiration in a very real way, to kids who feel the artist inside themselves and need to know, with talent and drive, it IS possible to be successful in whatever kind of art they choose!  

Please join me in congratulating his wife Andrea Alvin, his sister Suzanne Alvin, and his daughter Farah Alvin! More schools should have artists in their Hall of Fame!

To see some art we at ArtInsights have of John Alvin original and limited edition art his estate, CLICK HERE.