Excerpted from correspondence to friends, Museum Directors, & others in the 1970’s & 1980’s

As one walks about his environment, he sees (if he is not blind) many things.  All things are reflecting their messages and story of being.  Even the rock is vibrating.  You are vibrating.  I am vibrating.  Your pictures are sending out their vibrations, even when there are no eyes to look at them.  The lone tree falling in the forest is sending out its sound and vibrations even though no ears may be present to hear.

As I walk out upon the street my eyes are as alert as a bird's.  I see every blade of grass or a bit of broken glass.  My specialty is weeds.  I sense the undisclosed essence of these, one day to be disclosed to the human race as a whole by some questioning mind of an eccentric.  In spite of his past study of weeds, they still contain much of value that he has not discovered.  I foresee our future vegetables in plants that are not yet valued.  I know the names of many that I have already eaten:  careless weeds, dock, poke and lamb's quarters, etc.

I have a BS degree and I excelled in biology, and I am still fascinated with it and botany.  Never do I walk outside that my eyes don't take in the mysteries of nature, the intricate designs of it.
 

Miscellaneous observations of Sybil Gibson:

Childhood memories serve as ideal subject matter for beginning artists, especially among mature people.

No pre-knowledge of drawing, or color mixing, is necessary.  We learn by "doing" as we go along.  The best teacher is inside the doer.  When he sticks the brush into the paint and paints away at whatever enters his mind, without any fear of doing badly.  Don't try to be "good".  Just do naturally what seems to be easiest for you to do.  I once heard that "paint alone" was the best procedure, and I feel sure that it contributed much to my success.  There was no one around to offer his suggestions  Beware of the person who never held a brush in his hand, for he can tell you just how you should paint until you throw the brush down.  Don't risk it, for you might not pick it up again.  Try to please your own eyes and feelings first. I  try to please only my own eyes in the expression of my  muse of the moment.  My work is a product of my own mind, plus the sum total of me.  It is developed in a completely creative manner.  I hardly know what the end result will be.  I do not dictate to my paint, it controls me.  We are buddies.  We get along well together.  It is a wonderful relationship:  my paint, my paper, my clutter.

Robert Draper, lecturer, art critic and owner of Mirrel Gallery, Coconut Grove, Florida is highly respected for his opinions on art.  When he first saw my temperas on grocery bag paper, he asked “What are you trying to say with these paintings”?  The question stopped me for a minute.  Then I answered, “I was not trying to say anything:  I was just enjoying myself”.  I suppose that is still my answer, but now I carry it a little bit further.  I say, “I am trying to ‘say’ that there are no obstacles standing in the way of artistic expression.  The best teacher is within us, and the materials are all about us.  If we choose to work with throw-aways, they cost us nothing and there is no “free-er” way to achieve “free” expression...the quality most desired by artists.

I would be lonely if I were not busy.