A Grand Master, as Arnie Fenner (SFA Advisory Board member) has explained, is an artist who has worked for at least twenty years at a consistently high level of quality; who has influenced and inspired other artists; and who has left his or her mark on the field as a whole.

"Craft alone" he writes, " is not sufficient to receive the honor: There are many painters who produce solid professional work.

A Grand Master's art, on the other hand, gets stuck in the viewer's heart and memory.

[1] Arnie Fenner also states "At the time of the designation is given the artist must be living.

Recently, two GM honorees died prior to the announcement --Al Williamson and Ralph McQuarrie-- which confused a few people, but...both were still with us when the Board bestowed the honor.