Thursday, October 26, 2017

My parents gave me the gift of art lessons when I was 9 years old.  I rode the city bus by myself every Saturday morning from one side of the town to the other in the spring of 1958.  Huge endeavor for a 9-year old!  I took lessons from the sweetest "old" lady (she was probably in her 50's then) and when I look at this painting, I can still smell the oil paints in her studio.  This was a wondrous time for me and I am forever grateful that my parents gave me such a gift.  We didn't have a lot of money, but they felt I was worth it.  This was my first attempt at painting the human body.  I also painted portraits, still life, and landscapes under my teacher's tutelage.  But this was my favorite.  The only other art instruction I had was in HS.  I never pursued a career in it, though I was offered a scholarship at the community college in my hometown.  That would mean another 4 years at an all girl's college and by then I had had enough of all-girl's schools.  Besides, I had my sights on a certain someone that I wanted to marry and start a family with.  Over the years, I have played with painting/drawing and I am glad I had the opportunity early in life to learn some basics.  Thank you my parents!

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Going With The Flow

This began at a workshop I attended where I learned to incorporate a different kind of canvas prep.  Happy to have stepped outside of my box to try some under painting with purples and reds for the background.  This was quite fun to work on and I am pleased with the results.  I am calling this "Going With The Flow", because I went with the flow when I painted this lovely swan floating in the water.