Then....
I had the good fortune to be raised in a family that was sympathetic to art; both my grandmothers enjoyed a varety of artistic endeavors. As a child, I was encouraged to do the same. We traveled in Europe and visited most of the major art museums. However, in the familiar story, when I chose Art as a major in college, the encouragement waned. Over the next 50 years, I took occasional evening art classes, mostly from non-professionals. I found that without a dedicated studio space it was too difficult to maintain enough continuity to paint. I used my creative energy in designing and building a few houses, numerous gardens and endless craft projects. And waited...
I had the good fortune to be raised in a family that was sympathetic to art; both my grandmothers enjoyed a varety of artistic endeavors. As a child, I was encouraged to do the same. We traveled in Europe and visited most of the major art museums. However, in the familiar story, when I chose Art as a major in college, the encouragement waned. Over the next 50 years, I took occasional evening art classes, mostly from non-professionals. I found that without a dedicated studio space it was too difficult to maintain enough continuity to paint. I used my creative energy in designing and building a few houses, numerous gardens and endless craft projects. And waited...
Now....
In 2009 I found myself without a job and realized the time had come! I created studio space, signed up for a painting class, immersed myself in the local art community and... painted. My strong work ethic has survived and pushed me to pursue classes, workshops and online training. Still at the exploratory stage, I painted acrylics in 2009 and had my first 'show'; practiced pastels in 2010, and entered a variety of shows, then in 2011 dabbled in colored pencil, joined a local gallery and tried to become digitally proficient. I feel I am very much a beginner, or in the new art jargon, an 'emerging' artist. I have not settled on a medium, genre, or style...but the experts say, it will all happen. In the words of George Elliott " It is never too late to be what you might have been." But most important: the journey is a joyous ride and I am having a great time!
I live on Whidbey Island just northwest of Seattle, in Washington state, with my husband and our little cat.
In 2009 I found myself without a job and realized the time had come! I created studio space, signed up for a painting class, immersed myself in the local art community and... painted. My strong work ethic has survived and pushed me to pursue classes, workshops and online training. Still at the exploratory stage, I painted acrylics in 2009 and had my first 'show'; practiced pastels in 2010, and entered a variety of shows, then in 2011 dabbled in colored pencil, joined a local gallery and tried to become digitally proficient. I feel I am very much a beginner, or in the new art jargon, an 'emerging' artist. I have not settled on a medium, genre, or style...but the experts say, it will all happen. In the words of George Elliott " It is never too late to be what you might have been." But most important: the journey is a joyous ride and I am having a great time!
I live on Whidbey Island just northwest of Seattle, in Washington state, with my husband and our little cat.
