Don’t Be Like Me!

Don't let someone else's idea of what is possible influence what you do with your life.

A lot of people who know me would say that I didn't do that. But I'm here to tell you that I did exactly that. But I guess it's never too late, and I'm finally following my artistic calling.

Let Me Explain

My mother made Wonder Woman look like a wimp. My mother could do everything. At least, that's how it seemed to me as a child growing up. I even believed that well into adulthood. I could only aspire to do half as much as she did.

So when my mother said that she couldn't do anything artistic, that she didn't have an artistic bone in her body, I was certain that art was not something I should even think about. After all, if she couldn't do something, there was no way I could. After all, she was Super Woman.

But Art Kept Knocking on My Soul

Yes, somehow, I had a yearning to learn how to paint. And one day, an angel came into my life and helped me to summon the gumption to give it a try.

An artist friend was staying with me indefinitely. She couldn't afford to pay me for rent or food, but that was okay with me. I just asked that she give me some lessons in painting.

She took me shopping for art supplies and then gave me the only piece of advice that she ever gave me. 'Just play with light and dark,' she said.

This was many years ago, but I still remember her surprise at my first oil painting. She asked how I knew to paint the strokes in particular directions. My answer was that it just felt right.

Another time, she commented on what nice movement my painting showed.

No More Lessons

That was it. I didn't get any lessons from her, but she got me started. That was the greatest thing she could have done.

I painted in oils for a few months for a few years. Then I took about 20 years off because I started working as a tour director and was on the road much of the year.

Now that I've retired, I have time to paint again. I'm working in pastels now, but I might pick up my brushes to paint in oils from time to time.

Please join me on my painting journey and release your creativity.