My first painting - Nov. 27, 2005
Julie at Two Small Birds inspired me with her post, Some Stories are Best Told in Color
I have always wanted to paint but I wasn't the artist in the family. My brother was the artist. I was the bookworm. (Parents, be careful of the labels that you lovingly give your children. You may pigeon-hole them for the rest of their lives). Julie posts about starting to paint after her son was born, about how she thought she couldn't paint because she "couldn't even draw", and she shows off some soul-full paintings.
Last night, my children and I pulled out their painting supplies. About a dozen bottles of tempera paint, some cardstock and Walmart paintbrushes. I wasn't starting with quality stuff here but it was important to just put some color on the paper. We sat and painted together for about an hour. It was very peaceful and absorbing.
So here's my first painting:
I am anxious to paint more, to re-discover the artist that I thought I never could be.
Cynthia
Comments
Nov. 27, 2005 - YAY!!!
Posted by juliepersons
FOR YOU, I am so happy you are diving in and grabbing a brush. Beautiful!
Keep on painting with the kids and see what happens...
:-)
Nov. 27, 2005 - WOW!
Posted by takingthechallenge
That's really nice....waaaaay better than anything I could do. It's so frustrating to have an artist's heart...even eye...but not the ability to carry through with the hands what the heart desires and the eyes see.
Yaaayyy for you! Keep pursuing your skill!
Nov. 28, 2005 - Beautiful!
Julie is an inspiration! And so are you! I just might get the paints out now too.
Nov. 29, 2005 - That's a great start Cynthia!
Posted by Beth
I've been wanting to get back to the pencils and paint myself! I was always the "artist" in our family, and a fine art major in college (minored in painting and majored in sculpture), but haven't done a whole lot lately! Thanks for the inspiration. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain would be a great book for you to work through, or Drawing for Older Children and Teens by Mona Brookes. Both are excellent in my opinion, and would be very rewarding, just fyi.;-)
But, you are SO right-on in that you have already accomplished the hardest part, just STARTING! Ask me how I know? LOL!
Nov. 29, 2005 - Also, as a point of interest~
Posted by Beth
I thought that this may be encouraging... I just ran across this lady and her work a few days ago via a mutual email list we're on. She just started drawing in 2001 after reading and working through Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards, and hadn't ever considered herself an artist before, envying those who could draw. She just made it her goal to learn, and did! I just wanted to further encourage you that it's a learned skill, just like most other things... You've got the passion and insights for great work... Here, you can see some of ther pencil portraits... and imagine what you could do in a couple of years even, with a little practice (I'm speaking to myself here too! I need to get back in the saddle!) http://hollygraphicart.com/
Nov. 29, 2005 - Way to Go Cynthia!
Posted by MegPotter
I just started taking Watercolour classes myself (I pay $10/week with a local painter). Look around locally, you should be able to find some cheap helpful classes! (I second the "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain").
The one thing I've learnt is that you just can't say you "can't" do art (that's something my ds is learning too). It's amazing what you can do with a little self-teaching or tutoring.
