Our art club is down to three members. So, if we want to keep up our tradition of displaying paintings in the bank, I need to get something new painted.

I've recycled frames and retouched some old paintings that I just didn't feel were quite right. And I've reused so many of my old paintings through the years because I just didn't have anything new. 

So I have made one of my New Year's resolutions to start getting at least one new painting every month. I've got the supplies, and a few frames not in use, so there's really no excuse for not painting on them. 

I waste a lot of time trying to decide what to paint. I am a mood painter. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a somber dark painting, and sometimes I want something with a lot of light and bright colors. If I try to paint something outside of my mood for the day, I get frustrated easily and usually don't finish it. If I do finish it, I'm never happy with it. It goes back into the closet and maybe I'll pick it up and start working on it again later on.

The top image is a Halloween scene in a graveyard in colored pencil. It was a fun project, and challenging because I did it on black cardstock paper. The paper soaked up the pencil so much that I never did get the colors done like I wanted. But it got compliments at art club anyway. I'll keep it framed and maybe display it at the bank next Halloween.

The lower image is of an acrylic painting I did for my young grandson when he was born. But by the time it was done, he had outgrown it. So I'm keeping it for display at the bank and possibly for sale, if anyone is interested, just contact me.

Next time I'll present some of my more serious works.

A Canvas Too Late?

 Exploring my Blogger site, I had a epiphany: I still have a page devoted to my art! I had completely forgotten all about it, how embarrassing! And I haven't posted on it since 2012. Oh, my goodness.

So, I decided to try posting some of my artwork on here, perhaps some art tips I have picked up through the years and see where it goes.

In 1984, I was invited to join our local art club The Clifton Art Buffs by a friend who is a charter member. I was interested in art and had been since I was in grade school. My parents had noticed I seemed to have an affinity for art and actually seemed to have some "talent" in that direction.

So they signed me up for Art Instruction Schools. You've probably seen those ads in magazines before if you are over 50 years old. They have a picture that they promise a scholarship if you can copy the drawing and send it into the company. I copied the drawing and my mom sent it in.

Wonder of wonders! The school called or sent a letter to my parents and wanted to set up an appointment to discuss my "scholarship". In hindsight, they obviously made appointments with every young artist's parents. The old bait and switch thing, you know.

One day, the salesman for Art Instruction Schools, showed up at our door. I wondered if he had problems finding our place out in the country. Our address at that time was not as specific as addresses are now. It was Rural Route 2, with the City and State. No box number, no street address. 

After talking to my parents for what seemed like a long time (to me, anyway), they called me into the room (our kitchen table) and asked me if I wanted to take this course that they offered. I said "sure" and then they sat me down and told me all that it would involve. Hours every day of drawing and later on painting. Exercises of shading and learning new techniques in drawing. Learning perspective (I still struggle with that) and a bunch of other topics. I was told that this would be a serious obligation, that it cost a lot of money, but they (my parents) would buy this course for me if I would use it to become a commercial artist. But

they warned, if I didn't take it seriously and do something with it, I would have to pay them back.

Whoa, Nellie!

I thought their course was cool and I wanted to try it, but to pay my parents back? I was ten years old. How could I pay anyone anything? At that time, the only job I could get was babysitting the four brats just down the road for a quarter dollar an hour! This course was several hundred dollars!

I just stared at them, then stared at the man trying to sell this thing to us, then at the floor, then the ceiling. I thought and thought, and finally, after Daddy asked, "Are you going to do this?" I replied,

"Yes."

A few weeks later, a large box was delivered while I was at school. I was so excited when I got home and saw it on the dining room table. I tore into it, and pulled everything out, and when I found the huge notebook that folded so it would stand upright while I was drawing, I sat down and read it cover to cover. I was in love!

Needless to say, I started right away. Well, not right away. I had farm chores to do first, then supper, then school homework. But as soon as that was all done, I did my first sketch and a shading exercise and showed my parents. 

My dad was never a demonstrative man, but he smiled and nodded, and I knew he was happy with it. My mom was more excited and said she thought it was very good and to keep it up.

I worked on that course almost every day until I got in high school and then it fell to the side somewhat as school activities took over my life. I did use it from time to time to assist with school artwork that I had to do, but it really wasn't something I had time for.

After I got married, I had my parents send it to me in my new home several states away, so I would have something to do when alone while hubby was on duty with the Navy. I did a few chapters but never did finish the course. It grew to be quite difficult as the lessons grew harder, and it also became more expensive when I had to buy new equipment or new supplies. But I still hung on to that notebook and some of the equipment and a couple of large paperbacks.

Through the years, I worked on it from time to time and always kept it as a reference. I believe it was worth the money, and I got feedback from the instructors, which was supportive and interesting. At one point, I contacted the school to find out if there was more to it than just that one notebook, and if I could get access and for what cost? To pick up where I had left off, would cost over $2000, four times what the original cost had been. I told them that no, I couldn't afford that on a military dependent's money but if there were any parts of it that I could get to work on, I'd appreciate it. A few weeks later, I got a second notebook with more chapters to complete and an offer to allow me to pick up where I left off at a later date for that previously offered money.

So, back to the Art Buffs. My friend invited me to join her group, and I agreed to visit to see if it was something I wanted to try. I've been a member ever since except for a few years when I was working in the medical field. I've been an officer most of those years, and President for over 22 years.

I will be posting some of the artwork I've done through the years in this blog. I hope you enjoy it.

Comments are welcome. Some of my work is for sale, some of it has been given away as gifts or donated to various causes. I keep my work very reasonable in price. Some are offended because I don't give it all away. Frames and supplies cost money. I cannot keep doing this for free. So please don't think I'm trying to rip anyone off.

I hope I'm not too late with this blog. I've always wanted to share my work with others.