Painting! What a wonderful interest this is for me. Naturally, I have always been interested in all art forms.
Until I was forty, however, I was afraid to take a brush in hand. Why? Because of an unfortunate childhood experience.
One time, I was sick and my daughter, then about ten or eleven, brought me a set of paints and the paper to go with. I was so bored that I overcame my reluctance and began to draw and soon to lustily paint. My next step was painting large canvasses with fantasy images. It was very satisfying.
I was afraid to take lessons because somebody might tell me yet again I had no business painting. In time, I b became confident enough to take some college courses. The result was that I became fascinated with water color.
Funny, as a painter, I am still becoming and always changing. I don't think I will ever be "there', whatever that may mean. I am taking classes just for the fun of it now, and have joined 'a senior' group of women who show amazing creativity. It's very stimulating. Lately, I have been painting pictures to use as greeting cards.
Again, I am drawn to fantasy and whimsy. I have a series of tree women and underwater creatures. I certainly never experience a so-called block as I have in the past with my writing. I don't have enough time to paint all that I want. However, my class gives me 2 1/2 hours each week of straight painting. That's a great luxury because our household and organic farm are usually busy places. And there is the co-op in Red Wing which wants a lot of attention.
Anyhow, I think we humans have so many talents. We have to give ourselves the chance to let them come forth -- and they will blossom!
