Feeling not good enough....

 FRIENDS, this Art Journey, is the most difficult one yet although all my life I have always wanted to draw and paint. This Art World I have entered into makes me look deep into myself and ask myself why I still feel after all these years I'm Not Good Enough. I have already figured out the answer, and the answer is because all my life I have been systematically conditioned to believe that some things only Special or Talented individuals can do and that Art, is one of those things. I literally believed that (foolishness). When I think about it, I have been creating Art all along through my Knitting and crocheting, but never considered it.

It was not until I read somewhere, that whatever it is you want to know, you can be Taught, boy, was I glad to find that out, that statement gave me hope. I knew then that if I can learn it, I can do it.

I also learned that it takes lots of practice and patients it's like they say, "Roman was not built in a day."  I still have lots to do along my Journey, I just have to learn how to let go of my fears and have fun with this new venture. 

The other fear I have is painting an Ugly painting, but I am learning that I need the ugly paintings because they help me improve.  And anyway, what determines if a painting is ugly or not? Because of all the crazy Art phobias you can often feel Stuck and that nothing is working out, that is when you have to keep on keeping on and not give up.  Sometimes I can't decide what to even put on my Art paper or canvas.  At that point I get a magazine or advertisement and sketch an image from that, and it helps me get back in the mood.

I realize that they only person I have to please with my Art is (Me) I understand that everyone may not like or enjoy my Art and that is Okay.  I am not looking for anyone's approval or criticism of my art, these things I have to keep telling myself and which is all part of this lifelong conditioning. The more I blog about how I feel during this journey, the more all my inhibitions begin to fade away. So far, I am 

happy with the Art I am creating.  I enjoy sketching and drawing so that my work is looking more realistic. I am now taking drawing and painting classes at the local Community College, and I am very happy with that.

I have also done something that I didn't believe I would do and that is enter into a Senior Art Competition.   I don't expect to win but it was just the fact that I was not afraid to compete. Keep your fingers, toes and arms crossed friends, in hope that I do win.  I will let you know (for sure) if I do. The announcement of the winners in the competition will be in October at the Senior Expo held at the Timonium Fair Grounds, if you have time come on out, and enjoy the festivities.

My Artistic Journey...

 My Art Journey is leading me in many different directions. I don't know why I didn't pursue this in my younger years. I had 

no idea that I would enjoy creating art through drawing and painting as I do, in my 60's and 70's. It just goes to say that it's never too late.

I have always for over 60 years been a fiber artist with knitting, crocheting and Needle felting.  I have always gotten so much pleasure from teaching others to do what I do, and I never dreamed that drawing and painting was for me. 

What I want people to know is that when you have a passion or something you would like to do and have a real desire to do GO AHEAD AND DO IT. Do not allow time to slip away before you get a chance to experience what may be in your heart to do.  Art is no different than music or playing n instrument when you first start you sound miserable until you put the work in an learn to read music and how to use the instruments on then and only then are you good or great at your craft.  Do not let your dream die breathe life into your dream and see it through. I began painting anything that came into my mind. I saw a TV program where they were releasing balloons, so I painted balloons, just anything that crossed my mind.

It started in 2019

 I have for a long time wanted to draw and paint but my fear kept telling me that I had no talent. I soon learned that art is not all about talent, So I tried to draw, at first It was horrible, so I went on YouTube to get an idea of what supplies I needed.  I started off at first getting beautiful paint by number kits which were satisfying but I felt I was a little confined and that I could do better if I was free. I began to practice and low and behold I began to get better.

I had to decide what type of Art I wanted to create, I learned that it was so many Art mediums, so I began to explore them all.  I first tried Watercolor, then acrylic painting, pastel painting first hard waxy stick pastel pigments, then soft pastel sticks, pan pastel painting was the best and I found what made me very happy.  It was something that made me very happy.  I was so glad that the love of my life Thomas Benjamin, encouraged me and was so supportive of my new venture. I am sure it was because of him I even was convinced I could do it. I wanted to learn this new thing so bad that I went to my Senior Center and signed up for a Watercolor Class.

I was still practicing on my own and I found my love of birds I love all types of birds, large birds or small birds.  So, I began to purchase books and visit my local library to find all the information I could about birds.

I also found that I enjoyed painting birds with Watercolor, the colors all ways seemed so light and airy just right for birds I thought. I found some birds with very vibrant colors and that made me more excited and happier.

I tried drawing and painting flowers but as you can see, I was not verry good at it. I went to gardens to study the construction of flowers and after watching you tube; I was able to get better at drawing and painting flowers.