Well time flies while you are away. It really didn't feel like that long that I was away, but I realize now that it was.
Long ago in my younger life I did a lot of painting, and as a child I spent a bunch of time in the art studio of a rather famous Indian artist. My Dad, my brother, a nephew and even my ex-stepmother (Dad's wife #2) all paint. My Dad sold a lot of artwork when he was actively painting, so there is sort of a family trademark & tradition that I could step back into. I even dated a famous Indian artist's son at one time. He later married another girl and she's quite famous as well.
But - I married someone else, life happens and I got busy with my kids and that hobby had gone by the wayside. It's been over 20 years since I spent any time doing much painting, just the occassional sketching and odd tole-painting class back in the late 80's.
Since my status as a homeschooling mom has ended and my kids are all pretty much grown up I knew I needed to find my creative groove again. While I was on my little fall break from Saving Advice dot com I was busy. One of the things I was doing was setting up an art studio in CashHappySon's old room and I've started painting again. Once I got going good I did a LOT of paintings for Christmas gifts this year.
Here's one I just finished - I love the neon colors and the textured paint:
This was the inspiration - a nice pot of hot pink bougainvillea & a cool chippy multi-color painted chinese lantern that I hauled home from my last junque' buying trip (I mean literally, I drug that HEAVY lantern for about 4 hours thru a giant antique junkers mecca till I could mosy my way back to the car that was parked about 2 miles away!) A treasure w/it's purple, pink, red, black & white chippy paint!!!:
The original is a bit larger and has a bit more detailing and shadowing than this shot & it is signed and framed now.
FrugalSon who is still at home is painting with me. He's doing really well and perhaps I'll show you something he's done in the future.
To make this applicable, let us just say that trying to get back into painting full time is an expensive proposition if you go whole hog like me and try to get your equipment & paints together all at one time! OUCH! But, I'm generally very happy when I'm slinging paint - so if it costs a bit then my thinking is my sanity and joy is WELL worth it!
Goofy, but we each wear our official painting hat while we paint. Mine's an old smooshed up cowboy hat. His an old hat from the feed mill.
I am a registered member of my tribe and once I get grooving on high speed again will likely return to painting Indian art as I did when I was a teen. That's truly where my heart lies in regards to artwork. I am all about the creating, but the marketing and selling is something I really have to push myself to do. Although, I do have a good friend who owns an art gallery! May be time soon to call in those old favors.
January 6th, 2009 at 07:27 pm 1231270044
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January 6th, 2009 at 08:44 pm 1231274689
soooo glas to have you back!
January 6th, 2009 at 09:12 pm 1231276378
It was either paint or go back to work and while I haven't entirely ruled out work, painting is SOOOOOOO much more fun!
Debtfreeme, go take a class. You'll either love it or hate it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained! I think most class teachers would let you bum enough supplies for a lesson or two to see if you enjoy it.
Thanks ya'll. You ALL are GOOD PEOPLE!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:21 pm 1231280499
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January 7th, 2009 at 03:29 am 1231298992
Great job!
January 7th, 2009 at 04:28 am 1231302482