Little known fact: I used to enjoy drawing for many years. As a child, I spent many artistic hours drawing. When I was really little, I first traced pictures, then I began copying illustrations or photographs. In elementary school, I drew team badges for sports events, and even created a cartoon strip that was passed around. By the time I was 13, I was doing illustrations of the models I would see gracing magazine advertisements. I look at them now and am amazed at what I could do at 13! In my early 20's, I drew some ads for a realtors newspaper.
I stopped drawing somewhere in my early 20's, when after spending hours and hours creating a mystical piece, (which I think was my best ever), it was lost down stream, after my boyfriend at the time had an accident with my car. He was thankfully ok, but my car was in a creek (don't ask!) and ALL of my existing artwork (which was in a portfolio in the back seat) was drenched. Almost all of it was able to be recovered and dried out--except, funnily enough, for that one mystical drawing. I'll never forget that piece. And I never felt compelled to draw since.
It wasn't until I met my husband, when all of a sudden I was inspired again for the first time since that day! (He is my biggest source of inspiration!) I had always wanted to paint, especially as an activity with my father. In fact, it was on my mental "things to do before I die" list. So with this miraculous burst of inspiration and reignited artistic passion, I decided to make a painting for my husband. My first painting EVER! I was a little skeptical of myself, as I started to paint. Everything felt so foreign...the brush in my hand, how to hold it, how to apply the strokes to the canvas. But I set out, as I do with anything I start, with positive intention and belief. I put one foot in front of the other so to speak, and took it brush stroke by brush stroke, one step at a time.
I learned a valuable lesson in the process. In my attempt to continue to work it "just a little more" and tweak "just a little more", I think I was getting a little too perfectionistic and in so doing, made things worse! I had the glacier nicely transclucent, before I kept messing with it! But such is life...learning the balance between knowing how hard and long to work on something; when to stop and when to let go...
Even though I suppose I am artistically inclined, I was never imaginative to come up with a picture out of my head without a source of reference. I suppose I get that from my Dad...a wonderful hobby artist....beautiful, beautiful work that he does! However, we both draw as realistically as we can, so we need something as our inspirational reference.
So today I thought I'd be courageous, and share a copy of my first (and only--so far!) acrylic painting, which I gave to my husband before we were married. The scene is in Alaska where we met when cruising. I painted it after seeing a gorgeous photo card of it...I wish I knew who photographed it. This is a scan of a print, so the quality is poor unfortunately and there is a subtle hint of rainbow glass glare in the middle. (Just ignore that!) It's my first acrylic, so lots of room for improvement, but the point is that I did it.
Many people hide their creativity--or stifle it. Afraid to let it loose! But I believe that everyone is creative. You are a miraculous creation. Share your gifts with the world! Do whatever you feel passionately about. Live your dreams.
Perhaps I will be inspired to paint again! I'm feeling the itch! Maybe after my book is out! :)
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