My Artist’s Story — A Slow Progression

I’ve always loved art and creativity. It’s part of my personality and my daily routine. However, I didn’t always feel supported.

It Was Always Part of Me

· I was a very creative child. I sewed my Barbie doll clothes from my granny’s scrap fabric stash instead of buying them.

· I made my aunt a vase out of ice cream sticks when I was seven.

· I drew pictures to give away as gifts.

· I picked up sticks and leaves to make nature collages on the sand, because why not.

Early Decisions

In high school, I had to make course choices based on packages the school made available. I wanted to learn French and do art classes but I couldn’t have both. I chose art class which I still think was a big mistake. Art was something I was doing at home. French would have been a better academic choice.

There was very little practical art tuition, and we were left to dabble in whatever talent was God-given. My ‘gift’ needed guidance. It didn’t come naturally as with some of my fellow students. To add to that, I have an experimentally curious mind and I like to try different things. That didn’t fit the norm at the time. I was supposed to paint recognizable things on a square canvas. I did not.

My canvases were haphazard. I remember sewing tulle onto a painting of a very large ballerina. It was awful but definitely not boring.

I was clearly not a painter but I can draw. Our teacher loved to paint and not sketch. So, the thing I could actually do artistically was not nurtured. To be fair, she was following a preset curriculum that focused on painting.

My final high school painting was a face peeking through a ripped canvas. What can I say? It was original at least. The teacher did seem impressed when I ripped the front canvas to reveal the face. I remember her uttering an, “Oh!” It makes me giggle a little now.

I barely passed the class by the skin of my teeth. and it put me off art, even sketching, for years. I went back to college in my early thirties to do a short communication course and art was part of the curriculum. I still don’t really understand how the two were related but anyway. I loved it. Thank goodness for that class. I hopped right back into sketching. I clearly needed more practice, but it was glorious.

Courage to Share My Creativity

It took me years to realize that creativity looks and feels different for everybody. It took me even longer to accept that my version of art and artistic expression was okay. I didn’t have to conform.

Creating something is a personal journey. If you love what you’ve painted, built, drawn, or sculpted then it’s art and it’s beautiful. Incredibly, this simple thought transformed my art journey. I create for myself and if someone else likes it, I’m happy. If they don’t, that’s fine too.

Art Comes in Chapters

· I still paint, but I keep it small and manageable.

· Right now, I’m really enjoying collage work.

· I figured out how to make prints on a gelli plate and I’m practicing with different designs.

· I have some coffee-stained paper in the garage that’s drying on a piece of rusted steel.

· I saved a whole bunch of Moroccan tile designs on my Pinterest page and I’m going to try symmetry art.

· I love nature and tree mandalas are a lot of fun.

I want to create to my heart’s content and then do a little more. I will never allow someone to influence my need to create ever again. I don’t have to impress anyone, except myself. Maybe. :0)

Please visit me online at:

You Tube — Where I share my creativity