Where does one start
when it is clear that to be an artist is what you want more than anything
else?
In my home town, in Wisconsin, the school
I attended had no art instruction classes, so I submitted drawings to the
school newspaper and to the 'Draw Me' contest that ran in many of the major
magazines.
At that time the world itself was my teacher.
I always observed the sky, trees, hills, people and animals around me.
With the help and encouragement of my mom, (my first teacher), I worked
on developing my creative skills.
FLASH to Olympia, Washington, 1970's.
With two small boys and husband and home to concentrate on, I set
aside my art career temporarily. Then I received an oil paint set
for Christmas. I found out about a local program of adult education
in the high school near where I lived and enrolled in a night class.
"I sought out artist teachers whose
style I admired"
I also took daytime workshops from visiting
artists through The Olympia Art League. Those classes showed
me different points of view and approaches to the art of painting.
I continued to study nature and people, trying my hand at portraits in
oil with my sons and their friends as models. A group of like-minded
artists got together, hired different models and painted portraits for
the sheer joy of it. Those portrait studies were fast and impressionistic,
a style I dearly love, and continue to paint today.
I had the opportunity shortly thereafter to
take a workshop in Rexburg, Idaho with a very well known and respected
Russian artist.
In the 1980,s, I decided to specialize in seascapes. I sought
out artist teachers whose style I admired.
I read every book on seascape painting I could
find. Workshops with seascape painters came my way and I traveled
to the Oregon and Washington coast to take classes, observe the ocean and
put into practice what I had learned. I soon realized that the sea
is a demanding and exciting subject. It has been my 'forte'
ever since. |
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Last spring another
adventure began. I learned of a workshop given by a talented and
highly skilled teacher living right here in Olympia. He was having
a special class on pastel and gouache painting in the impressionistic style.
Thus began the next phase of my career. I now (again) paint people, animals,
nature and Americana in my passion, impressionism.
"I teach the basics: composition,
design, perspective, color mixing, et al."
All this time I was being asked to give lessons.
I do not have a degree in art, so I was reluctant to presume I could teach.
Still, the demand was there. Then the Olympia Senior Center approached
me to take over the art class. I would be able to teach on a voluntary
basis, giving back to the community that was so good to me, and at the
same time fulfill the requests to teach. The students each
paint what they want to paint, in oils, acrylic, watercolor or pastel,
etc. I teach the basics: composition, design, perspective, color
mixing,
et al.
We are an on-going club that meets once a
week, all year around. The club is open to anyone of any age,
at no cost (except their own art supplies). The only requirements
are (1) To be a member of the Senior Center, and (2) have a desire to learn.
Generally I have from eight to twelve students
regularly, with the capacity to handle up to sixteen or twenty people.
Once a year we have a pot-luck picnic around the 4th of July.
This is the only teaching I do; however,
I like to share, in conversation, as much as I know about art, marketing,
and the most recent high tech information. Both my husband
and I give demonstrations to interested groups.
I continue to learn. I have found that
I must always stay up on the newest techniques and products
so I can pass that on to my painting club, as well as other artists
in the community.
I am always grateful for my past experiences
and for those who taught me. I am now a skilled painter who wants
to keep on painting daily and pass along what I have learned to anyone
who truly wants to be an "artist"
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