Plein air 6×8″ oil painting, May 3, 2019.
A crayon drawing on the bedroom wall of a gradeschool friend was my first attempt at creating public art. I was in second or third grade. My friend’s dad was the school superintendent and I was never invited back to her house. In high school, I fantasized about being a fashion designer and living in Paris.
Artmaking has always had a special place in my life. Sometimes, it’s been a significant part of my life. Like when I went back to school in my thirties and drawing, design, painting, print making, and photography classes filled my days. Then, as many people do, I needed a job. I went to work, raised my children, decorated my homes, and planted flower gardens. I was creating every day, but I had stopped making art. Thirty-four years passed.
Then, four years ago, a series of events that began as a challenge to “do something fun” brought me back to artmaking. I paint almost every day now and my life is filled with new experiences, new friends, new goals and dreams. Reawakening to my creativity has fed my curiousity about what might be possible. Artist Nicholas Wilton said, “The soul of a creative is never, ever quieted by practical objectives.” That is SO true.
Something I believe with my whole being is that EVERY ONE is creative. Every one.
What place does creating have in your life?
Note about the image: I started doing plein air painting in 2015. I love being outside in nature and while this kind of painting is challenging, it’s also rewarding and FUN.
