GOOD QUESTION,JAN. I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER A TIME I DIDN'T LOVE TO DRAW,COLOR AND MAKE THINGS WITH PAPER. WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GRADE I REMEMBER DRAWING AN AIRPLANE ON THE CHALK BOARD, AT SCHOOL, WITH COLORED CHALK. IT WAS MOSTLY RED AND MY OLDER SISTER ,SUE, WHO WAS IN THE THIRD GRADE,SHOWED IT TO THE TEACHER AND ALL OF HER FRIENDS. EVERYONE COMPLIMENTED ME AND IT WAS LEFT ON THE BLACKBOARD FOR ALL TO SEE. I WAS VERY SHY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THRILLED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MY ARTISTIC ABILITIES.
FROM THE BEGINNING WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO COLOR AND DRAW AND HAD PLENTY OF PAPER AND MATERIALS AVAILABLE AT HOME TO CREATE THINGS. WE WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO MAKE CARDS FOR OUR GRANDPARENTS AND RELATIVES AND ALWAYS TOLD MAKING SOMETHING YOURSELF WAS WAY MORE SPECIAL AND THOUGHTFUL. OUR DAD SOMETIMES DREW THINGS,MOSTLY COWBOYS, OR COLORED IN WESTERN COLOR BOOKS AND I ALWAYS ADMIRED WHATEVER HE DID.
I TOOK AS MANY ART CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL AS I COULD AND TOOK A FEW CLASSES AT PORTLAND STATE FOR A TERM OR TWO. ALSO MY DAD AND I WOULD OCCASIONALLY TAKE AN ADULT EDUCATION ART CLASS TOGETHER AFTER I WAS MARRIED AND HAD CHILDREN.
MY SISTER LYLA AND I HAVE ALWAYS MADE GREETING CARDS TO SEND TO EACH OTHER,AND TRIED MANY ART PROJECTS TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.WE HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ALL ART SUPPLIES AND LIKE TO GO SHOPPING AT THE BIG CRAFT STORES. I'VE NEVER CONSIDERED MY SELF A REAL ARTIST BUT JUST SOMEONE WHO LOVES ART AND ALWAYS DABBLES IN IT FOR MY OWN SAKE AND PLEASURE.
NOW THAT I HAVE MORE TIME,THAN WHEN I HAD MY KIDS AT HOME, I AM HAPPY AND THRILLED TO HAVE FOUND OUR WONDERFUL ART GROUP AND TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BE A PART OF IT. I HAVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW AND DIFFERENT PROJECTS. I'VE ALSO ENJOYED SEEING SOME OF MY WORK ON OUR BLOG AND HAVE EVEN BEGUN TO THINK THAT MAYBE IN MY OWN WAY, I TOO AM AN "ARTIST"
Karen, you are SO artistic! I have been so impressed with your style, too! It's neat to hear that you had so much encouragement from your family as you were growing up. That's great! I am so happy that you are in our group. You fit perfectly, and it seems like you've just always been with us. I wouldn't want it any other way.
ReplyDeleteI second that! I love this series that is posted here, hope to see more of this kind of work in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteYou are an artist, Karen! I do love your work and the fact that you can take just about anything and turn it into a wonderful card or journal or? Your style is just perfect! The use of ravens and crows just adds to your work. Thank you for sharing with us each week. I know we all look forward to what you will do next.
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