My Story, part 4

Remember Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People? I skimmed it and only remember one thing: the most effective way to really learn a new thing is to teach it. Until I began teaching drawing lessons, I had an endless list of things I just couldn’t draw. Once I began teaching, it became imperative to tackle those items! Early on those items included eagle feathers, lion fur, beach sand, and tree bark. As my students looked to me for direction, I had to find a way to draw AND explain the methods. Often we experimented together to find the best way to represent different textures. As I teach drawing, I learn new ways of explaining and demonstrating, and new techniques of drawing. Just to keep from getting too fat-headed, have a look at my early work:

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When the reproductions of this sold out, I redrew it and reprinted the new one:

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In case you are interested, it is for sale here:

https://www.cabinart.net/reproductions_new.shtml

In the interest of fairness and honesty, there is an even newer one, but it was reproduced as cards only and they have all sold out. If enough people ask, I will show it in another blog, but it won’t get reproduced because it sold and I don’t know to whom!!

Go With It

I have been known to say people should feel less and think more. There is an exception to that – when one feels as if he MUST paint or draw a particular picture, just go with the feeling! That is often when the best work is done. It is true for my students, my artist friends and myself. Here is an example:img_1504.jpg My plan was to work on some paintings on that endless list of Must Dos. However, this photo was from a walk in Three Rivers a few days ago. It was such a beautiful morning – actually stopped me in my tracks. I had my PhD with me (Press Here Dummy camera) and took multiple photos. img_1505.jpgIt is close to being finished. The road needs to be messed with until it stops looking like a river. The closer trees will get painted after this first layer has dried.  The entire painting happened very quickly and with great happiness. My husband was sitting outside reading while I painted and heard me singing. He said, “You’re a happy little person, aren’t you?” Yup, I am! 😎