I thought I'd take the time to review my art history while I still have several days before my challenge begins. Although I studied art history and english lit in college, I've never taken an art class beyond high school. I was always interested in art and making things and painting things and while I was still single I did dabble in painting with watercolor on paper. Marriage at age 21 took me out of myself and I became a follower. I dropped all of my interests to follow him in his interests (4-wheeling, boating, and partying) until I started having babies. When my second child was about 2 we moved to a very tiny town and I didn't know anyone for quite some time. I stayed home with the kids and to keep us all busy I started taking books of art out of the library - as many as I could carry. I'd study these books so well, examining each brush stroke carefully. And I borrowed art videos. I'd roll back the area rug, spread paper all over the floor and give the kids a big paint brush and bucket of water. We used the cheapest paint because I had no money at all. A year or so later I was pregnant again and we bought our first house. It was very dumpy but had a nice location right on the beach. I had another son and because I was sitting a lot, nursing him, I decided to set up my paper and paints on a desk beside my rocking chair in front of the windows that looked out at the ocean and paint. I painted every time I nursed and even when I wasn't nursing. I painted and painted and painted. Then some of my dear friends bought me a real canvas and some honest to goodness artist acrylic paints. Bliss! That was in 2000.
I'll write more later and post more of my past paintings. Our house is being shown today and I have to clean.