Following a Dream...

Blog # 4 My First Painting

The Journey continues...  My First Painting

Shortly, after my dream, in our church bulletin of all places was a listing for Beginning Oil Painting classes.  My eyes practically popped out of my head when I saw that notice and decided it was a “sign”.   I signed up for the class.  It not only took courage but every bit of energy I had to make that first class.   Huffing and puffing, I carried all my new prized art supplies across that long parking lot.  The instructor, Teresa Wilder made us all feel welcomed. 

                                               My First Painting, 1988

I’ll never forget my first painting, a landscape.  It had a mountain, a row of tress in the middle ground, water in the foreground, and sky.  The row of trees in the middle ground were nothing more than a suggestion of trees.  Simple up and down strokes captured their essence.  I remember my instructor having to practically hold my hand to make those first strokes because I was so afraid of making a “mistake”.  I stayed with Teresa for a year when she left the United States to return to Asia. Oh, and as for my health, as fatigued as I was in those early days, every Friday I woke up with energy and headed to class.   After Teresa returned to her homeland I then studied with another Atlanta artist, Sarah Brown for a year.  It was during this time that I recognized the need to formalize my education.  So in 1991 I enrolled at Kennesaw State University.

Returning to college was an exciting time!  Nervous, yes, but committed.  I was in for the long haul!  I was following my dream!

  I decided to pursue the BA in Studio Art program.  At that time it was either Art Education or Studio Art.  I knew I wanted to be a studio painter.  The Studio Art program required a foreign language and a minor.  I chose French as I am part French and I minored first in Psychology, but after a few classes I decided to switch to Creative Writing as a minor.   I had always felt there was a “book” inside of me.  Finally, I was starting to acknowledge my inner yearnings.

Pressing on…