The launching pad to my artist career started with one painting.
This painting of a chocolate lab is where it all started. It was the one that fueled my love of painting to new heights.
After retiring, I started building and painting on bird houses, butterfly houses, miniature dog houses and small carving boards. I even tried my hand at bat houses! Fortunately, people seemed to like my efforts and many of those items sold.
However, my work room was a disaster!! I knew I had to make some decision or be condemned by the "Neatness Police!" Besides, it often happended that while I was painting, someone would call and order a butterfly house or one of my other wood items. I was happy to do it but it meant putting away all my painting equipment and get out my saws and wood.
So, in 2005, I bit the bullet, stuck my neck out and entered my chocolate lab painting in the local Ameliasburgh Fair for judging. I was as nervous as a turkey at Christmas time. Imagine my thrill (and happy tears) when my lab won me "Artist of the Year!"
It took two full weeks to clear my work room of craft and building supplies (OK, I might have kept a few things...) and replace them with canvases, paints, brushes etc. etc....
Is my room neater? Well, it is MUCH improved but I'm still glad my work area is upstairs and the Art Studio is downstairs.
You'll understand why my Chocolate Lab painting is not for sale ;)
Florence
This painting of a chocolate lab is where it all started. It was the one that fueled my love of painting to new heights.
After retiring, I started building and painting on bird houses, butterfly houses, miniature dog houses and small carving boards. I even tried my hand at bat houses! Fortunately, people seemed to like my efforts and many of those items sold.
However, my work room was a disaster!! I knew I had to make some decision or be condemned by the "Neatness Police!" Besides, it often happended that while I was painting, someone would call and order a butterfly house or one of my other wood items. I was happy to do it but it meant putting away all my painting equipment and get out my saws and wood.
So, in 2005, I bit the bullet, stuck my neck out and entered my chocolate lab painting in the local Ameliasburgh Fair for judging. I was as nervous as a turkey at Christmas time. Imagine my thrill (and happy tears) when my lab won me "Artist of the Year!"
It took two full weeks to clear my work room of craft and building supplies (OK, I might have kept a few things...) and replace them with canvases, paints, brushes etc. etc....
Is my room neater? Well, it is MUCH improved but I'm still glad my work area is upstairs and the Art Studio is downstairs.
You'll understand why my Chocolate Lab painting is not for sale ;)
Florence
www.devensartstudio.com
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