My First Year in Art

If there are any regular readers of my blog, they would know that I started painting as a relief from the stress of working in Banking. I really had done nothing since leaving school at age 18 and, as I was now 46, it all felt a bit daunting. I had no real idea of where to start so my husband, lovely man that he is, bought me an easel and an art course and pointed out I had nothing to lose.

Since then nothing has stopped me. I think my first year has been very experimental. I don’t really have a single style or use a single medium. I have used pastels, charcoals, drawing pens, pencils, acrylics and watercolours. My tutors from my courses have told me I am lucky because of two things: 1) I am not afraid of making the first mark on the paper. I don’t worry that I may not being doing very well and have an inate ability (when it comes to art) to just go for it. 2) I am a quick painter. No agonising over every stroke of the paintbrush. The speed with which I paint means I am very prolific and have already developed quite a portfolio.

So what have the highlights of my year been (in no particular order):

1. Getting through the first round of the RWA Open competition although I failed to get through to the exhibition itself.. I’m not sure on reflection that the RWA is for me but it was a confidence boosting experience.
2. Being exhibited in an art gallery. I decided to just have a go and, even though I knew there was no chance of winning a prize as they go to the more experienced artists, it was a really exhilerating moment for me to see my picture on the wall in a real art gallery.
3. Back in June I decided to see how some pictures looked as prints. My husband took some great raw images for me and I found somewhere that had a good website where I could upload the images and make a reasonable set of choices of paper quality. The results were fantastic and since then I have produced cards and business cards too. I have sold two prints but also have some more sales lined up for the new year that should hopefully be more commercial.
4. To start with I thought small was the way to go but more and more I struggled to contain myself. Eventually I gave in and bought some large A1 canvases. The first really large painting that I completed was also the first portrait I really attempted. I borrowed the image from one of my friends as I had never met her daughter and painting strangers is something I find easier as there is less worry that they will be upset if it doesn’t look like them. For weeks beforehand I thought about how to paint this picture, often going over small areas in my mind and imaging how it would feel to paint it. When I finally did it felt just as good and the end result even looked like the originals!
5. The reaction I have had from friends and family to my painting has been amazing. My family like my paintings which is great because guess what they all got for Christmas. My husband has been very supportive and some paintings have even been put up in the lounge. My son, as honest and forthright as all 10 year olds are, has liked almost everything I have painted and there is one particular picture, of the owl, that cannot be sold. My two colleagues who bought some paintings, my colleague that bought a print and all the other workmates and colleagues who show a real interest in my pictures and whether they can buy them. My internet friends, from those that I have stolen photos from, to those who read these blogs, really encourage me to keep going and often point out where I am being too hard on myself.
6. The number of firsts I have achieved apart from those mentioned above. The first time I tried acrylics. The first time I painted on board. The first painting I did using a painting knife. The first time I used a fan brush. The first time I drew something and was pleased with the result. The first time I got an enquiry via the website about buying a painting.

It has been an amazing first year in the art world. Now I have to figure out how to make the second year just as good, if not, better.

Thank you to everyone and Happy New Year.