I’m Putting Up My Paintings

When I first got the idea of blogging, I decided it would be all about my art.  But then I realized that fibromyalgia was a big part of my life.  I had gone through grieving over losing just about everything, and come out on the other side.  Part of that coming out on the other side, was being able to do art again.

When I became disabled from fibromyalgia and Lyme, I could no longer continue to do textiles.  I had majored in textile art in college and had sold my work and was showing it in galleries.  It was feeling like my art was going to take off.

But not so much.  Everything came to a halt, including textiles.

I thought I was done with art.  It was devastating.  My soul, who I am, is an artist.

Then, in September, 2013, a friend told me about a class that Flora Bowley was teaching on-line.

My first reaction, was no way, I don’t want to learn to paint a landscapes.

OK, Mrs. Negativity, it is an abstract painting class.  Oops.

So, I took the class with my friend.  It was amazing.  Flora not only teaches abstract painting, she is also all about living a spiritual, bold, beautiful life.  Yes, I totally related.  Flora calls us all Bloomers.  That’s what I am, a Bloomer.

Many of Flora’s students end up painting just like Flora.  But my first priority was to not paint like Flora.  She’s done it like herself and done it well.  I could never out Flora Flora. Besides, I want to be me.  Paint what is inside of me.

I had a digital painting program, so I could paint from bed.  The app is called Painter.  It is fabulous.  It comes with over 700 brushes.  Plus, I can make my own, which I do.  It has all kinds of media, oils, acrylics, pens, crayons, charcoal, conté, watercolor, etc.

I am soaring.  Art has been returned to me.

I had never really painted.  I felt lost.  I knew next to nothing about painting techniques.  My friend, Mimi, helped me.  I don’t know what I would have done without her help.  She led me along my new path.

Mimi is a very good artist.  You can check her out here.

I have now been painting for a year.  I feel that I am finally getting it.

Initially, I wanted to share in this blog what I learned about painting.  But now I realize there are really good teachers on You Tube.

I will put my paintings in a gallery for you to look at.

Click on Art Work on the menu and pick the Paintings gallery.  This will have all my recent art work.