Fresh Beginnings

This is going to be my attempt to share my journey. There have been so many changes in my life recently . . . in the past year I have divorced, my daughter turned 18 and got married and, . . . since I'm now out on my own; I have decided to make a go at making art my livelihood. This is a scary journey, but necessary and I'm sure it will be filled with many ups as well as downs. I'm also sure it will be a journey of much exploration and growth.

I've been taking classes at my local art center (Middletown Art Center) for about 4 years now. I started out with drawing, then added watercolors, calligraphy, color theory, and acrylic painting. I have learned so much in that time. I've been like a sponge, but there is so much more to learn! I made a decision: I wanted to pick a medium and work to become skilled with it. I chose pencils (both colored and graphite): my first love. I am currently still in the drawing class and I've added a digital photography class this term.

Part of the healing from my divorce included watching movies and hanging out with a good friend. He happens to love horror movies and movie make-up. This past fall, he worked at a haunted trail and I got the opportunity to help him with his costume and take photos of the trail behind the scenes. Just for fun one evening, he dressed as a vampire and I took some photos.

I became inspired and began a colored pencil drawing of the vampire. And passion was born! My drawing instructor has been my biggest cheerleader. My work was different enough from the normal at the art center that it began to draw some attention. People would wander into class to see what I was up to. The director has offered gallery space October 2009 for a "Halloween" show of my dark pieces!