The Artist's Assistant

Here's the faithful, furry friend who sits nearby as I paint, happy that I've sat down long enough that he doesn't have to continue following me all over the house to see what I'm up to (and follow me he does). His main job is to get me to move away from my typical close viewing of the paintings by wanting to go outside, wanting a pat or wanting something to eat. If you're an artist, you know how important stepping away can be. Even if you're not an artist, you may have other areas of your life or work that need "stepping back" reminders. I have a good friend in my art class that will walk by my easel and remove my current painting to take it across the room. I love it that she does that.

Of course, he's not the only assistant. It seems that anyone who walks through the room (I paint right in the middle of it all) has an opinion to offer and I welcome them because after a day of painting, I sometimes lose the ability to look at a painting with "fresh eyes."

WELCOME to my BLOG

I suppose it's unusual, and maybe not so business-savvy for an artist to start an art blog with a photograph of her dad rather than one of her paintings. When I tried picking out a painting, I couldn't decide. Then I ran across this photo of my dad that I put together with this quote awhile back. It struck me as a perfect way to start out on another new adventure, that of blogging.
I look at my dad standing there, such a symbol of strength and hard work - He's truly an inspiration in my artwork and my life. And I know that he's my guardian paint angel, sitting on my shoulder with each brushstroke, cheering me on.
When he was a young boy, his mother wanted him to be an artist and she wanted to preserve his hands from the harsh ranch work. His father thought otherwise and said that if he could sell a few paintings then he would consider allowing him to stop his farm work. Poor guy - needless to say, not too many people were buying paintings during the Great Depression. He may have not had the opportunity to sell his paintings, but 70+ years after the Depression, here I am, creating and selling my paintings. We may not always have the success we desire for ourselves, but sometimes we pave the road for our children. Thanks, Daddy!

"...The stout heart stays trying by night and by day!"