When I was a little girl...
...I was looking through a magazine - probably one of my dad's "Outdoor Life" or "Readers Digest" (the only magazines I remember us getting) and I found an art test that you could take and send in. I remember that after you took a quiz, you then drew a picture. They had a picture of some sort of little animal that you copied for the test. Several weeks past before I received a very nice letter telling me that if I kept working at it, I might be able to study art and be good at it. I loved drawing and coloring and would color on trips turned around on the back seat and would get terribly car sick. My dad was always telling me to turn around and watch the road.
I drew the picture of " Lassie" at my Aunt Ivy and Uncle Mick's home in Yakima Washington when I was 8 or 9.
I took an art class in high school but spent more time writing poems and stories about my teacher - Mrs. Grey - than actually drawing. A friend and I decided that she was an alien or a spy because when she turned to draw or write on the chalkboard her voice changed. Anyway, didn't take it serious enough to actually learn anything.
I have a friend here in St. George that is an artist. She takes all kinds of classes - oils - watercolors - sketching - pen and ink. She was going to take a pencil sketching class and asked me if I would be interested in taking it with her. I decided that I would love to - and so this past thursday and friday I took the class. It was one of those things that you sign up to do and then wish you hadn't because it just seemed like a waste of time. I went to Roberts and got a few supplies and then went to class. I loved it the moment I walked into the studio. The time just flew by and I was sad when the 2 days of class were over. Everyone in the class had taken many classes before and so a lot of it was way over my head. I just decided to kind of do what I wanted and not worry about it. Luckily, the instructor was very easy going and let me work at my own pace. Well, I doubt if any of my work will be juried for an art show but I enjoyed it so much that I am sure it will not be my last class.
A man on the beach - study on shading
Jars and a pencil - a study on making objects look round.
An old home - a study on perspective
Barns - my instructor loves them.
Each study was about 15 - 30 minutes long so not a lot of time to spend on each. I have almost an entire sketch pad full from the class. It was so worth it and can't wait until I can take another one.
