My First Painting

Just like most kids, I created lots of arts and crafts in elementary school. I know there are some examples of my early work in a keepsake box somewhere though I don’t remember much about those activities. My memories from high school are a bit more vivid. I recall taking a leatherwork course and really enjoying that process. I made a couple of pouches and a wallet. I also took four years of mechanical and architectural drawing.

During my 20’s and 30’s I became a self-taught woodworker. Learning skills from books, magazines, and watching Norm Abram on The New Yankee Workshop television program. I built several pieces of furniture, toys, and other objects for family and friends. Though some pieces took weeks to finish, I always enjoyed the process.

In June of 2022 I enrolled in a Summer Painting Seminar through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University.  Gathering up an easel and small acrylic painting set that once was a Christmas gift for one of my kids, I went to the first class.  I also needed a picture of something I wanted to paint.  For this first class, I chose a picture of a covered bridge my wife took earlier that year.  It was probably a bit too detailed for my first formal painting, but I liked it.

At the first class, I shared what I was wanting to paint, and the instructor got me started sketching out the main objects to be painted.  The flow of the class was a back-and-forth dialogue between the participants and the instructor.  Each participant would get guidance on what step in the painting process to do next then they went to work, showing progress to the instructor for feedback.  At the end of the class, to my surprise, we were given homework.  This week it was painting a tropical plant.  I chose a bird of paradise.  This would be my first painting.

During our next class everyone got to show their homework and get feedback from the instructor.  I was amazed at the skills of those in the class, everyone did a great job.  I shared my homework and received some generous comments on my use of shadows from my instructor.  It was my best though it was obvious to me I had many skills to learn and practice. 

Since that first class I have taken several painting seminar courses along with specific courses on acrylic painting basics, color theory, and composition.  I have also branched out to take courses in color pencil drawing, collage, and sculpture.  In the past 18 months I have created nearly 100 pieces of art.  My skills and capabilities are improving.  I am having fun learning new things and creating art.