Art – Lifesaver and Lifestyle!
Story and artwork from Linda Bonnes
I am a 67-year-old artist that is self-taught. I began my love of art as a very young child and presented anyone and everyone a piece (or more) of art regardless if they wanted it or not. Seriously, I began my art career when I was 15. I began with portraits made from the wallet sized senior pictures of my friends and family.
By 18 I had graduated to oil painting, mostly landscapes. I failed miserably with oil painting of portraits at the time. Throughout the years Art was my escape, pin money, and my love. I taught Art to the elementary students for many years pro bono as I wanted them to see the benefits of art and self-expression. My greatest moments at this time were when I asked the children if they thought they could draw and didn’t need me. Invariably there were the students that could draw stick figures and then there were the ones that could basically teach the course either for me or better than me! The confidence of children always boosted mine.
I began my watercolor journey when my mother passed away. I was in a blue funk and shut in on myself. My family could not console me no matter how they tried. I lost almost 60 pounds. Art and art alone sustained me, nourished me. I finally came out of it about a year later. I entered the artwork that had saved me in the local fairs and won first places on all of them. This heartened me, gave me a purpose in life again. I had lost that which had been my life as caretaker for my mother for so many years.
I continue to learn everyday in every way possible. While the techniques in art vary with the artist, the masters of the past are never to be forgotten. I would love to learn their secrets and utilize it in my paintings.
The Drawing Academy has wonderful classes that are easy to follow and teach in a thorough manner. The fact that I am older and on Social Security makes the costs harder to bear. Winning gives me the opportunity of a lifetime. Mastering the arts would elevate my artwork to the clouds and back.
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