I can’t say why I decided, after never having done it, to take up painting. My husband and two of my children are very good artists. I am not. This is not to say I don’t create–I make jewelry but, in the past few years, I’ve not been inspired and have only made pieces on request, rather than just doing it because it’s fun.
However, last week, I was struck with the desire to give painting a whirl. We had a set of watercolors in the house and I decided to try my hand. I joined my daughter at the kitchen table–she paints non-stop which is a great boon to all who know her–and dipped a brush.
My first piece, a painting of my son’s dog Zion, was, at best, possibly recognizable as a dog. That’s about all I can say.
Nonetheless, I was undeterred. Next, I tried a self-portrait which was, I think, marginally better.
This was fun. So, of course I decided I needed MORE paints so off to the art store I went–thank you Cheap Joe’s!–and bought many many tubes of watercolors, a palette, and a brush set.
I hazarded I might be more successful if I worked from a photo. I like the shot my mom used for her Christmas card this year, taken at the Rockwell Museum–an amazing place–and set to work. This one took me hours but, clearly, I improved. (I am in the black and white skirt!)
That night, I went to bed thinking of what I’d like next to paint. Flowers? More portraits? Should I take a class? (You’ve seen my work–the answer is obviously yes.) I dreamed of color and, upon waking, couldn’t wait to start a new canvas.
This time, I took two pictures, one of my sister’s family at my nephew’s recent college graduation, the other of the inside of their living room. I sketched in where I thought things should go with a very light pencil and began to paint. Over the next two days, I worked on the portrait every chance I got.
It’s not perfect but I like it well enough to give it to him–he’s working for AmeriCorps, so I’m sure he’ll have no money for art! He’ll be grateful, right?
Look, I know these look like an eighth grader painted them but, whoa, it is fun to paint. I enjoyed myself so much I almost forgot to write today’s Ask!
So, I’m hooked. I have a new hobby: painting. I’m going to try acrylics next, maybe even work my way up to oils! And if my work sucks, that’s OK. I am doing this for me not for acclaim or adulation.
How about you? Have you taken up a new hobby lately? If not, have you considered it? And if you did, what would it be?
Tie-dye! It all started in late 2022: I was working in a classroom with special-needs students, and we made tie-dye tee-shirts for a class project. I loved the process of not knowing exactly how colors & patterns would turn out—and the students loved being able to wear something they created. So I said to my husband that we should try to make Mardi Gras (we live in Louisiana) tie-dye tees…and, whaddya know, a new couple’s hobby was born! We’ve learned a lot over the past year—especially about thickening the dyes and folding the fabric to get the desired effect—but my favorite element of tie-dye is the randomness of it.
Tie-dying is fun. My husband loves batiking which has a similar vibe.
That sounds like a lot of fun to do together, and you have something useable, and giftable, when you’re done. I have a friend who does ice tye dyeing and it really vivid and beautiful.
Oh—I’d never heard of ice tie-dye before, so of course I had to check it out, and it looks like something I want to try. I love the complete randomness of how the dyes bleed & blend as the ice melts. Another technique to add to the list! Thank you.
I think that your art has a real Grandma Moses feel to it. I have always loved her work and she will always remain one of my favorite artists – American primitive art for the win! I would recommend acrylics as a good next step. Happy Painting.
Thanks! I am currently working on a flower in acrylics to learn how. They’re much easier than watercolors!
Yes, they are. I have painted in the past and I did use acrylics. I did notice while I was looking at your paintings that it seemed like you used your paint more heavily. I don’t know if that is a style preference,in which case you will love acrylic paints.
Yes–I was clearly using watercolors NOT as they were made to be used!
I needed a way to learn to accept things beyond my control (in my family, in our country, etc) without freaking out, so I took an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Relief class recently. I’ve started incorporating mindful awareness into my daily life, as well as setting aside time for mindful meditation.
Lately I’ve gone back drawing, which I’ve done on-and-off (mostly off for the past 40 years). I’ve not been listening to music or audiobooks while I draw and I try to stay in the present moment and focus on the whole sensory experience as part of my mindful awareness practice. I’m finding it to be a sort of active meditation. Horses are my favorite subject so I got blank cards with envelopes and made horse sketches as small gifts for friends at the equine therapy barn where I volunteer. I’m trying to widen my subject matter and skill, so I’m using some online videos now to improve.
Did you do the one at the Center for Living? I did that during COVID–after the first two, we only met remotely–but would love to do it again.
no, I hadn’t heard of that. I’ll check it out. I’d love to do something in person because it’s more motivating for me.
Line dancing has been my new fun thing. You don’t need a partner, you’re burning calories, and you’re exercising your brain because you need to think about the next steps. I’ll never be like Ginger Rogers, but I’m having a good time and meeting some new people.
I love dancing but am married to someone who will never do it in an organized manner. I am jealous!
I’m single so line dancing is perfect, no partner needed. I’ve done both International Folk Dancing and Contra Dancing in the past. You do need a partner for Contra Dancing, but they strongly encourage people to change partners after every set so the wall flowers get a chance, and many International Folk Dances can be done solo.
OMG, line dancing was such a fun thing to do in my 20s and 30s! It was a standard at all wedding receptions and Christmas parties. Boot Scootin’ Boogie is the one I’m most familiar with now.
I was at a wedding a couple weeks ago and we did the Cupid Shuffle.
Ha!
Your art reminds me of a good friend of mine. She draws and journals in combination in a small, spiral-bound sketchbook. Sometimes she is just on a walk in a park or neighborhood. Sometimes she travels and does this. She doesn’t generally attempt people but doorways or windows or flowers are common subjects. Her drawings are small, quick sketches – usually in colored pencils – and the resulting pages of her sketchbooks are fabulous to peruse.
Oh hey! I also started painting with watercolors this year!
I’m currently dealing with intense depression triggered by stress but stemming from severe unresolved childhood trauma, so it was decided that I should do art therapy, and the moment I first tried to paint, I fell madly in love. My paintings are all abstract, so they don’t look at all like yours, or in fact much of anything.
Very cool. I am so happy you have a way of dealing with the pain of the past that you enjoy.
I am working on an abstract acrylic flower right now and it’s hard to get the balance between representative and free flowing. I’ve not tried completely abstract. I love color so that would be fun, I think.
It’s really liberating! I recommend trying it with your non-dominant hand, especially if you’re right-handed. They have you play around with which hand you use in art therapy, and weird unexpected things can happen when you try this.
You are much braver than I am; I haven’t mustered the courage to attempt to paint an actual something yet. At one point I did accidentally paint the Loch Ness Monster, though.
I am fearless–at my age, failure is just part of the package and that’s very freeing.
My cousin is an art therapist – I’m so glad you’ve found an outlet to help you deal with the challenging emotions.
Have you seen David Hockney’s recent Normandy Portraits, Dabney? I thought of them when I saw your third and fourth paintings. He has used acrylic and painted in a less traditional style than in many of his earlier portraits. There is currently a terrific exhibition called David Hockney: Drawing from Life on at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The final room has this large group of portraits hung together and is totally stunning. The Gallery website has quite a lot of info that you might find interesting – there are quite a few images of the prints in the Schools Hub too.
Thank you! I have printed up a couple of them to study.
This is done in acrylics. It was pretty great to be able to so easily paint over my many many errors!
A couple of years ago I picked up a few skeins of loop yarn and made a simple blanket as a baby gift, and since the have made probably made 2 dozen more. My grandmother had tried to teach me to knit and crochet as a teenager but to her disappointment I could not pick up the skills. But because of the loops, you do not need needles, and with so much free information (patterns, videos) available on youtube or elsewhere I found it a much easier skill to pick up.
I always joke I can knit but not pearl. Is loop yarn like making a potholder but bigger?
Not exactly (if I remember my pot-holder making correctly), In order to knit you pull one loop through the other from the back to the front, and to purl you pull the loop through from the front to the back. You can get fancier too, which makes it more interesting if you want to make multiple blankets, etc… While there are printed instructions available, I found watching videos helps a lot.
I’ve been enjoying your paintings Dabney! My newest hobby is reviewing romance books (LOL), since I started that in around 2014. I used to cross-stitch, but haven’t done much of that since my kids were born (and now that my eyes are weaker, I haven’t tried looking at the small squares).
We LOVE your hobby! <3
Here is my latest! I am still having fun and am thrilled to have a new challenge,
This is my latest–I feel as though I am getting better and, yes, still having fun!