Pieces of Me & My Paintings

It seems that my life has changed quite a bit since college and that I have changed. Some things I have improved on and other things I have put aside and seldom think about. This is not bad, change is good I have come realize; that's life. In college my minor (or specialty as they called it when I went) was art, emphasis in painting (although I dabbled in printmaking and color classes as well). I have always loved art and really feel this was a time I developed that love and technique with my own style emerging. I completely loved my painting classes, teachers and cohorts. I entered shows, had paintings displayed at WOU (Western Oregon University, my Alma Mater) and OSU and even had a few Juror Recognition Awards. In some ways it seems as that was decades ago. When I finished school I immediately went to work teaching, thus the time and space for painting got put aside. Many paintings I hung, put in storage, gave away, are hanging at my sister's or just forgotten about. I think I have only painted a few pieces since that time.

So, when I was was looking around upstairs in the "girls" room I was surprised to happen upon several of my paintings (I thought most were in storage from my house). I decided I wanted to photograph some and share them with you. I feel many of you don't know this side of me that I miss--that "artist" that I've always longed to be. My mom has always encouraged me to paint again, but oils are my love and they are messy, expensive and without a good (ventilated) studio it's hard; especially with a child. Maybe this is the push I need to see, reminisce and have those elated feelings back that painting brings to me.

Seeing these renewed my desire to someday get back into it as I have photography....it's one of those things that I can't quite explain, the exhilaration of holding that brush, mixing the oils and then creating something beautiful (at least to me) on a piece of canvas.

So, here are just a few from my collection. Some of these were very large, so I shot just part of them. Many of these have stories behind them, but that's the great thing about art, I will let you interpret as you like. Medium: oil on canvas.