Inspiration

Last year for my birthday, my friends surprised me with a party and some unexpected gifts.  Most unexpected was a backpack full of art supplies including a gift certificate for a weekend painting course from my friend Brigitte.

The attached photos are the things I created during the painting course.  Note that most of them are drawings.  My teacher, Manfred Lecher, wanted me to show him what I could and could not do before I started painting.  I did a decent pitcher and pinecones (the alarm clock is a little Daliesque, but it demonstrates attention to detail).


When I painted the bottles, however, Manfred said I "wasn't ready" and "used too much water." (I was so proud of them, too! Especially the colors!)


So it was back to drawing with colored pencils, which may (or may not) be my medium. I drew the bottles again. And again. Different shading, different treatments, different techniques.

Then I graduated to apples.

When I proved that I could draw apples and color them correctly, during the last couple of hours that weekend, I was allowed to pick up a paintbrush again. I think they turned out pretty well (for someone who found out 30 years later that she had "artistic talent that should be fostered" in pre-school).

More on Brigitte, inspiration, and coincidences next time!