The first drawing I remember was one done in kindergarten. I dont remember exactly how it looked, but it had people and trees. And I know that I had been thinking about the game Candyland. Some "fuss" was made over it. I think I might have put fingers or toes on the people. Whatever it was, it was something that the average kindergartener would not have done and meant I was observant or had some skill. Whatever.
Either way. That is how I started my career in art. :-)
I took art classes in high school. Got married. Moved around the country with my Navy/Coast Guard husband. Raised two kids. In 1992 we ended up in Waukesha, Wisconsin and decided to take some art classes at Carroll College outside of Milwaukee. A photography and a printmaking class.
I loved the classes, especially printmaking. It was then that I decided that creating art is what I wanted to do.
My husband retired from the Coast Guard and we moved to Green Bay. My first art job was working as a picture framer. People bought ALOT of Terry Redlin prints (A Thomas Kincaid like artist -- only Americana scenes). He had open editions -- meant they printed as many as they wanted. And signed and number limited editions of --- 29,500 --- and they sold for at least $125 or more. That is when I decided there is money in reproductions.
Fast forward to now.
I spend alot of time on the internet at art related sites. One of the things I like to do is to follow the links to other sites and then the links on those sites to other sites and so on. I am always surprised when 4 or 5 sites later I am finding links to the original site. That saying about being only 6 people away from knowing everybody in the world really seems possible.
The internet. What a great place to connect with everyone in the world. A signed and numbered limited edition of 29,500 no longer seems overly ambitious.
As a young child, I can remember being too afraid to go up to an ice cream stand at the beach and get an ice cream cone. Something I really, really wanted, but my fear was stronger than that desire. The other kids I was with went and got one. I wanted someone else to go get that ice cream cone for me so badly.
I have dealt with that same issue on different levels over the years and eventually overcome it most situations. I see this opportunity out there on the internet. Other artists are out there selling their work on line. I want this and I am no longer 5 years old.
One of my favorite motivational sayings is "Nothing ventured. Nothing gained" . This is the year to do it. So thank you Philly.com
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