Today's Lesson Is. . .

Keep on drawing.....

Keep on smiling....

Keep on shining....

I was in my thirties when I took golf lessons. I thought the instructor would never let me hit the ball. There was so much to learn as a foundation before I started whacking the ball aimlessly.  By the time I was allowed to hit the ball my form was pretty good and the ball went relatively where I planned for it to go.

I was glad to remember that lesson today as I pursue my watercolour class endeavors. Not only is there theory behind the aRt, there are little exercises to be done along the way to begin to train the mind, the eye, the hand. While I'm ready and impatient and anxious to wield the paint brushes, I know that my patience and diligence will pay off in the long run as I learn to mix color, blend shades, find the tonal values, etc. etc.

On the other hand, I've been known to read many books on the subjects that I'm interested in. Sooner or later you just have to get out and run, or write or whatever it is that you're reading about.

One of the things that my instructor pointed out today was that if a person stops drawing or painting at a certain age, say 9, then that is the age and skill level that you begin again with. Drawing is a learned skill. No matter that I'm sixty years old, my drawing looks like a 9 year old's until I receive more training and practice.

So I am taking my five year old inner child and exposing her to new skills. I learned to sew and do other things but not to draw or paint. Also, I am pleased to take what I am learning and begin to teach these things to Sophia. I will be a huge advocate in her life to make sure that she keeps drawing and painting and learning. I bought her watercolours for her birthday with this thought in view. This morning I showed her how Grama prepares her paper by giving it a water bath and stretching it on my board. I'll be sure that Sophia has her own board too.

It's funny how I've now found myself living with a four year old nearby and that I'm teaching 4-7 year olds in Sunday school. They have noooooo idea that inside this grandmother's body resides a little girl just about their age that is learning to be more artistic too.

It's a good season in my life.

Today's photos are compliments of Sheila Mancor!!