My Gift to Dan

Almost five years ago I decided to take a drawing course titled 'Drawing From The Right Side of the Brain' taught by local artist Melanie Jackson (www.art-exchange.com - Art Search - melanie jackson). I had never been able to draw a discernible stick figure before the class and the first few sessions were taxing, to say the least. But I felt I needed something in my life that demanded discipline and would feed into my need to grow creatively.


My goal was not to become a great artist but to enhance my writing skills and other creative talents. I also felt this was something I could do to relieve stress and stretch myself. Now...years later...I have one of my pieces proudly displayed at our local library in an art show. My instructor has become my dear friend and humorously dubbed me 'The Best Artist Who Doesn't Know She Is An Artist!'

Drawing doesn't come easy for me. It is not a natural talent that I can just conjure up when I get in the mood. I have to work hard at it but when I get in that right brained ZONE, I can leave stress behind and enjoy making something of beauty to pass along to friends and family. I often make greeting and note cards from my drawings and enjoy sending out personalized notes different from the normal store-bought variety.

The art reception at the library was well attended by over 200 people. But what thrilled me was that four of the 48 Days coaches came to see my work. I was flattered that these coaches saw value in what I was doing and were eager to attend.

I had many people attend who knew I recently presented Dan with an original drawing of a collage I had put together representing two sides of his personality that I grew to love over 40 years ago. At that time he was driving a 1931 Model A Ford he had built from the ground up. It was souped up with a Chrysler Hemi engine, racing slicks on the back and chrome everywhere. Quite an impressive car and he used to scare the daylights out of me as I rode with him around the country roads in Ohio.

That car meant a lot to him and the fact that he built it as a high-performance vehicle seemed incongruous with the conservative country kid who grew up in the little Mennonite church his father pastored.

So I drew the car in the foreground and in the background I drew the church in which he spent most of his childhood. The drawing was a hit and hangs on the wall near his office door at home.

Here is a picture of the drawing for those of you who asked.

And below I've show a few more examples of what I have accomplished. Just about everyone I talk to says they can't draw and are sure they couldn't learn. Well, I am here to tell you that is a feeble excuse. If you have the desire and you learn the basics, you CAN draw. You may not become a Rembrandt or a Renoir but you will be surprised at how fast you will be able to draw or paint things you never dreamed you could. I encourage you to take a class if you feel the desire to learn. It could become an undiscovered talent you didn't know you had!