Blog Hop Around the World and the Umbrella Ladies

8x10

acrylic on cradled panel

sold

Margaret Sheldon was nice enough to invite me to post to Blog Hop Around the World. Thank you Margaret!! You can see her wonderful paintings by clicking here. 

A little bit about me. I have always loved art and my kindergarten teacher was the first to announce that I had some talent. I started painting when I was 16. At that time I took from Hawaiian artist Joe Dowson. He is a beautiful person and kumu (teacher). I am an Army brat and grew up on Oahu. I left home to marry a mainland hauli and now reside in California.

 I never thought I could make a living  as an artist and along the way I fell into my other passion...social work. I now divide my time as a medical social worker and an artist.

I study with Stanley Goldstein, Tim Horn and Peggi Kroll Roberts. Thanks to them and other art instructors, I have had, for helping me to develop my work!

Now to the questions...

1. What am I working on?

Right now I am finishing up on a 6x6 cat portrait for a commission.

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I have never really thought about that. I can only say that I paint what excites me. Light and shadow, shapes and color get me going.

3. Why do I create what I do?

I think the world can be filled with a lot of ugliness. I hope that what I paint can capture the positiveness I look for out there, humor, serenity and connection.

4. How does my creative process work? 

I am always thinking about my next painting. No matter where I am at, I look around me and see if there is something that would make a good composition or if I were to paint it, could I get that color, shape or value. When I paint, I lose all track of time except when the light changes, then I realize, I am at the end of the day. 

Thanks for visiting! I have invited 2 of my artist friends ....

Nancy Roberts

http://nancyrobertsstudio.blogspot.com/

Jo Mackenzie

http://jomackenzie.blogspot.com