I discovered the artist inside me just after turning 70, and now I can’t paint my ideas fast enough!

It all started in 2021 when working at the Reeves House in Woodstock. While installing art exhibits, I became enamored with painting and I thought it would be a neat thing to learn. I talked to the art teacher, Debbie Tidwell, to find out how to get started in painting. She recommended starting with a drawing class.

I found a charcoal drawing class at the Art Center in Roswell. The teacher asked me to send examples of my drawings before starting the class. These 3 drawings below were my first drawings I submitted before taking the class and were based on items on my desk.

The first concept I learned during the drawing class was perspective. See these 1-point and 2-point perspectives I drew next below.

I then began drawing other things that I had around, such as a block and tackle, and a pottery dish, and a different perspective of the corvette.

Then I was asked to try holding the corvette in one hand and drawing with the other, which led to my first abstract drawing.

In 2022 I wanted to learn how to paint in oils. I asked Debbie if I could get into one of her classes at the Reeves House. She said: “My classes are full and people don’t really leave, but I’ll put you on a list and will let you know when there is an opening.” After a few months, she had an opening on a Thursday morning class…and I took it! My first class with Debbie was oil paintings, and my first painting was of apples.

Later that year, I took an acrylic painting class from Tarn Eyl at Woodstock Senior Center. My first acrylic painting was of a waterfall.

I still continue to study and work with both of these instructors to my delight.

My oil paintings are more traditional with landscapes and pets, and I’m just starting on portraits. My acrylic work is more abstract and eclectic with story telling, usually centered around family.

The stories in my paintings come from a wide-ranging lifetime of go-kart racing, working on cars, software support, hunting, camping, hiking, handyman, woodworking and raising a family with my wife. This creative spark was all ignited by a few art and pottery classes led by patient and inspirational teachers!