Painting~ my "drug of choice"

2011

2006

There are times I want to paint and just can't think of what, so I look through reference photos of past paintings. I came across this composition I first painted in 2006. There is a definite change in style from the early days. Being a self-taught artist, I have learned everything from books and videos. I think the biggest advantage is not knowing what can't be done~ you tend to make a lot of mistakes, but when you finally get it right, it is fabulous!

How this all started~

I picked up a paintbrush with Miranda in 2001 and was hooked. It is my "drug of choice".

I had painted a bit in high school, but the cost of materials and lessons was a bit "extravagant" at the time.

Fast forward 25 years~

Miranda was taking art in high school and had a project, you know~ the one for the majority of their semester grade that they decide to start the weekend that it is due. I sat down with her and we painted together. She turned in her painting and it went to hang in Raleigh; and mine, unfinished, went in the closet. She went off to college the next year majoring in art. She was doing what I had always wanted to do. After watching a show on Oprah about following your passion, I went to the library and checked out all the art books they had. I guess you could say the rest is history. I have been painting and having the time of my life. It is hard to believe, I have been selling my paintings around the world since 2005, over 600 paintings. One of the few nude paintings I have done hangs in a collectors home in Russia; it is so hard to believe. I often think of my grandmother, who paid for my first art lesson, I wish she could see me now.

I often get caught up with commissions during this time of year, but this year will be different. I will be painting for fun, whatever pops in my head. I will be trying new and different materials and compositions. This should be fun~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie