What sparked your interest in painting?
Does “paint by number” count? I have always enjoyed doing hand crafted handmade items, Through the decades I made my clothes, did paint by number, knitted argyle socks, made items with pinecones, to list a few. So, when a branch of Calico Cupboard opened 3 blocks from home with Tole painting classes. I was there.
Do you remember the first piece you painted?
Early in the 1980’s I went to tole painting classes. There were 6 or 8 classes. My first painting was not really “a piece”. We taped tracing paper over the line drawing, which was a pear with a leaf or two. These were oil painting classes. We were to paint the whole leaf even what was under the pear. We didn’t have any written instructions. So, at home I painted the pear again on a piece of slate to help me remember. Some of the classes were strawberries, daisies and mushrooms.
What are your favorite surface, medium and subject to paint?
My favorite surfaces are thrift store finds and curb side pickups, such as; chairs, children’s and adult’s, metal trays, coffee pots, teapots, ice skates, wooden ironing boards, slate, and stools. Acrylic and gouache are my favorite mediums. I like varied subjects to keep it interesting.
Is there a project you still want to tackle?
A stack of patterns sits nearby, alongside numerous tubs filled with surfaces, all waiting to be painted.
What inspires you to paint today?
My painting friends and family get together a couple times a month, they encourage me to keep painting
