And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
When I started painting in high school, I could only copy things. I would take a picture and then try to paint it. Most of the time, it was frustrating because I couldn't get my painting exacly like the photograph. During spring break of my senior year, my dad and I went to Colorado to pay a surprise visit to my brother and sister. While we were there, we went to Boulder (my favorite place) and visited an art gallery where a Native American artist painted round three dimensional paintings that almost looked like a snail shell cut in half. The art was amazing because of its beauty but also because of what he was conveying about his culture. As I was admiring the art and talking to my dad about it, the artist came over and talked to us! I bought a postcard and he autographed it.
Coincindentally, when I got back to school, my art teacher Ms. Gugel brought me a bass drum cut in half and a snare drum head. I was a drummer and she knew I might enjoy painting on drums. Somehow that trip and seeing the round art made me realize that art was more about decoration for my bedroom wall (that's how I had seen it before). I could convey an emotion or send a message with my paintings. After that I created my two best pieces of art. One was a watercolor painting of several butterflies strung together, one blending into the next. It was inspired by my amazing English and Theatre teacher, Mrs. Trezona, who loved butterflies. The next painting I did was on the bass drum. I drew the famous Sioux Chief Sitting Bull's face in the center and all around him were four trees, one in each season. The roots of the trees formed the wrinkles in Sitting Bull's face. My art had taken a new direction. Unfortunately, after high school, I didn't do much more painting.
Over the years, I did try to capture the beautiful things by taking photographs. For the most part, I was limited by my cameras though, so I could only shoot things as I saw them. Then I got my Nikon and tried not to edit the photos because I thought they had to be true to life. I had another moment recently that changed everything. I saw a friend's photos that had beautiful vivid colors. I asked him how he managed to get such color and he told me to use the vivid setting. Not only did the vivid setting change my photos, I think seeing his photos changed how I saw the world. I realized that although I no longer paint, I can still convey emotions and messages with my photos. They can be my art!
Speaking of artists, we've always known Jevon's sister Tracey is talented. She paints, embroiders, crochets, knits, etc. Last weekend she came to visit and brought Kai a special treat--a series of cartoon characters she created several years ago after a dream she had. We were all blown away. Here's one picture she drew and Kai's attempt to copy it.
Coincindentally, when I got back to school, my art teacher Ms. Gugel brought me a bass drum cut in half and a snare drum head. I was a drummer and she knew I might enjoy painting on drums. Somehow that trip and seeing the round art made me realize that art was more about decoration for my bedroom wall (that's how I had seen it before). I could convey an emotion or send a message with my paintings. After that I created my two best pieces of art. One was a watercolor painting of several butterflies strung together, one blending into the next. It was inspired by my amazing English and Theatre teacher, Mrs. Trezona, who loved butterflies. The next painting I did was on the bass drum. I drew the famous Sioux Chief Sitting Bull's face in the center and all around him were four trees, one in each season. The roots of the trees formed the wrinkles in Sitting Bull's face. My art had taken a new direction. Unfortunately, after high school, I didn't do much more painting.
Over the years, I did try to capture the beautiful things by taking photographs. For the most part, I was limited by my cameras though, so I could only shoot things as I saw them. Then I got my Nikon and tried not to edit the photos because I thought they had to be true to life. I had another moment recently that changed everything. I saw a friend's photos that had beautiful vivid colors. I asked him how he managed to get such color and he told me to use the vivid setting. Not only did the vivid setting change my photos, I think seeing his photos changed how I saw the world. I realized that although I no longer paint, I can still convey emotions and messages with my photos. They can be my art!
Speaking of artists, we've always known Jevon's sister Tracey is talented. She paints, embroiders, crochets, knits, etc. Last weekend she came to visit and brought Kai a special treat--a series of cartoon characters she created several years ago after a dream she had. We were all blown away. Here's one picture she drew and Kai's attempt to copy it.
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