So what is Art to me and where did it start for me!

Horses: I fell head over heels in love with horses when I was 5 years old. I met them when I attended a summer camp in Ohio, where I grew up as a child. From that moment on, we were kindred spirits. I would come home from camp each night and ache to go back and see them. So I started drawing them as soon as I got home. That started my journey into art. I must try to replicate that to which I am so drawn. It was that simple. Practice makes for rapid improvement! I am forever grateful and always in awe of these special creatures.

I continued drawing, but I had breaks as I was a kid and did not live at the day camp as much as I would have liked to. I improved my skills drawing throughout my younger years. I always seemed to find something I was interested with in nature. Animals or places like fields and woods in the area I would draw. It was exciting to me to figure out charcoal and different mediums. How to shade and the like. I mainly stayed with pencil, charcoal and pen and ink.

So then, welcome to my teenage years. That is when art for me really came alive. I was into rock and roll and loved music. Well, what else am I going to draw? Jimi Hendrix, of course! I had many hours of practice with my favorite musicians. By this time, I was living in California with my dad. God bless him; he was so indulgent with me. I had Neil Young drawn in pencil on one wall. Life size with guitar, Yes's Topographic Oceans LP cover on the other wall. I drew all the time and experimented with watercolors and different mediums. My friends would ask me to draw on their walls at parties. Boy, did I piss off some parents. It felt like the Renaissance era. Southern California was great in the 1970s.

I always thought I would be doing art in what ever kind of work I ended up doing. It was just so natural for me. At 18 years old, you don't quite know how it all works yet. My dad was like, "You need to get a job or go to college." So I applied for and was accepted into the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Now that was a great time. I call that my Toulouse-Lautrec experience. I spent more time at the bar across the street! But I did not waste that time. I took my sketch pad with me and got lots of practice with quick sketches of people playing pool, drawing the fascinating faces of patrons in their groups around the bar. I can see why artists hang out there. I learned so much and developed hand-eye coordination to draw what I saw quickly and accurately. Now as far as classes, my favorite was anatomy drawing with models and sculpture. I did not complete my studies at Ringling. I was not disciplined enough at that age. I respected my dad too much to waste his money. As much as I can say I regret that decision, I also say I have made my choices, I have found a deeper respect for myself, and I have proven I have the discipline to learn on my own.

Here are a few items from my sketchpad from the bar across the street from Ringling!

The sculpture was my very first attempt at a figure. The class instruction was only to get a feel for form and anatomy with no details, so I had a hard time following instructions. I had to have details. The teacher loved it! Sorry for the old Polaroid; it has seen better days.

What does art do for you? I have much more about my life later, I would like to know what you would like me to talk about. Please feel free to engage and comment.

I end always like this, until next time, to be continued....