Just a little bit of art and craft.

     Art remains a mystery to me. I don't always know how to put into words why I like something, but often, I know instantly that I love it.  I go to museums and dream that I could be so talented, and sometimes I just stop. I have found something truly amazing. It is a gift to make someone else just stop, examine and imagine.
     I have known many artists.  One of them works full time at a regular job, and creates amazing paintings that have been displayed around Oklahoma and has even made specialized pieces to be reprinted by the thousands for a more commercial use. She amazes me. I have watched her work, somehow hoping to "catch" just a little of her gift.  I can look at something with her in awe and watch as she erases, or paints over and not have noticed any flaw.. but sure enough, when she is done, perfection is actually reached.
    I neither have the skill, nor the eye to create such perfection.  I have said on more than one occasion that I can create just about anything out of paper. I have made the Santa Maria, the ship Columbus sailed, I have made a many globes, and really just about anything that has crossed my mind. I love working with paper. Paper and I seem to have an agreement that paint and I cannot reach. 
   I can sketch something that looks reasonable and then proceed to ruin it with paint. I know what I wanted it to look like, but I do not understand the nuances of light and shade enough. I have tried to learn, but I appear to have been vaccinated. I know that I should add more white where I want to show light. I know that I should make the shadows more severe..but I just cannot seem to make myself do it. When a teacher guides my hand to add a flash of white, it does indeed look amazing..but then it is her painting. When left alone, I tend create blah. 
   I do not give up. I may yet create a masterpiece, or at least something I'm confident enough to sign. In the meantime, I will console myself by creating something with paper and glue and ink.  I will also continue to look for inspiration. I just viewed a blog by an actual artist with photos of some of her lovely creations. She appears to be multi talented. She has creations from watercolors, clay and photographs. She is gifted and is sharing her gifts with others. She has the eye, the vision and the confidence and I thank her for sharing in her blog. She has, after all inspired me to try watercolors this weekend.