An Artist’s Life

It’s still feels odd to call myself an artist. But I got to thinking; I’ve been a working crafter/artist full time for 12 years now. I’ve read and tried every medium I can get my hands on. With some I’ve developed sufficient skill that people will actually pay for my work.

I’ve studied (and gotten good marks) with people I don’t hesitate to call “artists”: drawing classes with Karl Barnhart; precious metal clay with Lauri Jensen; wire sculpting with Preston Reuther; and no less than nine digital graphics and Photoshop classes with several Scrap Girls graphic designers.

I’ve published a few of my original patterns and even written a definitive guide to decoupage which, as fate would have it, won’t see the light of day. The unit of Barnes and Noble which commissioned it fell prey to the weak economy. :-(

I designed the A above in my latest Scrap Girls class: “Stunning 3D Text” taught by Jene Parks. I rather like it. Most people will look at it; read “A” and move on. I look at it and see pattern on top of shading and the three-dimensional aspect and I think …

Give that lady an A. She’s an artist!

My “golden years” have turned into a beautiful multi-colored rainbow. Sweet!