THINK THAT YOU CAN AND YOU WILL! At the end of the day, usually when I should be sleeping, I think of things I yet want to do in my life--or should have done but didn't for various reasons.

Today I did a few of these smaller things -- simple tasks and decisions made and I felt good about this.

One of the neglected areas involves my painting. When I began studying painting with a teacher years ago, I had to fit classes into a busy work day. I had a demanding job, a home to care for, and even though the children were grown and away from home, I was busy. But I wanted to learn art and painting so I attended classes after work hours. My teacher was just starting classes and we worked in her basement at that time. It was crowded as she had ten students each class. We took at least five weeks to complete a painting, leaving the wet canvas behind each week to work on it the next class. The first week we drew the subject on the canvas with charcoal; we were studying oil painting then. The drawing had to meet teacher's approval before we started painting. The second week we did the darkest areas, then on and on; most of you know the routine I'm certain. I was so proud at the end of the five weeks and I could take the painting home. I also tried painting at home from the very first. To learn to paint I had to paint -- and I did. I was determined! I was also a lot younger then! (Weren't we all?)

Now that I am alone and retired, I never seem to have enough time. Those tasks that keeping up a home requires, the grocery shopping, the garden and flowers and feeding the birds, etc., leaves little room for painting and it sometimes takes a back seat. This problem is the subject of my first blog--to make time for my painting -- to paint often -- not every painting will be great -- but I will persevere!

With the economy as it is, there isn't much activity on my sites, but I am going to keep posting new and different works to keep up interest. I have listed some smaller versions of a couple of my favorite works to give viewers a choice. Miniatures are great gifts and we will soon be looking for the holidays. I am going to paint or frame a painting the first thing each day while the morning is fresh and myself alike. The other chores can be done later. Instead of sitting with my morning coffee, I will take it with me while I am working. Wish me luck and pray for PERSISTENCE.

GOD BLESS!


Doris Nickerson