I did it! I had my last class today! I'm a college graduate!
 

After thousands of hours (real time), thousands of dollars (real money), enormous amounts of joy and frustration and a couple of epiphanies I finished my degree. Can you believe it? I am now a candidate for a BFA in Art with the emphasis on Painting. (Actual graduation is on the 11th, but I had my last class and got my last grade today.)

So, they didn't teach me how to paint, as I've lamented about here many times before, but I can honestly say, I don't regret it. I learned so much about so many other things, I feel it can only enhance my work. Besides, I've come to the conclusion the only real way to learn how to paint is to paint and paint and paint.

Anyway, I wanted to celebrate a bit with you all, as you have listened to my whining off and on for a while now. It's over! I'm done! Not with whining, I'm sure I'll find something else to whine about , but I'm DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!! Woohoo! Yeehah!

Ooops. Sorry, I got a little carried away.

Good on you, Kimber, great milestone. I've been astonished at the number of folks I've met through the years who left with only 10 or 20 credits left to go. Of course, no one from the government comes to your house after graduation and says, "Congratulations, here's your check for $1 million," but what you know now is that you're good for the promise and the commitment. You can see things through.

You don't know yet how often that level of dedication will pull you through a stage of a painting where you just want to quit, but you know that there's more than can be done if you'll just come back, next day, day after. So don't ever walk a canvas out to the dumpster after 8 p.m. Go listen to some Bach cello suites, burn some incense or sit in the hot tub, and bring your renewed vision to the easel next day. And the next and the next. If you miss a day, okay, come back. Notice the world didn't end, and pick up your brushes.

Have a deserved rest, but begin to think about how you'll now channel your energies toward where you want to be in your next level of accomplishment. Draw upon the good place where you are and keep the fire lit.

Whoop and holler for a while, first. Designate a driver, preferably not another artist. Or an Irishman.

Congratulations, Kimber!

Kimber, many congratulations!
I have been studying here and there, and I never found the time to get myself a proper degree, maybe my kids came to soon, and it took me too long to understand that painting was really what I wanted to do.
I regret it, you won't
:)
Ilaria

Congrats Kimber! That's a great accomplishment.

No more teachers, no more books....

I better not finish that one. ;)

Congrats, Kimber! I've enjoyed your commentaries here on the forum and look forward to hearing about what you do next.

Congratulations, Kimber!

Steve has said it all better than I ever could...but many, many congratulations to you, Kimber!

Kimber,
Congratulations. Hard work and persistence indeed have their own rewards.

Graduation is really not a completion. Rather it is the beginning of an exciting new life. Be true to yourself and your vision and you will lead a full and happy life whether it be with riches or not. Best wishes for all of that promise to be fulfilled as the years roll by.

Well Done Kimber. You saw it through where others didn't.

Your journey now begins.