A Long Held Dream Realized ...

Patricia Joyce · 10-25-2007, 11:20 PM

Sharing some art joy with my community...

I've waited a very long time to become an artist. My story is not unusual, in fact it is, sadly, quite common. Married young, divorced, raised two children on my own, put myself thorugh college at night school and worked two jobs. That was the drill for 20 years. In those years I did not do art, I created crafts to sell and made toys for the kids, etc. But I never walked into an art store - anxiety held me at bay. Twenty long years and the desire to be an artist never wavered.

I would console myself in those young days. As I washed yet another load of boys dirt stained laundry I would speak my mantra, " someday, when the children are raised and I have my own life I will learn to draw and paint". And my sons heard this from me a million times, "when you grow up and have your own children I will be the somewhat eccentric Grandma Joyce who is really fun to visit because they'll create art in Grandma's studio". I told it with bravado, partly to reassure myself, that, indeed this dream would be realized.
So, today I hit a milestone that I would like to share with you. My granddaughter, Alex, is almost two and today was our first "play date" at Grandma's, which we are planning to continue every Thursday monring. The drawing will be framed...

Dreams do come true!
Grandma Joyce

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-26-2007, 01:47 AM

Pat, she is so cute! I am happy for you that you are back and closer to your son and granddaughter. Maybe she will be an artist too someday?!

Alexandra Tyng · 10-26-2007, 09:16 AM

I was thinking the same thing! You are giving your grandhildren a great gift by doing what you want to do and sharing it with them. I believe this makes an indelible impression upon children, freeing them to be creative and to find a career that they love. So I wouldn't be surprised if there were artists among your gandchildren and if they referred to "Grandma Joyce" as their first mentor.

Steven Sweeney · 10-26-2007, 11:15 AM

Looks like you

Patricia Joyce · 10-26-2007, 11:25 AM

Yeserday we did lots of sidewalk chalk as well, Steven! Everytime I read someone's bio which states that they grew up with an artist parent/grandparent, getting mentorship and encouragement to be creative I felt envy. Now, I feel great joy that I am that grandparent. Alex is doubly lucky, her dad, my oldest is a working musician. She is quite the singer and dancer, can really jig to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and the Beatles might be her favorite...

To live and to see is to learn. To breath in the air of creativity is to become creative invisible.

Doesn't she look like she is giving a workshop and instructing her students in pic #2? She just gets to me. Big Time

Steven Sweeney · 10-26-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia Joyce

Everytime I read someone's bio which states that they grew up with an artist parent/grandparent, getting mentorship and encouragement to be creative I felt envy.

The great jazz guitarist Pat Metheny was just in town. You watch and listen and you just wonder, slack-jawed, where that came from. And then you learn that he actually started out as a trumpet player. And that his grandfather was a trumpet player under John Philip Sousa. Metheny was probably toe-tapping in the womb.

I never made it as an athlete, but a maternal relative was an NFL football player and that fact itself was a huge motivational push for my son, who excelled in the sport in high school and now plays for a college team.

We are teaching always, whether by design or accident. Class is always in session.

Michele Rushworth · 10-26-2007, 11:57 AM

[quote]My dad, an underpaid blue-collar worker his entire life, was extremely well read, a self-taught near-expert in a variety of interests and avocations, including an undeniable and often manifested talent for artistic expression. A woodcarver, a pipefitter, mechanic and logskinner, musician (guitar, his father a fiddler), fisherman and craftsman. He never

Marvin Mattelson · 10-26-2007, 11:07 PM

Did you sign her up for my workshop yet? She may replace you as my favorite student.

Patricia Joyce · 10-27-2007, 08:07 AM

She asked for your workshop for a Christmas Present, I told her to get in line!!

Richard Bingham · 10-27-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia Joyce

She asked for your workshop for a Christmas Present, I told her to get in line!!

If I may . . . you just want to hold her place in line, Pat!

I grew up knowing the most fun I could possibly have was to paint alongside my Dad. He promised me I could begin in oils when I was ten, and I couldn't wait for that. The smell of hIs paintbox and its odd smears of pure color beckoned, filling me with longing for "the day". When I was in my early teens, he took me along to several workshops . . . that day will come for you and your granddaughter sooner than you think!

This is so kewl!