In case you don't know, I was homeschooled from grade three through high school graduation. No, it's not something I bring up on first acquaintance, because I feel that there's a lot of baggage with the term "homeschooled." But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I certainly got a fantastic education. Another bonus was that I could indulge my passion for arts and crafts. Sure, I had to sit and listen / watch a teacher on video, but that didn't mean I couldn't do cross-stitch or paint at the same time! I have an elaborate cross stich that's probably 2 feet across that I spent almost a year working on (daily) while listening to classes.

All that to intro. I have no problem admiting that I get really addicted to art or craft projects. I can show you the meticulously painted porecelin houses that form an extensive Christmas village. I can show you fabric flowers. There was a rather unfortunate plastic canvas phase. A high point was my Book Arts class in University culminating in a final art show. But I've always been reticent to really get into drawing or painting, because I felt untalented.

Art class is turning me around! If nothing else, I'm back in the obsessive creative mindset that makes me feel happy and centered.

So, here I'll document my first foray into painting, with the first step of drawing on the canvas.
It's a series of three paintings, square, 60cm. Charlie is there for a size reference.


Each painting is a different woman's face (I'm going to try a Fauvist style), in front of a background of detailed florals (aka William Morris), with a matching painted frame.


I tried to match the personality of the woman in the frame with the floral pattern I designed and the style of frame.


The whole thing was inspired by a short scene I wrote for our Theatre Club students at school. It was entitled "The Woman in the Frame." Come to think of it, I should put a skit or two on here for you to read. I think they're super funny, but of course some of the humor is lost when performed by ESL students.


This is a close-up of the floral pattern (I'm much more comfortable doing patterns and florals than faces!)



You'll have to see how step #2 goes tonight!