Art has always been a part of my life. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing, painting, and sketching. As a child, I would spend hours upon hours with my coloring books and markers, creating imaginary worlds and characters. As I grew older, my love for art only continued to grow.

Over the years, I dabbled in all sorts of arts and crafts. I learned to knit, sew, and puppet making. I took up pottery as it fascinate me to play with clay.

In the childhood, I even tried my hand at woodworking. But no matter what I tried, I always came back to drawing and painting..

I draw and paint

For years, my artistic pursuits were just a hobby. I would draw and paint when I had spare time, but it has gone to hibernate during my professional career as Banker. After my retirement, I decided to take my passion seriously.

Three years ago, I decided to make drawing a daily habit. I started by setting aside 30 minutes a day to draw, no matter what. I use to draw whatever came to my mind, without worrying about the outcome.

My drawing is not up to mark

Sometimes my drawing looked ugly and it was “good enough.” This daily practice helped me to develop my skills and gain confidence in my abilities.

I also started seeking out opportunities to learn more about art. I got an opportunity to join a drawing class as a drawing teacher used to visit home for learning drawing with my granddaughter. It was my bad luck as that opportunity ceased due to the onset of Corona pandemic.

But I could not give up hope and my passion. I again joined online classes and continue my journey.

I also attended workshops, and read books on art history and technique. I even joined a local art group where I could connect with other artists and get feedback on my work.

Improving day by day

As my skills improved, I began to experiment with different mediums and styles. I tried my hand at watercolors, acrylics, and oils. I experimented with realism, abstract art, and everything in between. Each new challenge helped me to grow as an artist and push the boundaries of what I thought was possible.

But despite my progress, I still struggle with self-doubt. I constantly worry that my work isn’t good enough, or that I’ll never be as skilled as the artists I admire. But I remind myself that art is a journey, not a destination. Every drawing, every painting, and every brush stroke is a step forward on that journey.

One incident that stands out in my mind as a turning point in my artistic journey happened a few years ago. I was attending a painting competition near my house.

I overheard a conversation between two women who were looking at my painting.

“That’s really nice,” one woman said. “But it’s not like it’s real art.

My heart sank. I felt like all the time and effort I had put into my painting had been dismissed in a single sentence. But then I realized something: art is subjective. Not everyone will appreciate or understand my work, and that’s okay.

A motivational story

From that moment on, I stopped worrying about what other people thought of my art. I stopped trying to please everyone and started creating for myself. I started taking risks and exploring new techniques, even if it meant making mistakes along the way.

Today, my artistic journey is still ongoing. I still have so much to learn and so many skills to develop. But I know that as long as I keep creating and pushing myself, I will continue to grow as an artist.

Be positive, Be hopeful

And who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll be the one inspiring someone else on their own artistic journey.

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BE HAPPY….BE ACTIVE….BE FOCUSED….BE ALIVE…

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Categories: me and my Art